GLENTANA NEWS - Subject to procurement processes and negotiations with the Garden Route District Municipality, the majority of the Mossel Bay municipal council voted to proceed with repair works to the value of more than R16 million at the Glentana beachfront.
An item was tabled during a special council meeting on 12 May regarding the work required to repair and prevent further damage to the affected public area of the beachfront following storm damage in September 2023 and in January this year.
Councillors for the DA and FF Plus were in support of the item, while the ACDP, PA and Icosa abstained and the ANC voted against it.
The item refers to erf 99, Glentana, and states that the embankment at the public parking area and ablution facilities were damaged. The public access steps to the beach and adjacent shower structure were also washed away.
According to the item, erf 99, Glentana, is the registered property of the Garden Route District Municipality.
Mossel Bay Municipality is in negotiations with the district municipality regarding the transfer of the property to the municipality.
It states reasons the safeguarding of the property is deemed to be in the public's interest:
• Facilitating access to the beach area.
• Public ablution facilities for use by visitors and residents.
• Public parking area for use by visitors and residents.
• The works will safeguard residential and business areas from future possible damage, should the dunes destabilise further.
• The property contains Mossel Bay municipal infrastructure.
Mossel Bay Municipality appointed engineering consultants to produce specialist coastal engineering input, applied to the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) and received an approved directive to undertake the proposed emergency works.
The chosen option after evaluating six possible solutions is rock revetment (a facing of impact-resistant material applied to a bank or wall in order to absorb the energy of incoming water and protect it from erosion) as the most effective way to stabilise the dunes and protect key infrastructure.
This method mimics natural coastal defences, absorbing wave energy and allowing vegetation to flourish.
The consultants estimated the project budget to be in the region of R16 980 776.94.
It was confirmed that sufficient budget is available in the operational and capital budgets for the years, 2024/25 and 2025/26, for which provision was made in the relevant budgets.
As the Mossel Bay and Garden Route District municipalities are still negotiating regarding ownership of the property, it was further proposed in the item that consideration be given that, should the negotiations not be successful, the municipality claims back this expenditure from the Garden Route District Municipality for the works undertaken.
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