Lifesaving club slipway repairs in the pipeline

Earlier in the year Toti experienced extreme weather conditions, which resulted in widespread flooding and damage to infrastructure. On Sunday night, 10 March, the flooding eroded the embankment and dunes at Winkle beach, and caused the slipway at the lifesavers club to collapse. As a result, lifesavers could not launch their rescue craft.

eThekwini Municipality’s engineering department was tasked to consider various options. The Winklespruit project, at a cost of R6-million excluding VAT, with a contingency of R1.2-million, will see the reinstatement of the staircases as well as the reinstatement and rehabilitation of dune vegetation with the use of geotextile sand containers, similar to Toti main beach, to protect the toe of the dune. “The original plan was to have the repairs done in terms of emergency section 36,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge. “After further consideration it was decided to rather fund the projects from the engineering unit’s savings for the 2013/14 financial year.

The environmental authorisation caused a slight delay, but both were approved by full council on Friday, 20 September. I have already had confirmation from the engineering department that the matters will be prioritised to the Bid Spec committee so it can be advertised for tenders without any further delay. If all goes according to plan, we could have the full use of our beach back by December.” – earlb@dbn.caxton.co.za