R7-m beach wall repair ‘unlikely by December’
AN amount of R7-million has been allotted by the eThekwini municipality executive council to rebuild the collapsed wall and walkway on Brighton Beach.
In March, the south coast suffered severe weather conditions, resulting in extensive flooding and damage to council infrastructure. On Sunday, 10 March, with the tide at 2.05m, a section of wall, which supports the lifesaver facilities and amenities at Cave Rock collapsed and it has been left to deteriorate since, taking with it a large section of walkway and two bolted benches.
“No reasons were provided for the inordinate delay in addressing this issue, which is not only a hazard and an eyesore, but would appear to exemplify the tardy manner in which infrastructure needs are viewed by their custodians,” said ward 66 councillor, Duncan Du Bois.
The repair, which is funded through the municipality’s engineering department’s 2013/2014 savings, will be done through a water Loffelstein retaining wall. The plan was approved by the council on Friday, 20 September, following a delay in obtaining the environmental authorisation. It will now be advertised for tenders in the hope that the renovation will be completed by the busy December holiday season.
“Given the fact that the holiday season is less than three months away, the promise that the wall would have been sorted by December is doubtful.”
– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za
