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The
“St Francis Reefs”
Project
Following the public
meeting of 19
December, 2006 held
at St Francis Links
this is a comment
and summary on the
current situation on
the “St Francis
Reefs” project.
Over
200 people attended
the public meeting
which was divided
into two sections,
the first being an
overview of the
achievements by the
Beach Trust in 2006
plus a presentation
by Dr Shaw Mead from
ASR on the submerged
reefs and their
design. The second
session was a
separate meeting
which facilitated by
SRK Consulting and
covered the legal
requirements for the
EIA process. The
notes of this
meeting are
available on
www.sfbbeachtrust.org
on the
Home Page
in the scrolling box.
We
were extremely
encouraged by the
support expressed
for the initiative
from the floor as
well as from
numerous individual
owners following the
meeting. The two
main concerns raised
at the meeting were
the dredging in the
Kromme Estuary and
the proposed Beach
Levy. Further
details on the
meeting can be found
on
www.sfbbeachtrust.org
on the
Home Page
in the scrolling
box.
Estuary Dredging
A
number of points
were raised around
the dredging in the
Estuary including
the fact that this
would reduce the
size of the large
sandbank at the
mouth. However, it
was explained by Dr
Shaw Mead that in
terms of the ASR
recommendations
there would still be
large sandbanks
remaining at the
mouth as the dredge
area identified
would be close to
the second entrance
to the canals near
The Cove. This is
also in line with
previous
recommendations from
the Institute of
Environmental and
Coastal Management
at NMMU updated as
part of the EIA
process in December,
2006.
It
was also clarified
that in terms of the
recent results of
the hydrodynamic
survey of the
Estuary conducted by
ASR in July, 2006
that there would be
no significant
effects of this
dredging on the
currents in either
the canals or the
river.
Following the
meeting Nigel
Sutherland, a long
standing resident of
St Francis Bay
confirmed that the
area to be dredged
was previously below
the low water mark
and I quote;
“During the sixties and early seventies we regularly sailed an Extra
dinghy in company
with Sprogs and
suchlike over 80%
of the area
between the two
entrances to the
canals (with the
centreboards down)
except during the
low water springs.
The present sandbank
which will be
dredged is a recent,
and I believe
unwelcome, symptom
which is due to a
considerable extent
to the beach
erosion. There can
really be no valid
reason for
objections to its
removal.”
In addition, the
issue of the
floating dredge line
which would block
the main entrance to
the Ski Canal during
dredging operations
was raised. We again
quote Nigel
Sutherland;
“One of the first
real effects of the
beach erosion
occurred when in an
easterly gale the
seas broke over the
seaward spit and
filled the outlet
from the ski canal
with beach sand.
There have been
subsequent periods
when the only access
to the lagoon from
the ski canal has
been at high spring
tides and been
accomplished by
walking a
boat down a knee
deep narrow
channel. For
prolonged periods
the only effective
access to the lagoon
was through the
upper canal and even
this required
dredging. The point
is that the canal
residents should not
complain if
their access is
confined to one
canal during
dredging.”
The SFB Beach Trust
fully support the
above comments from
Mr Sutherland.
Beach Levy: The
Facts
In terms of the
Agreement between
the Kouga
Municipality and the
SFB Beach Trust
this agreement is
structured in such a
way that the funds
will be collected by
the Municipality and
paid over to the
Beach Trust within
30 days on a monthly
basis. This is a
legally binding
Agreement and there
is no chance of this
levy being allocated
for other purposes
other than the beach
project by the
Municipality.
The overall
objective of the
Beach Levy is to
levy homeowners
based on the
municipal valuations
of their
properties. The
average amount of
R150 quoted, is
based on all 2700
registered owners in
St Francis Bay
including Santareme
and St Francis Links
contributing this
average amount to
the levy. However,
beach front
properties are
valued at a higher
value and it is only
fair that these
owners contribute
proportionally more
than those who live
in the sections of
the Village some
distance away from
the beach.
During January /
February, 2007 the
Beach Trust and the
Municipality will be
considering the
Budget for 2007/8
and the exact rates
in the Rand per
property will be
determined. We
however, wish to
stress that even
houses right on the
beach are unlikely
to be paying
significantly more
than twice the
average amount, with
undeveloped stands
paying significantly
less.
There is absolutely
no truth in the
rumour being spread
by a small minority
of locally based
residents that the
levy will exceed
three times the
average on a
significant number
of properties.
In addition, Sea
Vista and Cape St
Francis are excluded
from the levy on the
basis of Sea Vista
residents being
considered to be a
“justifiable case
for exclusion” with
Cape St Francis
having their own
perfectly viable
sandy beach.
There was discussion
from the floor as to
why the Kouga
Municipality was not
undertaking the
funding of the beach
restoration. It was
however, pointed out
that the Kouga
Municipality have
other more pressing
priorities and
unless St Francis
residents became
directly involved
the beach would
continue to erode.
In addition, even if
the Municipality
were going to raise
a loan to
rehabilitate the
beach they in turn
would need to raise
an additional Beach
Levy to fund this
expenditure.
In considering the
ownership profile in
St Francis Bay it is
important to note
that over 85% of
homeowners are
non-resident and
live either in
Gauteng or other
parts of the
country. These
residents are fully
supportive of the
levy and how it will
be utilised. In
cases where real
hardship is claimed
the Beach Trust are
willing to have
their accountants
review the financial
situation of the
particular
individual based on
their “ability to
pay.” This may
result in the Beach
Trust offering some
financial assistance
depending on the
circumstances of the
individual resident
involved.
However,
it
was also clarified
at the meeting that
any residents who
wish to object to
the levy would be
required to address
their individual
objections in
writing to the
Municipal Manager of
the Kouga
Municipality in
Jeffreys Bay. These
objections should
contain a clear
motivation for the
record as to why the
individual owner was
raising the
objection.
In the highly
unlikely event of
there being a
majority of
objections to the
levy (in excess of
50% or over 1350
homeowners), this
would we believe
have a significant
impact on the
property values in
the Village, plus
other losses in the
local economy
including the
potential loss of
employment
opportunities in the
future.

As indicated in the
above graphic, an
integrated approach
to sustainable
development in St
Francis for the
future needs to
ensure that all
parts of the
community obtain
real benefits from
the
“St Francis Reefs”
initiative.
Some Conclusions
Neither of the above
two issues raised at
the meeting are
considered to be
supported by the
vast majority of
homeowners and the
Beach Trust believe
it will be possible
to move forward into
2007 in the
confidence that the
“St Francis
Reefs”
project is both
viable and will
bring additional
benefits to the
wider community as a
whole.
In this regard it is
important to note
that in going
through the
international
research on similar
projects, there is a
net return on
investment of
between 1:20 and
1:40 back into the
community. Based on
an initial capital
investment of R 25
million this will
bring additional
benefits to St
Francis Bay of
between R 500
million to R 1.0
billion. Can any
community turn down
an opportunity of
this magnitude,
especially when not
doing anything could
possibly result in a
net loss on a
similar scale?
We anticipate that
the EIA process will
be finalised by
mid-February, 2007.
During the period
January / February,
2007 the final
pipeline design will
be completed and
tenders will be
advertised for both
the slurry pipeline
and reefs. This
will allow for
construction to
commence in March,
2007 as indicated in
the project
schedule. It is
important that we
meet these deadlines
as the “weather
window” for the
construction of Reef
1 extends from the
beginning of April
to the end of June,
2007. If we miss
this window of
opportunity we will
only be able to
start construction
in April, 2008
resulting in more
damage to our
shoreline and
possibly beach front
properties.
We
are confident that
the majority of St
Francis residents
support the
“St Francis Reefs”
initiative in order
to ensure the long
term prosperity and
viability of our
Village. Property
values in St Francis
are linked to those
of the beachfront
properties and if
these decline there
will be a
corresponding
reduction in the
values of other
properties
throughout the
Village. This
cannot be allowed to
happen.
However, this is not
the time for either
complacency or
pessimism and we
would urge residents
with any questions
to call or e-mail
us. We will then be
able to respond
directly to any
concerns you may
have and provide the
full facts on your
queries. Our contact
details are
trust@stfrancisbay.org
or mobile 082 777
1519.
It is interesting to
note that in the
previous on-line
poll carried on the
Home Page of the
Beach Trust website,
the results from
over 600 respondents
clearly indicate
that the vast
majority (72%)
strongly believe
that the
“St Francis Reefs”
project will enhance
their property
values (32%) with a
further 40%
believing it will
enhance the overall
environment and the
quality of the
surfing.
There is every
reason for optimism
regarding our
“St Francis Reefs”
initiative which is
ground breaking in a
number of aspects.
Firstly it clearly
shows that
communities like St
Francis Bay can
provide positive
outcomes to serious
long-term
environmental
issues. At the same
time it also
indicates that this
community is
concerned about “a
better future for
all its residents”
on a ongoing basis.
There is no doubt
that this is a
winning formula for
success.
This quote from the
famous US architect
Daniel Burnham who
was instrumental in
the rebuilding of
Chicago after the
“Great Fire” clearly
illustrates what we
as a community can
achieve in ensuring
that St Francis
remains one of the
most favoured
holiday and tourist
destinations within
South Africa. This
in turn will
guarantee the
overall success and
prosperity of the
wider St Francis
community. We
anticipate your full
support in this
worthy and essential
endeavour.
Finally, we would
urge homeowners to
log on to our
website
www.sfbbeachtrust.org
and to
complete the new
poll on the Home
Page
which indicates
either your support
or opposition to the
SFB Beach Trust
initiative.
You can only vote
once and this vote
will be used to in a
positive way by the
Trust to assess
support and counter
the negative
response to the
initiative by a very
small minority of
permanent
residents. We look
forward to your
support and
assistance in
“Saving our Beach.”
Alan Tonkin
Founder: SFB Beach
Trust
26 December, 2006
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