Swakop to address sea erosion damage
Work to be completed by next Friday
The Swakopmund municipality on Tuesday issued a notice that it will address damage caused by sea reclamation on the town’s southern side near the jetty.
The ocean has washed away large sections of the beach, especially between the jetty and the aquarium, and has damaged the public recreational walkway along Jörg Henrichsen Park.
Several parts of the interlock-paved walkway, as well as an old wooden bridge across a culvert, have been destroyed by higher tides. In some places, as much as 10 metres of land has been eroded inland. Besides the infrastructure damage, the situation has created an eyesore and raised safety concerns.
The notice stated that the town will undertake work as part of its ongoing coastal management and maintenance activities.
“The work will include the reinforcement of the existing breakwater to provide erosion protection from high seas and wave action, to protect the surroundings from further damage,” municipal general manager for engineering and planning services Clarence McClune explained.
He informed the public that personnel and machinery will be present and that temporary restrictions to parking areas and beach access will apply in the affected areas.
“We urge all residents and visitors to exercise caution when in or near these zones during this time,” he said, adding that the work is expected to take until about 12 December.
Changing coastline
Retired architect Peter Odendaal said that “unless drastic remedial action is taken, this beach area will be lost. A solution would be to create a seawall such as, for example, the Platz am Meer breakwater,"
"A cheaper solution, however, would be to use the South African ‘Dolos’ system, which could be manufactured locally.”
In response, resident Zanu Burger warned that areas at the waterfront, once a popular surf spot, and further north at Pebbles Beach, currently widely used for surfing and swimming, have become dangerous because of the changing coastline, which he says is caused by breakwater structures.
“People need to think of the consequences,” he said.
The ocean has washed away large sections of the beach, especially between the jetty and the aquarium, and has damaged the public recreational walkway along Jörg Henrichsen Park.
Several parts of the interlock-paved walkway, as well as an old wooden bridge across a culvert, have been destroyed by higher tides. In some places, as much as 10 metres of land has been eroded inland. Besides the infrastructure damage, the situation has created an eyesore and raised safety concerns.
The notice stated that the town will undertake work as part of its ongoing coastal management and maintenance activities.
“The work will include the reinforcement of the existing breakwater to provide erosion protection from high seas and wave action, to protect the surroundings from further damage,” municipal general manager for engineering and planning services Clarence McClune explained.
He informed the public that personnel and machinery will be present and that temporary restrictions to parking areas and beach access will apply in the affected areas.
“We urge all residents and visitors to exercise caution when in or near these zones during this time,” he said, adding that the work is expected to take until about 12 December.
Changing coastline
Retired architect Peter Odendaal said that “unless drastic remedial action is taken, this beach area will be lost. A solution would be to create a seawall such as, for example, the Platz am Meer breakwater,"
"A cheaper solution, however, would be to use the South African ‘Dolos’ system, which could be manufactured locally.”
In response, resident Zanu Burger warned that areas at the waterfront, once a popular surf spot, and further north at Pebbles Beach, currently widely used for surfing and swimming, have become dangerous because of the changing coastline, which he says is caused by breakwater structures.
“People need to think of the consequences,” he said.
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