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The Beach Project: An Integrated Approach to Development
The St Francis Bay Beach Project is a fully integrated approach to sustainable development using the best available environmental practices. The project comprises a number of inter-related components, all of which are intertwined and impact on one another. The diagram below illustrates how these various component parts link one with the other.
In looking at the environmental aspects of the Beach Project we have the Estuary, the Beach including the Dunes and the Artificial Off-shore Reefs.
 The Estuary
The initial part of the project includes the dredging of the sand build up in the forward part of the Estuary, lying between the two entrances to the canal system (see left). Following the receipt of the detailed Hydrodynamic Modelling Report for the Kromme Estuary from ASR it is clear that dredging in the demarcated areas is going to have little or no effect on the Estuary as a whole.
During the initial stages (2007 – 2008) it is planned to remove some 200 000 cu meters of sand per annum and pump this to the beach using the dredge shown above. The equipment selected is the IMS 5012 HP model which is a self propelled and ideally suited to the sensitive application required for the Kromme Estuary.
 The sand will be pumped in a slurry and will be released at intervals in the inter-tidal zone along the beach. This will allow the sea to move the sand on the beach rather than using heavy equipment. In addition, the slurry will be used to fill the reef bags once they have been anchored to the sea bed. According to the findings in the ASR Report additional sand will be deposited in the Estuary as a renewable resource.
The Beach
In order to rehabilitate the beach it is necessary to move sand from the Estuary to the southern end of the beach near Bruce’s at Main Beach. Once Reef 1 has been installed off Anne Avenue, sand will be pumped into the intertidal zone and will be moved around by the sea. This sand will also be used to infill gaps where there has been excessive erosion of the beach and frontal dune system.
It is important to note that not only has the beach been eroded inland horizontally but significant amounts of sand have also been lost in the vertical plane. This can be seen right along the beach where in some cases the beach levels have dropped two to three meters and in some cases more than this.
As the beach becomes progressively wider it will be possible to re-establish the frontal dune system and to replant the dunes with the correct species of indigenous plants. This process will take place on an on-going basis over the full 20 year life cycle of the project and beyond.
Following detailed discussions with officials the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the Eastern Cape it has been agreed that the best routing for the slurry pipeline will be in the beach. This has also been confirmed by the SAB Institute for Environmental and Coastal Management at NMMU. The planned route will allow the pipeline to be relatively straight while at the same time resulting in the minimal amount of environmental damage to the existing dune system. As the beach and dune system becomes wider and higher the pipeline will be progressively lifted and will eventually sit within the re-established frontal dune system.
St Francis Reefs.
It is planned to construct Reef 1 during 2007 with Reefs 2 and 3 following in 2008/9. There is also a possibility of an additional fourth reef being required. This will become clear once the final design is completed by ASR in December, 2006.
In order to protect the sand being pumped from the Estuary onto the beach it is essential that the reefs are put in place as speedily as possible. However, 2007 will be a year of ensuring that the project team obtains the required on-site experience to complete the job successfully. When Reef 1 is complete it will also be possible to more accurately monitor the effects of the reef on the beach. The picture above shows the intended positioning of the reefs from ASR with final design planned for December, 2006.
Once the reefs are in place we can expect that a variety of marine life will start to inhabit the reef environment. This should result in additional opportunities for scuba diving in the area as well as the improved surfing conditions in the Bay.
Operational Structure
In order to manage the project from a multi-disciplinary perspective we have set up an operating structure which allows for the project to be completed effectively and efficiently. This comprises two operating companies which will be overseeing and managing the project, in conjunction with our various partners and consultants.
As indicated in the graphic above the St Francis Bay Beach Trust is the lead organisation which handles the funding and oversight of the project working closely with the Kouga Municipality and the selected financial institution. This is the key strategic organisation in the project with the operational aspects being handled by two companies specially formed for this project. These are as follows:
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SFB Dredging & Sand Pumping (Pty) Limited is responsible for all the operational aspects of moving sand from the Estuary to the various points on the Beach. This is an on-going operation and will continue on an indefinite basis as the beach will require on-going renourishment into the future.
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African Surfing Reefs (Pty) Limited is the responsible organisation for building the reefs. This company is jointly owned by ASR Limited in New Zealand and the SFB Beach Trust and will utilise the unique ASR Technology as part of the agreement. The company will move on to other similar projects on the African continent following completion of the “St Francis Reefs.”
We believe that the above structure has an additional unique benefit. Following the completion of the St Francis Reefs project It is capable of generating on-going funds for the St Francis Bay Beach Trust. These funds can over time be reinvested within the wider St Francis community on other sustainable development initiatives.
In terms of the available international research, there is clear evidence to show that projects such as the “St Francis Reefs” generate additional funds for the community in the ratio of 1:20. This is the conservative scenario, so in the case of Greater St Francis we can expect at least a return of R500 million in terms of additional opportunities in our wider community including eco-tourism and other related activities.
Some Conclusions
The formal structure now in place provides a fully integrated strategic management system for the project. In order to ensure the type of success experienced in other parts of the world it is critical that there is an understanding that all the parts comprise integrated parts of a single vision. All the component parts of the structure working efficiently together will ensure that the “St Francis Reefs” project is completed successfully and on schedule.
We look forward to a few years from now when St Francis Bay is once again renowned for its fine wide beach, world class surfing breaks, navigable estuary and related eco-tourism activities.
In achieving this we as a community will have secured the long-term prosperity and success of the Village as a viable economic entity for the benefit of all concerned homeowners and residents.
Alan Tonkin
Founder: St Francis Bay Beach Trust
St Francis Bay
5 November, 2006 |
