A PORT Alfred surfer has opened criminal charges with police for the alleged illegal discharge of Kowie River dredge within 100m of the sea.
Police are investigating claims by Dr Jerome Boulle and other concerned surfers that National Environmental Management Act regulations are being contravened following the discharge of dredge spoil from the silted canals of Royal Alfred Marina within 100m of the high water mark.
The marina has however disputed the allegations saying a small amount had flowed onto the beach after it breached a man-made berm and said the problem had been fixed. Royal Alfred Marina Home Owners' Association (Ramhoa) excom member Peter Basset warned Boulle could himself face possible criminal charges and civil damages claims for opening a docket with police.
On Tuesday, Boulle took his tape measure to the controversial dune disposal site and measured the spoils were ending up within 25m of the high water mark and immediately alerted the Rhodes University Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM).
PSAM environmental expert Nicholas Scarr - who used to work for the provincial department of economic development, environment and tourism (Dedeat) - yesterday called on the department to take urgent action to halt the apparently unlawful dredge spoil disposal and account for its actions in issuing a Sea-Shore Act permit for the dredging.
"In the circumstances of the permit it is unsurprising that PSAM has been provided with evidence which indicates that spoil is currently being disposed of in the near-shore environment adjacent to the Kowie Estuary mouth in violation of the National Environmental Management Act."
Although dredging was stopped late last year after surfers complained the dune disposal was not environmentally friendly it was temporarily reinstated earlier this month after an emergency permit was secured to clear massive sandbanks that had built up during the October floods.
According to Scarr, the recent issuing of a Sea-Shore Act permit to dredge in the marina was "perplexing" given PSAM's understanding of the scope of the Act, and he urged the department to clarify the basis for the permission. Boulle said he was concerned the discharge had not been tested for heavy metals, toxins or bacteriological contamination that could find its way into the surf zone.
"When I heard about emergency permission to start dredging again, I thought it was a bit dodgy as there was no public participation nor was any environmental impact assessment (EIA) done." Attempts to get comment from Dedeat spokesperson Sixolile Makaula on Monday and yesterday were finally met with a request to wait until next Monday for an official reply.
Basset earlier said via e-mail the approval was a "temporary emergency dispensation" adding they were in discussions with environmental consultants to do an EIA for authorities to consider the resumption of normal dredging operations.
Marina manager Angus Schlemmer declined to comment until he had read what the charges involved.
By DAVID MACGREGOR
Image source: www.airboatafrika.com/kowie-river/
Source: Daily Dispatch