Collective PA drive to upgrade amenities
Businesses and residents join forces in community project
Port Alfred businesses in conjunction with the PA Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (PARRA) are on a drive to upgrade beachfront public toilets and protect them against vandalism.
The public toilets at the East Beach kiosk and the upper deck itself have already been upgraded as part of the upliftment and beautification project.
A mural by Carmen Kemp of a seagull that adorns the wall of the building has added a splash of colour to the immediate vicinity.
In addition the group of concerned businesses, who have the interests of Port Alfred at heart, have sponsored the upgrade of facilities in and around the area of the public toilets.
The collective refurbishment project, which has been given the green light by the Ndlambe Municipality, is aimed at finding practical solutions to creating a secure environment around public facilities and to protect them against vandals.
“We were delighted to hear that Port Alfred was going to host its first [recently concluded] Easter Festival and it became apparent that we would be a destination over the holidays for new and returning visitors, including surfers and surfing fans,” PARRA chair Lindsay Luppnow said.
“This was an excellent opportunity to get the public toilets/kiosk at East Beach upgraded.”
One of the initiatives included posting a security guard at the kiosk precinct, as well as a beach guard to patrol the area during the day. The guards would assist by ensuring toilets were locked and unlocked, and protected.
“This initiative is privately funded by various donors and has been hugely successful in reducing criminal activities in the area,” Luppnow said.
“Various other role-players from our community jumped on board and in no time we had all aspects of the repairs taken care of.”
The upgrade included repairs to the stairs, deck and balustrading. Floors were screeded and raised to prevent damming up of water. The kiosk building received a good lick of paint on the inside and outside. Other adjustments included replacement of toilet seats and new toilet holders were installed. New handles and latches have been fixed to doors and plumbing was repaired, including the installation of new cisterns.
The role-players who contributed to the upgrade efforts are:
Multi Security Services: placement of security gates on the toilets to prevent vandalism after hours. The use of the beach guard in assisting with locking/unlocking and also general reporting of maintenance needed.
KH Construction: repair to the deck, raising of floors, painting of building, clearing of the area around the kiosk to ensure proper drainage
Kowie Remax: donation of paint for building to be repainted
Buco: reduced pricing on materials for repairs and paint
Plumrite Plumbing: repairs to toilets and showers
Sunshine Coast Tourism: donation of funds
PA Business Forum: donation of funds
PARRA: donation of funds Ndlambe Municipality: assistance with labour
“Other mention needs to be made of CDR Electrical, who have placed new lights in the area, and also Alex and Pauline Weed for their assistance with installing new toilet seats, toilet roll holders and handles and latches on doors,” Luppnow said.
“We also need to thank Carmen and Garth Kemp and the volunteers who attended to the beautiful artwork on the building.”