Details regarding the project can be found below
The steps at Spiros Rocks beach were built with the express intention of improving access to the beach we all love and care for and to better our chances of winning the Kwela town of the year award. Winning this award would mean a huge cash injection into our town and a massive paid for nation-wide marketing campaign that would improve tourism and bring money and opportunities back to our town (especially for the tourism sector that has suffered greatly in recent years).
This was done without any public funds being used, and without trying to prejudice anyone.
However, due to actions outside of our control, the government is now under the FALSE impression that these stairs have impacted the environment and residents in a negative way. They are in the process of preparing legal action to have both these stairways removed and the environment rehabilitated back to what it was before this build.
Please note – the environment was not impacted in any negative way. The steps were built exactly where the dangerous pathway was and the only plants removed were invasive grass and Cannas (invasive alien)
As many of you know, the original access to spiros was a slippery trodden out path going from the unkept parking area down to the rocks right next to the stream.Many residents and visitors have fallen and slipped here.
The stream / rainwater run off was eroding the bank on the side closest to this dangerous path due to the invasive Canna plants blocking the stream. This made it unsafe and difficult to walk down to the beach and needed to be rectified.
Due to the improvements made, the sponsor of this project is now facing a fine of 2 Million Rand, as well as 5 years community service, as stated in Section 79(2)(e) of the NEM : ICMA act of 2008 and the costs of rehabilitating everyting back to the trodden down, dangerous path that it used to be...
To download / view the official complaint from government, please click here
This is how bad the degradation was getting and why it needed to be rectified:
September 2010
September 2022
What can you do to help
Please fill in the petition above and add whatever comments you feel are appropriate.
As other beach entries in port edward has also been upgraded recently to improve safety, we will also be using your submissions to combat whatever legal proceedings our government decides to throw in that direction.
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All information submitted will be treated as confidential and will only be used for the purposes stated above.