By Heinz De Boer and Ayanda Mhlongo
Sweeping, foam capped waves smashing into already devastated beaches and coastal properties.
That is what KwaZulu-Natal authorities are bracing themselves for with massive plans to prevent another coastal wave disaster.
Coastal engineers, municipalities together with department of agriculture and environmental affairs (DAEA) scientists are preparing for another onslaught from Mother Nature.
| 'There will be further discussion on how to mitigate the possible damage' |
Celestial conditions mimicking March's devastating equinox coupled with high tides is again expected this September, and officials are not taking any chances.
Although there are two equinoxes each year (March 20 and September 22), it's the celestial event's coupled with bad weather and spring high tides that could see monster waves being created.
Continues Below ↓
Senior scientists of the department's biodiversity and coastal management section are expected to conduct an aerial survey of the high water marks later this week before a high level planning meeting between municipalities later this month.
"There will be further discussion on how to mitigate the possible damage that could be brought by the Spring Tide.
In terms of preparedness and awareness, the department and other listed stakeholders have been working on this since March this year," DAEA spokesperson, Mbulelo Baloyi said.
Municipalities devastated by almost three days of freak wave activity in March have now warned of the financial ruin they could face if storm activity combines with the equinox during high tides. Durban officials, however, are optimistic.
EThekwini Municipality's coastal engineer Andrew Mather, rubbished rumours that all coastal rehabilitation work had been stopped in anticipation of the celestial event. He believes that unless a storm combines with the higher tides, the damage should be minimal. Mather however, admitted that the prediction of natural events was a tricky business.
"We are trying to stabilise the situation. We think it will be fairly quiet provided the sea behaves, but if there is a sea storm or cold front at the same time we could see more erosion," Mather said.
Further south the Ugu District Municipality, which had a R113-million hole knocked into its budget by the waves, says it is monitoring the situation. More erosion and damage has also been reported in the Margate and Park Rynie areas.
Spokesperson Xoliswa Zulu said: "We are aware of the expected Equinox but at the moment we can only monitor and observe the situation. We know that the ocean is unstable and previous damage to the coastline proves that. All necessary precautions will be taken."
KwaDukuza disaster management officials have adopted a wait and see attitude after private and municipal infrastructure valued at more than R1 billion was swept away in March.
Head of disaster management Adrian Barnes said he hoped that the "perfect storm" conditions were not repeated in September.
"Yes, we are going to get high seas and with the frontal dunes not being there the water will sweep higher.
"Facilities are more exposed and there is no protection. People have protected where they have had to, but thus far there has been no major construction mainly because of the environmental authorisation needed.
"We will monitor it and hope it does not happen, but we say this now, and tomorrow it happens," Barnes said.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Daily News on August 24, 2007
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
