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PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Thursday, 29 May 2014
MARINE LIFE: SONWABI BEACH PROPOSED AS NEW LAUNCH SITE
Slipway for False Bay coast LAILA MAJIET @laila_newsie
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ocal boat users can look forward to launching their vessels on their doorstep in the near future. An application for a beach launch site is in the process of being submitted to national government for approval. The City of Cape Town is compiling the application for a marine access point at Sonwabi Beach on Baden Powell Drive near Muizenberg. This follows a broad consensus given by fishermen and boat users at a recent public meeting in Mitchell’s Plain. The meeting was held to decide on a viable and preferred location for a slipway between Mnandi and Muizenberg beaches. Gregg Oelofse, head of environmental policy and strategy for the City of Cape Town, says a beach launch site at Sonwabi is the only viable solution at this stage. Strong wave action, large swells and strong winds along the False Bay coast prevent development along this shoreline, he insists. “It is virtually impossible for us to maintain any slipway along this coast due to these factors,” Oelofse says. “The wave action, swell and wind strength make it impossible to launch and land a boat here unless there is a groyne which is too costly to implement in the next 10 years.” A groyne is a low wall built out from the coast into the sea, to prevent the repeated movement of the waves from removing parts of the land and to control erosion. Permission to build this infrastructure can take at least two to three years, he says. Sonwabi was chosen as a suitable site for an access point due to it being “slightly calmer and having less wave action which also makes it safer”. Oelofse says: “There is also better vehicle access at this site and a launch site at this
look at providing a tractor and trailer required to launch at this site,” Oelofse adds. Igshaan Carstens, of the Strandfontein Boating Association, requests a database be established of all boat users who will use the proposed launch site. “This will be used to coordinate the required training.” Driver for coast development and ward councillor Danny Christians says the application is a step in the right direction. “I will keep council accountable and ensure that in six months the application has been submitted and approved.” City officials committed to in six months obtain permission from national government to launch at Sonwabi. It is at this stage unclear how long thereafter construction of a slipway would commence. The parking area at Sonwabi will also have to be upgraded, adds Christians. Duncan Gouvias (20) grew up learning about commercial and recreational fishing. Speaking at the meeting, he said people needed to consider safety first. Ignoring the safety risks of building a slipway along the rough False Bay coast is not advised, he insists. “No matter how much money is spent, you have to ask yourself whether your life or your catch is more important. Commercial fishing will not always be possible at the beach launch site.” Christians says the beach launch site could only be used in favourable weather conditions. Athol Groenewald of Rocklands questioned the possibility of a launch site at Strandfontein Beach near Broken Road. “Why don’t you take the road away and build a launch site there?” But this idea was shot down. Oelofse says: “That is not a good idea due to there being a lot of wave action. The road has already collapsed because of this so building there again would be a huge mistake.”
beach would be safer for all beach users.” With beaches stretching across 300km, Cape Town has the most substantial stretch of coastline in the country. However, there is limited space for harbours and slipways due to rough seas and strong winds, Oelofse says. “There is a shortage of marine access points and the ones we do have are not in a great condition,” he admits. “We need better investments and resources to maintain what we have and we definitely need more access points because people’s livelihood depend on it.” Miller’s Point slipway is the most popular launch site and is extensively used by commercial and recreational small boat fishermen. “When the fish is plenty there is chaos at this site due to congestion, as it is one of the few accessible launch sites,” Oelofse adds. While commercial fishermen could use the proposed launch site at Sonwabi, the marine access point is intended for recreational usage. A study was conducted to investigate the possibility of a launch site at Monwabisi Beach, but due to it being a small recreational facility, this option was ruled out, says Howard Gold of the City’s Coastal Management Unit. “We would have to use almost the entire beach to launch a boat at this site which causes potential conflict with swimmers,” he says. “While this could be solved with buoys there is likely to be a big nod of disapproval from beach users should this option be implemented.” Oelofse says Monwabisi is a “sand and salt blasting area”. “It is not that we do not want to invest in infrastructure at this beach, but the challenges we face there prevent us from doing so,” he explains. Boat users who wish to use the proposed launch site at Sonwabi will be required to undergo training. “We will facilitate this training with the NSRI. Council could also
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: People’s Post Mitchell’s Plain journalist Laila Majiet, winner of the Alet Roux Medal at the MDDA/ Sanlam Awards, is congratulated by news editor Mandy King. This honour is conferred on the most promising newcomer with less than three years’ experience and who also made it into the top 20 of the Journalist of the Year category. It is the first time Majiet has entered this competition and the judges said her portfolio contained “a range of different kinds of stories that provided strong evidence of versatility and tenacity alongside excellent writing skills”. People's Post forms part of WP Media (WPM) which also comprises TygerBurger and City Vision newspapers. In the sport writing category People’s Post sports journalist Liam Moses and City Vision contributing journalist Cliffy Mago were among the top 10 contenders. TygerBurger journalist Michelle Linnert won both the Human Interest writing and News Photographer categories. In the Human Interest category Majiet came in the top 10, while TygerBurger journalist Andre Bakkes was among the top three. In the Hard News category TygerBurger journalist Desiree Rorke was in the top three, with Majiet in the top 10. WPM photographer Carina Roux was in the top three for Press Photographer of the Year and in the top 20 for the News Photograper category. Bakkes and Rorke were in the top 10 for the Journalist of the Year category. PHOTO: ASTRID FEBRUARIE
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