Garbage problem as heavy rain washes away dunes
EFFORTS are under way to stabilise and reinstate the Witsands sand dunes that washed away due to heavy rains and caused the old municipal dump underneath to breach, leaving decades of old rubbish exposed and washing into the sea.
Shark Spotters said the effect on marine life could be significant.
The organisation has spearheaded a clean-up operation and on Saturday said more than 50 locals pitched in to help, removing over 700 bags of litter.
“As well as clearing litter, the Shark Spotters team have been installing nets further up in the dunes to trap any more rubbish from coming down to the beach.
“The water bodies at the back of the dunes desperately need diverting to prevent more water bursting through the dump.
“The City is unable to access a digger until early next (this) week, and so as an emergency intervention Shark Spotters and the City's Coastal
Management Team have organised an external service provider to bring a digger to the dunes (yesterday) in order to open a channel before further rain arrives on Monday.”
Locals again showed up yesterday at the beach to assist in the clean-up.
Water and Waste Mayco member Xanthea Limberg said the City has had a maintenance programme in place since 2006 for the old decommissioned Witsands landfill site, which involves netting to ensure the footprint of the waste is contained and stabilised to manage the mobile/shifting dune system, one of the last in the Western Cape, while prioritising protecting the environment.
“The recent heavy rainfall has caused the mobile dunes, which covered the waste, to wash away and expose it. The City's Solid Waste Management Department and Coastal Management unit are working together to address this matter.”
Efforts include using excavators and dumpers to assist with stabilising the site by placing the sand to reinstate the dunes as needed where waste has been exposed.
“A team has been deployed to pick up the waste along the coastline.
“The City wants to thank the Shark Spotters for their efforts,'' Limberg added.
SANParks yesterday said Ranger Teams from the Southern Section of Table Mountain National Park, as well as a few members of the public, were again at Witsands to assist with the clean-up.