ST FRANCIS BAY BEACH PROJECT: FEASIBILITY STUDY

Investigations into the Application of Multi-Purpose Reefs at St Francis Beach
for Coastal Protection and Amenity Enhancement.

The results of the Feasibility Study by ASR Limited indicates the following:

• That the submerged reef/s approach is clearly the best environmental option for St Francis Bay.

• That a fully integrated approach including the submerged reefs, the beach renourishment, reshaping the dunes and the Kromme River Estuary will be highly beneficial to the SFB community.

• That the above option is both cost efficient and affordable.

• That the SFB Beach Project will provide significant economic gains for the wider community in Greater St Francis.

The SFB Beach Trust are now in the process of communicating the detailed results of the Feasibility Study on the St Francis Bay Beach to the following individuals and organisations:

• The Minister of Environmental Affairs & Tourism

• Marine & Coastal Management in the National Department of Environmental Affairs

• The Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs

• The Kouga Municipality

• The Development Bank of Southern Africa

• Other Interested Parties

The St Francis Bay Beach Trust have now commissioned ASR Limited to undertake the Design Phase of the project. This will be complete by December, 2006. Part of the Design Phase will include the exact costing of each of the individual components of the Beach Project including:

• The number and sequencing / timing of the reefs.

• The exact costs of providing the sand renourishment system for the beach including the piping, pumps and dredging options.

• The costs of reshaping the dune systems and the replanting these with the correct plant species.

• Other related costs and facilities.

Dr Shaw Mead from ASR Limited will be visiting St Francis at the end of August, 2006 and the final details on timing will be discussed at that time. In addition Dylan Anderson who is part of the SFB Beach Trust team will be visiting New Zealand and will be involved in the Design Phase of the project.

The SFB Beach Trust believe that it will be possible to commence the project in early 2007. Depending on final sequencing of the project we are looking at completion of the exercise by the end of 2009.

Alan Tonkin
SFB Beach Trust
16 July, 2006