Sewer spill a threat to umhlanga tourism

THE sewage spill from the faulty Blackburn pump station in umhlanga that contaminates beaches is affecting the tourism industry in the north.

With the festive season fast approaching, the umhlanga tourism sector was concerned there was little time left to fix the situation, and that the city had not given any assurances that beaches would be open come December.

This comes after another massive sewer spill occurred at the Blackburn pump station on Friday, flowing into the Ohlange river and into the sea.

The pump, which is located along the N2, has been faulty since the April floods, and the city has yet to commence with its repairs. But it was problematic even before the floods, having been affected by a chemical spill from the nearby ULP chemical company that was vandalised during unrest in July last year.

Duncan Heafield, chairperson of the umhlanga Tourism Authority, said they were worried about the state of the beaches, which were a tourism drawcard.

Heafield said they were affected during the September school holidays, when the number of visitors was relatively low as a result of the beach closures.

He said it was almost impossible for the city to have the beaches ready before the festive season, and they expected an increase in cancellations.

Heafield said the northern beaches from Blue Lagoon to Westbrook had been closed for 220 days, and there were only seven weeks before the festive season.

“The revenue we are losing is about R10 million a day, including jobs that could have been created.

“During school holidays we saw a decline (in numbers) and the beach closure was the main reason for it. Travellers who are using the point system are opting for alternative places once they find out the beach is closed. It is a measure of concern for us because this is the time when people make reservations, but we are unable to assure them (that the beaches will be open during the December holidays).

“The city has been promising since June that they will be attending to it. With only a few weeks left, it is only magic that will make this problem go away before the festive season,” he said.

Asked about the city’s contingency plans, spokesperson for the municipality Msawakhe Mayisela said water quality had improved at various beaches since the municipality commenced with repairing the infrastructure. He assured residents that by November all Durban beaches would be ready for bathing.

“We currently have central beaches open for bathing, while the water quality has improved in other areas. Our estuary water near lagoons has also shown significant improvement, but based on the advice from environmental affairs we kept them closed. The city is confident that by November all the repairs will be done,” he said.

Local ward councillor Nicole Bollman said umhlanga, which attracted international tourists, had been hard-hit because the beach had been closed for a long period due to lockdown regulations, the ULP fire which resulted in beaches being closed, and now sewage.

“Although the issue of a failed sewerage system has been escalated, and there are some muffled discussions by city management, there is still no tangible evidence of a plan to repair the broken pump stations and wastewater treatment plants by the city.

“Should the situation not be resolved in lightning-quick time, I do fear that this will negatively affect tourism as we head into the festive season,” she added.

After he visited the Blackburn pump station, Alan Beesley, Actionsa’s ethekwini Municipality caucus leader, called for the urgent intervention of MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Siboniso Duma to resolve the problem.

Beesley said the sewer spill was becoming an environmental, ecological and tourism disaster.

“Actionsa is of the view that residents and businesses are being misled as to how dire the situation is. Urgent action is needed, not only to repair the sewerage system, but also to prevent the entire collapse of the system.

“The intolerably high levels of raw sewage pose a health risk to residents living nearby. These residents include young children, the elderly and those of working age.

“The pollution also poses a great risk to the environment and wildlife. It is evident many environmental and health risks are being blatantly violated due to the lack of action by the city.

“As such, the MEC must step in and act where a gutless and politically expedient city administration refuses to do so,” he said.

Duma’s spokesperson, Malusi Mchunu, said the department had been liaising with the municipality regarding the repair plans and implementation.