St Francis Bay Beach Trust

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St Francis Bay Beach Trust

• Presentation to the Kouga Council 7 September,
  2006 Extracts from Presentation to Minister of
  Environmental Affairs 19 April, 2006

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St Francis Bay Using Innovation in Ensuring a
Sustainable Future within an Integrated
Community

• Beach Restoration Using the Best Available
  Environmental Approaches to Secure Long Term
  Sustainability Economic Growth

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The St Francis Bay Key Issues

• A Brief History of St Francis Bay
• SFB was established in the early 1950s as a
  holiday village which included the first Marina
  in South Africa
• It was initially developed using a strict
  building code with white houses and black roofs.
  This developed into Phase 2 with Mediterranean
  architecture. This is unique for South Africa and
  is also rare globally.
• Many of those who bought properties in the
  Village were also environmentally aware and were
  keen to preserve the special aspects present in
  the area.
• 50 years on St Francis Bay is one of the premier
  holiday destinations in the Eastern Cape and
  still retains many of its original Special
  Aspects.

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The St Francis Bay Key Issues

• The Opportunities and Threats
• SFB as a holiday destination is heavily reliant
  on tourism and its beach for its continued growth
• The Beach has been disappearing over the last 20
  years at an average rate of 2 3 meters per year
• 2005/6 has seen major problems including severe
  erosion of the Beach, prompting questions on the
  long-term economic viability and future of the
  Village
• As a result of previous lack of success the SFB
  Beach Trust was established to not only Save Our
  Beach but also to secure our local economy for
  all residents.

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SFB Beach Erosion 11/2005
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SFB Beach Erosion 11/2005
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The St Francis Bay Key Issues

• The Opportunities and Threats
• There are 48 houses situated directly on the
  beach front. Many of these homeowners have been
  forced to construct rock revetments to secure
  their homes from the sea which has only been
  partially effective.
• The majority of these beachfront homes are valued
  upwards of R 5.0 million each. This gives a
  total value for these properties of R 240
  million.
• If this erosion of the beach continues both the
  tourist potential and properties are threatened.
  We need to Save Our Beach to protect the local
  economy and many existing/future jobs in St
  Francis Bay.

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The St Francis Bay Key Issues

• The Opportunities and Threats
• SFB also has over 45 tourist establishments
  offering visitors differing levels of
  accommodation ranging from 5 Star Guest Lodges to
  basic Bed Breakfasts.
• The various tourist accommodation and restaurants
  provide employment for well over 250 individuals
  with varying levels of skills.
• In addition, SFB is also seen as a favored
  location for holiday homes as well as a
  multi-million Golf Estate.
• This also provides significant additional
  employment in both the construction and tourism
  industry as well as for on-going skills
  development initiatives.

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The St Francis Bay Key Issues

• The Opportunities and Threats
• Sea Vista is an integral part of St Francis Bay
  yet it suffers from years of neglect.
• It is estimated that up to 2 500 people live in
  Sea Vista. This community is fragmented and
  disfunctional.
• There is a settled established community, as well
  as recent new arrivals, mainly from the old
  Ciskei Homeland area, who live under appalling
  conditions.
• In addition, a significant component of the
  community are involved in the fishing industry
  which is transient.
• If St Francis is to succeed then Greater St
  Francis must also prosper. In addition, it will
  be possible to improve the Quality of Life for
  all residents.

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The St Francis Bay Key Issues

• The Opportunities and Threats
• The Eastern Cape suffers from high unemployment
  rates and urgently needs to preserve and create
  jobs.
• For every person employed in St Francis Bay,
  there are at least another 5 to 9 family members
  reliant on that individual, including many in the
  rural areas.
• As SFB grows there will be further job
  opportunities created in the tourism and
  construction sectors.
• In addition, the Beach Rehabilitation Project
  will create the opportunity for BEE Initiatives
  linked to the environmental aspects of Saving
  Our Beach. .

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The St Francis Bay Key Issues

• The Opportunities and Threats
• There is a need to secure the long term future of
  the Village which now has over 3 500 permanent
  residents throughout the year, including Sea
  Vista.
• During the Christmas / New Year Holiday Season
  the population of the Village grows to /- 20
  000.
• All new SFB developments advertise the beach as a
  major drawcard for both the Village and the wider
  Kouga community/area. This is why we have to
  ensure that we Save Our Beach
• The SFB Beach Trust is at this stage fully funded
  by the SFB community which has raised R 1 million
  to complete the initial beach investigation /
  research.

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Vision 2020 Options for the Future

• Kouga Municipality Priority Weightings for
  Budgeted Development Projects 2006
• Basic Needs/Essential Services 10
• Job Creation 10
• Economic Development 8
• Sustainability 6
• Community Well Being/Quality of Life 6
• Income Advantage to Council 6
• Environmental advantage/sustainability 4
• Agenda Special Council Meeting 24 February, 2006
• SFB Beach Project meets all of the above
  criteria

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The History of SFB Beach

• An initiative was started in 2001 in an attempt
  to resolve the SFB beach erosion issue.
• The initiative was an exercise by the Kouga
  Disaster Management Beach Committee. The
  consultants prepared proposals which were
  inconclusive, partly due to lack of adequate
  funding being available from the Kouga Council.
  
• In addition, the EIA was not fully funded by the
  Kouga Municipality and as a result was not at all
  comprehensive.
• The estimated cost of the proposals was up to R
  80 m which was neither affordable or practical.
• These proposals were not acceptable to the
  community as they were not considered
  environmentally appropriate.

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Not a Good Location for Groynes
Shift the problem down the coast Ineffective
where cross-shore sediment transport dominates
(potential for increased loss offshore) Impact
negatively on swimming safety (the longer the
worse), aesthetic and alongshore beach access
Groyne length to spacing ratio 12-3 e.g. would
require 5 x 200-300 m long groynes at St Francis
Bay Beach
Understand Innovate Sustain
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Shoreline Response to Existing Reefs
Understand Innovate Sustain
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What Has Already Been Done?

• The SFB Beach Trust was conceived in December
  2005 to raise funds for the Saving Our Beach
  Project.
• In the period December, 2005 to August, 2006 over
  R550k was collected from SFB residents plus
  additional pledges of R450k still to come thru to
  December, 2006.
• ASR Limited from New Zealand, the international
  experts on submerged reefs, were contracted by
  the SFB Beach Trust to investigate what possibly
  could be done
• Dr Shaw Mead from ASR visited SFB in February,
  2006
• Data has been collected over the period February
  to June, 2006. This phase was completed in July,
  2006
• ASR presented their Feasibility Report in June,
  2006

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Beach Project Report Back

• Dr Shaw Mead visited St Francis Bay in May, 2006
  to provide full details on the ASR
  recommendations to the community
• The SFB Beach Trust have accepted the ASR
  proposals as well as holding a Public Meeting
  while Dr Shaw Mead was in SFB.
• Following the visit and formal ASR
  recommendations the SFB Beach Trust have
  requested ASR Limited to commence the design
  phase commencing July, 2006
• The design phase will be completed in time for
  the SFBBT Meeting on 19 December, 2006.

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Beach Project Progress Report

• During the ASR Design Phase the SFB Beach Trust
  are also undertaking the following activities
• We are working with scientists at Nelson Mandela
  Metropolitan University on the following aspects
• The ecology in the Kromme River Estuary
• The ecology on the St Francis Bay Beach
• An investigation with UCT on the marine
  environment in the location/s where the reefs are
  to be constructed
• An investigation into the bird life living on and
  using the Kromme River Estuary as a breeding
  ground
• Establishing a new dune environment including
  suitable plant species for the re-sculpting
  process.
• The SFB Beach Trust are totally committed to
  ensure that the Beach Project fully considers all
  the above prior to the construction phase
  commencing.

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Beach Project Overview

• It is estimated that the various stages will be
  spread over the following broad time frame
• Investigative Phase Completed June, 2006
• Design (including Detailed Costs) Dec. 2006
• Complete EIA Process incl. ROD Jan 2007
• Construction/Tender Process Jan/Feb 2007
• Reef Construction to Commence April/May 2007
• Depending on the costing and phasing of the reef
  construction this may extend through to 2009/2010
  
• During the reef construction phase the whole
  question of Beach Re-nourishment and Dune
  Sculpting/Re-vegetation will be extensively
  considered and costed in detail.

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SFB Overall Beach Estimates 2006/10

• Equipment Required
• Dredger
• Main Pump House
• Pumps Equipment
• Piping
• Grand Total
• Construction Phase
• Reefs
• Beach Renourish
• Dunes
• Grand Total

• SA Rand
• R 2.80 m
• Available
• R 0.75 m
• R 2.25 m
• R 5.80 m
• R 15.0 m (est)
• R 0.8 m p.a
• R 1.0 m (est)
• R 21.80 m (est)

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SFB Beach Project Operations

• Two distinct type of operations will be required
  for the Beach Project. These include
• Dredging Sand Pumping (On-going Process)
• Sand pumping operations are required to move the
  sand from the Kromme River Estuary to the Beach
• This will ensure sand renourishment on the beach
  while at the same time reducing the current
  amount of siltation being experienced in the
  Kromme Estuary.
• Reef Construction (Phase 3 only)
• The reef construction is a highly technical
  project requiring specific marine engineering and
  consulting inputs including those from ASR
  Limited.

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SFB Beach Project Operations

• Both the Beach Project operations will provide
  local job creation opportunities. These include
• Dredging Sand Pumping Operations (on-going
  process)
• The dredging operation requires the purchase of a
  high tech dredger. Investigations this far have
  identified a suitable supplier of a self
  propelled dredger suitable for this role.
• The sand pumping operation will require a fixed
  installation stretching from the Kromme River
  Estuary at the seaward end of Shore Road
  (existing pumphouse) to the Nevil Road access on
  the beach.
• Reef Construction (Phase 3 only 2007 to 2009)
• The reef construction is highly technical
  requiring specific marine engineering and
  scientific inputs including those available from
  ASR Limited under licence to us.

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IMS Model 5012 HP Dredger
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IMS Model 5012 HP Dredger
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Beach Renourish Slurry Pump System
Understand Innovate Sustain
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Preliminary Positions and Dimensions
Understand Innovate Sustain
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Reef Construction The R.A.D. Method (Rapid
Accurate Deployment)
Understand Innovate Sustain
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Land-Based Pumping
Opunake, N.Z.
Understand Innovate Sustain
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Dune Management St Francis Bay
Need to learn which plants are best, not which
will survive
Understand Innovate Sustain
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Beach Project Adding Value

• ASR statistics show that for every /Rand 1 spent
  on a project such as the SFB Beach Project, a
  minimum of /Rand 20 flows into the community
  as a direct result of this investment. This will
  provide major spin-offs to SFB
• We are looking at the SFB Beach Project as a
  fully integrated sustainable development project
  in our wider community in order to secure the
  future of the Village.
• One of the direct spin-offs of the project will
  be an increase in tourism opportunities in
  Greater St Francis
• As a result of the growth in tourism, there will
  be a direct increase in employment opportunities
  and skills development for the wider SFB
  community.

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Beach Project Adding Value

• The SFB Beach Trust believe that by setting up
  specific business operations to manage the beach
  project we will be able over time to channel new
  funding into other key sustainable development
  projects in our wider community.
• We believe that this groundbreaking initiative
  will allow for the Kouga area to be seen as a
  country-wide leader in encouraging advantaged
  communities to assist in providing real job
  creation initiatives to the less advantaged
  communities in their area on a fully sustainable
  and long term basis.
• We see the SFB Beach Project as a fully
  integrated sustainable development project in our
  wider community in order to secure the future of
  the Village.

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Beach Project Adding Value

• It is interesting to note that following the SFB
  initiative with ASR, the Nelson Mandela Metro
  have also entered into a contract with ASR on a
  similar project for both Pollock and St Georges
  Beaches in Port Elizabeth.
• In addition there are a number of other related
  initiatives where the SFB Beach Trust may be
  involved.
• PE also believe that one of the direct spin-offs
  of the project will be an increase in tourism and
  by implication a direct increase in job creation
  opportunities.
• This initiative is part of the advance
  preparations by the Nelson Mandela Metro for the
  2010 World Cup.

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Beach Project The Future

• The following steps have already been put in
  place as part of the on-going process
• The Minister has designated a Senior Official
  from the National Department of the Environment
  Tourism to act as a link between the Department
  and SFB Beach Trust.
• During his visit to St Francis Bay during May,
  2006 Dr Shaw Mead met with the Ministers
  nominated official, Dr Niel Malan, for detailed
  discussions on the ASR Proposals.
• The Minister has also confirmed that he will be
  visiting St Francis Bay in September/October,
  2006 in order to facilitate a meeting with the
  major parties including the Mayor and the SFB
  Beach Trust in order to agree a detailed action
  plan to Save Our Beach.

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What Is Needed from Council?

• An agreement in principal for Council to support
  a Special Development Levy for St Francis
• The Special Development Levy (SDL) will be an
  integral part of the 2007/8 Budget process
• The SDL will exclude all properties in Sea
  Vista and Cape St Francis but will include all
  other properties in the St Francis Bay
  development including Santareme
• Estimated average cost is R 120 - R 140 p.m.
• The Council will collect the levy on behalf of
  the SFB Beach Trust and remit the funds to the
  SFB Beach Trust on a monthly basis

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What Is Needed from Council?

• An Agreement in Principal by Council will allow
  the SFB Beach Trust to conclude a financing
  Agreement with the Development Bank of Southern
  Africa (DBSA).
• It will not create any demand for funds from the
  Kouga Municipality which may need to be directed
  towards less advantaged communities/areas in
  terms of need
• It will also provide a future framework for the
  St Francis Bay Beach Trust to initiate other
  similar projects having clear Sustainable
  Development objectives in the Greater St Francis
  area.
• It will provide a framework for other initiatives
  in the wider Kouga area and will clearly position
  Kouga as a leader in this important development
  field

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Some Conclusions for Council

• The SFB Beach Project will ensure the continuing
  success of St Francis Bay as a premier holiday
  and retirement destination
• It will ensure that St Francis Bay continues to
  grow and provide additional employment
  opportunities for a greater number of our local
  residents
• In addition, it will ensure that the rates base
  of Kouga continues to grow. St Francis Bay
  already generates over 25 of the total revenue
  within Kouga.
• It is critical that SFB continues to grow at a
  faster rate than the growth rate of the country
  as a whole if real growth in Kouga is to be
  sustainable in the long term.

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What Will the Future Hold?

• The Beach Trust are of the view that the Kouga
  Council are committed to a positive working
  partnership with the SFB Beach Trust to
  rehabilitate the St Francis Beach.
• At the same time this will greatly assist in
  preserving and expanding the local economy in
  Greater St Francis?
• The Council needs to take the next step in moving
  forward with the SFB Beach Trust in order to
  create a Better Future for All
• The decision to proceed needs to be made now if
  we are to move forward in a spirit of
  co-operation in the future. We cannot allow this
  unique opportunity to be missed.

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St Francis Bay Beach Trust

• Rehabilitating the St Francis Bay Beach by the
  Use of Sustainable Development through the
  Environment Tourism

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St Francis Bay Beach Trust

• Presentation to the Kouga Council
• 7 September, 2006 Updated from Presentation to
  Minister of Environmental Affairs - 19 April,
  2006