Launch of "SFBRA Beach Project Trust Fund"

The Beach Remediation Project is now underway with the completion of the initial bathymetry survey covering the section of sea bed extending in an area extending from the Port to past the Kromme River mouth and offshore for approximately two nautical miles.

This first part of the exercise was completed by Dylan Anderson from UCT with the  assistance of Mark May from St Francis the skipper of the survey boat (kindly supplied by Peter Platt). The funding for this first part of the exercise was jointly sponsored by the  St Francis Kromme Trust and St Francis Bay Residents Association. 

Funding for Phase 2 of the investigation requires an additional amount of approximately R 1.0 million.  This covers the purchase of a Wave Rider Buoy and related equipment which is required to monitor the wave patterns over a 12 month period.  The balance of the funding is required to bring out the consultants on artificial reefs from New Zealand, ASR (Artificial Surf Reefs – www.asrltd.co.nz ) as well as covering basic running costs for collecting the data over the full period of this part of the project.

Artificial Surf Reefs employ the latest technology in ensuring that beaches such as the one here at St Francis Bay are rehabilitated and brought back to their original condition. Part of the problem with the original studies conducted some years ago was that they were not comprehensive due to funding constraints and provided engineering rather than environmental solutions.  We believe that St Francis Bay with its pristine environment requires the best possible solutions currently available. 

Funding Sources

In order to raise the required funds for this part of the Beach Project we will be   approaching the SFB community to make the required R 1.0 m available by the end of April, 2006.  We are planning to raise the first R 500k of this amount during the December, 2005 Christmas break with the remaining R 500k being raised by April, 2006.     

Our first target market are the homeowners who live directly on the beach and whose properties are most affected by the beach erosion problem.   There are 48 houses that fall into this category, and taking the initial estimate of some R 1.0 m, if this is divided by 48 homes then each homeowner would need to make a contribution of less than R25k on average, to allow for completion of the survey data. 

It is important to note that the estimated amount of R 25k per household for those living on the beach is significantly less than the cost of additional rock revetments which could otherwise be required in the future.

In addition to the homeowners living on the beach we will also be approaching all those who most benefit from the beach, including the tourism sector and the major SFB developers as well as individual contributors.  St Francis Bay has a proud reputation as a premier holiday destination and we cannot allow our beach to continue to deteriorate.  However, it is necessary for St Francis residents to take charge of this process and change this trend around, as has been done in other parts of the world.   

Reasons for this Approach

Our reasons for this approach and the fundraising efforts are that the Kouga Council are already anticipating a deficit of around R 12 million for the budget year 2006/7.  In addition the Eastern Cape Government are also carrying a massive funds deficit forward into 2006/7 and have already indicated that they will not be able to assist. 

Unless the wider St Francis Community show they are capable of raising funds and starting the project ourselves, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to persuade other funding sources to become involved in the construction phases.  We also believe that the funding requirements are more realistic than previous budgets put forward.  This approach is consistent with related projects in other parts of the world, including New Zealand, where similar strategies have been employed.  

Official Launch of “SFBRA Beach Project Trust Fund”

At the AGM of the SFB Residents Association on 29 December, 2005 we are officially launching the official “SFBRA Beach Project Trust Fund” in order to ensure that the beach remediation project can progress from the investigative to action stage. Please click here to email the Beach Trust for Banking Details.     

The above approach will require full involvement from the wider community including the establishment of the St Francis Bay Development Corporation.  In addition this will also involve the setting up of a “SFB Empowerment Consortium” managed by the SFB Community. This organization will be directly involved in the construction and maintenance of the artificial reef.

Summary

The setting up of the St Francis Bay Beach Project Trust Fund will ensure that the long term future of St Francis Bay beach is assured.  The evidence from around the world clearly shows that where an “Artificial Surf Reef” has been installed there have been major tourist benefits which followed.  In addition we believe that this project will ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the property market in St Francis. 

The SFB Residents Association and Kromme Trust also believe that our waterways (the canal system and the Kromme River) need to be included in a wider survey.  This   will ensure that they are included in an integrated way in the longer term environmental planning process.  In addition the equipment we intend purchasing for Phase 2 of the Beach Project will allow us to investigate tidal flows in the estuary as part of integrated system requiring ongoing longer term solutions. Click here for New Zealand's first artificial reef.

Alan Tonkin

St Francis Bay

12 December, 2005