Upgrading Melville’s ablutions is a pipe dream

THE municipality feels that the best option would be to demolish the old ablution block at Kingfisher Beach in Melville and remove it from the dune in keeping with good practices described in the recently adopted Integrated Coastal Management Act.

Last week’s article highlighted what had been done at Melville to improve the beach and it had been suggested that the old ablution block, discovered during a bush clearance operation, be revamped for beachgoers.

Simon April, spokesman for Hibiscus Coast Municipality, said that, upon investigation of the public facility block, the following was established:

* It was originally built by the Joint Services Board and had not been in use for the past 25 years.

* The beach was definitely not busy enough even during seasons to re-establish the facility.

* There are no waterborne sewerage facilities in the area to complement the facilities, which makes it a possible health risk as a soak pit system would simply allow the sewage to filter into the sea sand surrounding the building.

* Cost to re-establish the facility will be significant and it will also require an employee to clean the facility on a daily basis, which will be an additional cost to council.

* Vandalism to the facility will also have to be catered for as the facility is in a fairly isolated area.

* The public facilities are not on a designated bathing beach and there is no continual activity.

Mr April said that if, however, it is decided to reinstate the facilities, it may be a capital project and may require at the very least an environmental management plan before any work can be undertaken.

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