Heritage Cases

The St Francis Bay beach has lost a considerable amount of sand material and the existing dune area across the frontage as a result of significant erosion events occurring over the past few decades. This has resulted in existing infrastructure becoming more vulnerable to loss and damage, should more significant erosion events take place. The effects of the erosion of the beach (in both width and depth of sediment) has been realised across the full frontage, stretching from the car park at the end of Nevil Rd in the south to the Kromme Estuary mouth in the north. Approximately 700 m of the frontage, referred to as “the spit” is particularly vulnerable, as it is currently unprotected and that should a breach occur, there would be significant risk to existing infrastructure (e.g. houses, roads and canals) which are located behind the spit. The St Francis Property Owners Non-Profit Company (SFPO NPC), on behalf of the Kouga Local Municipality, has proposed the implementation of a coastal protection scheme for St Francis Bay beach. The coastal protection scheme will include sand material sourcing from the Kromme River (and any other viable sources), beach nourishment of St Francis Bay beach and the development of coastal structures to retard the erosion of St Francis Bay beach. The implementation of beach nourishment together with the development of 5 short stub groynes (i.e. a low solid barrier built into the sea) was considered to be the most suitable option for long-term coastal protections. To prevent the sea from breaking through the St Francis Bay beach spit during a strong storm surge event, revetment structures have been proposed as an additional coastal protection measure to be implemented. The revetment structures will extend for approximately 620m along the length of the beach spit. A stretch of coastal dunes and beach of approximately 2700m extending from Nevil Rd to the Kromme River mouth forms the project area.