Business Plan -  St Francis Bay Beach Remediation Project

prepared by

Kouga Disaster Management (St Francis Bay Beach Action Committee)

February 2005

Introduction

The function of this project is to take appropriate measures to reverse the erosion that is currently threatening to undermine houses along the St Francis Bay beach, and return the beach to the sandy state it was in about 20 years ago. The St Francis Bay beach is a prime recreational beach in the Eastern Cape, and the socio-economic prosperity of the St Francis Bay Village and surrounding area depends on the beach being in a healthy, attractive state.

The Kouga Municipality (and its predecessor, the St Francis Bay Municipality) have been working on the beach erosion problem for many years, culminating in an EIA (summary appended to this document) in which it was concluded that the preferred solution to the problem was to reduce beach erosion by means of groynes or an artificial reef, followed by building up the beach with sand dredged from the Kromme estuary. The solutions proposed are however considerably beyond the financial capabilities of the Kouga Municipality; hence assistance is being requested from Provincial or National Government. Budget allocation as set out in the table below is urgently required to prevent the economic, social and environmental disaster that will result if this project does not go ahead soon.

The Kouga Disaster Management (St Francis Bay Beach Action Committee) is a steering committee formed by the Council of the Kouga Municipality in July 2004. It comprises of Kouga Municipality councillors and officials, an environmental consultant and St Francis Bay residents. Its task is to drive the beach remediation process, and it has prepared this business plan. The business plan is divided into 3 years:

Year 1: Investigative phase: R4.2 million

Inserting and monitoring of the experimental permeable groyne. The materials have already been purchased by the Kouga Municipality This is an ongoing project, initiated by the Kouga Municipality. If the groyne is successful, it will trap sand along the beach in the area near the Kromme mouth. It will also provide some data about the near-shore wave environment along the St Francis Bay beach that will help to design further beach protection works.

Collection of wave data (1 year period), collection of near-shore current and sediment data and survey of offshore bathymetry, detailed beach & near-shore profiles, aerial photography.

Feasibility studies for beach protection structures, and preliminary design of further groynes or artificial reef. Final approval of EIA with Dept of Economic Affairs, Environment & Tourism, Eastern Cape Govt.

Year 2: Groynes or artificial reef construction: R33.3 million

Final design of further groynes or artificial reef. Indications are that an artificial reef will be the best option, as there are other positive spin-offs like the creation of a prime surfing and scuba diving feature which will attract tourists to the region.

Environmental monitoring plan (EMP). Appointment of environmental officer (for 2 years).

Construction of groynes or artificial reef; this may run over into the third year.

Year 3: Dredging: R41.7 million

Re-survey of sections across Kromme estuary.

Rehabilitation of roads used for transporting groyne material.

Mobilization of dredger from Cape Town, dredging of 1 million cubic metres of sand, decommissioning of dredger.

Construction of small dredger for maintenance dredging.

It is intended to form a Black Empowerment Company which would include business people from the Kouga and Port Elizabeth areas as well as St Francis ratepayers, with the required technical and management expertise. 

Appendix A: Activities undertaken

• Oct 2003:  Record of Decision issued by Provincial Govt (DEAET) for experimental permeable gumpole groyne.

• Dec 2003:  Meeting with NMMM and ANC deputy chairman, followed by a further meeting with above and Kouga Municipality officials, letter of support and co-operation received

• Dec 2003:  Meeting in Cape Town with MP on PC for DEAT, visit to Langebaan who received grant of R39 million over 3 years to build groynes and dredge sand

• Jan 2004:  Second visit to Langebaan.  Appointment made to see Deputy Director-General DEAT in Pretoria in April.

• Jan 2004:  Discussion with CEO of Southern Oceaneering, re: specific requirements for St Francis Bay dredging.

• Jan 2004: Discussions with Environmental Monitoring Programme Manager/Consultant, Langebaan.

• Jan 2004:  Further discussions with MP on PC for DEAT, Cape Town

• Feb 2004:  Draft presentation for DEAT  prepared by Illenberger & Associates and St Francis Bay Beach Action Group.

• Apr 2004:  Presentation completed by consultants and St Francis Bay Beach Action Group for presentation to Kouga Council.

• Apr 2004:  Meeting with Deputy Director-General (Tourism) Dr P Matlou

• May 2004:  Meeting with Director-General (Biodiversity and Heritage) in Pretoria. Ms M Mbengashe

• May 2004:  Meeting with C.E.O.  SATOUR.  Mrs C Carolus presentation of St Francis Bay beach.

• June 2004:  Meeting with Dr C. Olver, Director-General DEAT in Bhisho.

• June 2004:  Discussions with Saldanha Municipal Manager on progress of groyne and dredging at Langebaan.

• June 2004:  Meeting with Kouga Municipal Manager, Jeffreys Bay.

• July 2004:   Presentation to Kouga Municipal Council.

• July 29 2004:  Kouga Municipal Council.  Resolution passed supporting the St Francis Bay Beach Action Group’s application for funding.

• Aug 16 2004:   Meeting with Kouga Conservation Standing Committee.  Election of steering committee comprising Kouga Council and St Francis Bay Beach Action Group. Ratification of above steering committee by Kouga Municipal Council.

• Aug 2004:  Meeting with Chief of Staff, M.E.C. DEAET  for Eastern Cape at Bhisho.

• Aug 2004:  Meeting with M.E.C. for Public Works for Eastern Cape.

• Sept 13 2004 onwards:  Monthly meetings of Kouga Municipal Disaster Management/ St Francis Bay Beach Action Group.

• October 2004: Office of MEC DEAET  Mr A De Wet  /  Mr Joe Jordan, Parliamentary Liaison Officer

• January 2005: Visit by resident engineer of Langebaan groyne construction

• February 2005: meeting with MEC DEAET  Mr A De Wet & staff

Appendix B: Key role players

 Appendix C: Steering Committee members

Appendix D: Executive summary of EIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

PROPOSED BEACH EROSION REMEDIATION AT ST FRANCIS BAY

SRK Project 292531                                     May 2003

INTRODUCTION

In 1998 the St Francis Bay Municipality appointed Steffen Robertson and Kirsten Consulting (SRK) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed development of a groyne at St. Francis Bay (see Figure 1.1).  The Scoping phase of the EIA was completed in February 1999.  Following the dissolution of St Francis Bay Municipality, the (new) Kouga Municipality approached and secured funding for the completion of the EIA from the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA).  In September 2001 SRK were appointed to complete the EIA phase. Midway through the EIA the scope was broadened to include potential impacts associated with sourcing the considerable volumes of sand required.

The Draft EIR was released in September 2002.  Responses to the Draft EIR suggested that, although alternatives were assessed in the Draft EIR, there may be additional alternatives.  However, in February 2003 the Kouga Council decided that these additional alternatives (offshore sources of sand and submerged off shore reef/breakwater) could not be supported by the Council since they were not financially viable.  SRK was asked to finalise the Final EIR, excluding assessment of these additional alternatives, and has complied with this request.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

St Francis Bay beach is experiencing continued beach erosion problems resulting in the loss of the beach and an increased risk of damage to beachfront houses and municipal infrastructure such as roads, parking bays and access stairs to the beach.  Furthermore, sedimentation of the Kromme River Estuary is also becoming problematic.  A number of alternatives were identified in the Scoping Study to address the former problem.  Entech were appointed to assess alternatives and concluded that the following two alternatives are considered most appropriate at St Francis:

• Beach restoration and continuous sand nourishment:  by placement of about 1 000 000 m3 of sand to move the shoreline at least 30 m seaward followed by continuous sand nourishment of 50 000 m3 per annum (cost: R25 000 000)

• Construction of three parallel groynes and continuous sand nourishment: construction of three rock groynes along the beach, supplemented by placement of 500 000 m3 of sand and supplemented by  annual nourishment of about 50 000 m3 per annum (cost: R20 500 000 to R21 950 000)

Note: costs exclude ongoing long-term beach nourishment costs estimated at R9 000 000 over 30 years, (which will be necessary for both solutions).

Provided it is environmentally acceptable, the multiple groynes option is Kouga Municipality’s preferred alternative, since it provides greater assurance that sand nourishment will be successful, especially in the event of a catastrophic storm, for example.  It is also the alternative recommended by Entech.

Four potential source areas for beach sand were identified by Entech who found that up to 1 000 000 m³ and 800 000 m³ of sand can be sourced from the Sand River dunefield and Kromme River (estuary) respectively.

APPROACH

The proposed beach remediation may involve at least two activities listed in terms of the EIA Regulations, namely

(1e) the construction, erection or upgrading of marinas, harbours and all structures below the high-watermark of the sea and marinas, harbours and associated structures on inland waters;

(7) the reclamation of land , including wetlands, below the high-watermark of the sea, and inland waters

The EIA regulations stipulate that a Scoping Study and EIA should be undertaken in applying for authorisation to proceed with the proposed activity. The main objectives of the EIA are to:

• Obtain contributions of Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) and ensure that relevant issues and concerns are addressed in this report

• Present the findings of the Entech technical reports which recommended two viable beach remediation solutions and identified (two) sand sources

• Identify and provide a rating of significant impacts associated with the project

• Formulate mitigation measures in consideration of identified concerns and technical input from appointed specialists

• Indicate and compare the environmental suitability of the two viable alternatives and sand sources

• Produce a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which will help the Department of Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism (DEAET) to decide whether (and under what conditions) to authorise the project.

Note that the limited budget severely restricted SRK’s ability and capacity to address various issues identified by the external reviewer and IAPs, after release of the Draft EIR.  SRK has not been able to commission supplementary studies, which would have provided useful information.  This has affected the quality of the EIR, but information provided should still be adequate for decision-making.

EVALUATION AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

During the EIA impacts were assessed and compared as summarised in the table below.