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90 000 COPIES WEEKLY WEDNESDAY February 25, 2015 |0 041 503 6111 | Email express@media24.com | www.peexpress.co.za |
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EDITOR: BETTIE GILIOMEE
Anger over report on B’water Bay beachfront T LIZEKA TANDWA
HE face of the Bluewater Bay beachfront could change if the findings of an environmental report, commissioned by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, are implemented.
Concern has also been raised that recommended changes, such as the relocation of the Bluewater Bay Surf Lifesaving Club’s clubhouse and facilities, could hamper rescue operations and put lives at risk. The report also recommends that the public ablution block and parking lot be relocated and that a new road be made through the Bluewater Bay (BWB) park to the river mouth. More than 400 concerned Bluewater Bay residents have signed letters of concern and some will attend an open meeting on February 28 at the Walmer Town Hall to discuss the environmental report and the impact its findings can have on them and visitors to the beach. The meeting is arranged by CEN Integrated Environmental Management (CEN IEM) who prepared the report. The main concern expressed by the community was that the relocating of the club and demolition of the parking lot alongside it could lead to a sand build-up which could end in the Swartkops River mouth, leading to the mouth silting up. This would not only adversely affect the biodiversity of the estuary but also pose a massive problem if pollution that flowed down the river was dammed up in the mouth along Amsterdamhoek. CEN IEM Unit was appointed by the NMBM to review and update their existing Coastal Management Plan (CMP). The CMP is a guideline document to assist the municipality in managing the coastal zone. A key part of the CMP is to address the potential impacts of climate change, sea-level rise and storm surges. Bluewater Bay Surf Lifesaving Club Chairman, David Bamber, said “If the BWB club house is moved to a different location, we will lose a position which enables us to monitor both the Swartkops River up to the bridge across the
N2 and the mouth where most of our rescues take place. It would also increase the response time, increasing the risk of loss of lives,” he said. “The (environmental) report suggests in the medium term the demolition of the BWB club house, public ablution block and parking lot and on duty beach, as well as the ablution block
which includes the duty room, Nippers room and duty beach parking lot. It is suggested that it be relocated elsewhere between De Mist Circle and the beach or at the corner of Weinronk and Bluewater Drive for ablution blocks and parking. It is further recommended that a new road be made through the park to the river
mouth. “I am sure the beachside residents of De Mist Circle would be pretty angry if the club, and particularly the municipal ablution block, plus a road are moved between their houses and the beach,” said Bamber. Continued on page 2
Helenvale groet rommel... en skurke
As die woonbuurt skoon gehou word, sal misdadigers dalk nie meer welkom voel nie. Met dié plan in gedagte het leerders verlede Donderdag by die Helenvalehulpbronsentrum weggespring om Helenvale rommelvry te kry. Elton van Rensburg (voor), ’n leerder van die Helenvale Primêre Skool, het saam met sy klasmaats en ander leerders gehelp om die plan deur te voer. FOTO: DEON FERREIRA