Heritage Cases

The proposed development entails repair and maintenance work to existing Arniston harbour infrastructure and the development of a rock revetment in order to protect the harbour embankment and infrastructure. Repair and maintenance work Existing infrastructure which requires repair and maintenance work include the slipway, harbour fence and winch room. Figure 1 below illustrates the harbour layout. NB! The abovementioned activities are all maintenance and repair work within the existing footprint and will not increase the development footprint of the existing harbour. It therefore, does not constitute a listed activity in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2017 (as per the correspondence, dated 13 March 2017, from the Department of Environmental Affairs – Reference number: 14/12/16/3/1/1/102). Embankment The proposed development includes the development of a rock revetment since the harbour embankment is eroding. The rock revetment will be a new development which will increase the development footprint of the existing harbour. The embankment protects the harbour infrastructure above the slipway and is located along the entire length of the seaward facing boundary of the harbour facility (approximately 95m in length and m wide). Significant erosion of the embankment by wave action and wave run-up, has resulted in severe slippage/failure of large portions of the embankment, thereby undermining the fence perimeter and parking area above (see Figure 3 above). The continuing undermining of the embankment is putting harbour infrastructure (buildings) at risk. There is limited vegetative cover providing stability. Some sections of the embankment appear to be builders’ fill used to reclaim land. Presence of heavy foreign objects used in fill material, to reclaim land for the parking area, is evident. The construction methodology will be as follows: • New coastal defence required (likely rock revetment) • Excavation for a toe into beach and shaping of embankment to take revetment • Geotextile layer placed against insitu • Underlayer rock to be placed and shaped by excavator • Armour rock to be positioned by crane NB! The structure is new and footprint will be increased therefore a basic assessment will be required.