The City of Cape Town will commence with a trial intervention to address the challenge of windblown sand on Promenade Road in Hout Bay.

The trial management intervention to reduce the accumulation of wind-blown sand on Promenade Road in Hout Bay is starting today, 7 June 2021 and the immediate work will last for about a week pending any unforeseen delays.

The pilot will be taking place over a 12-month period where machinery will be used to lower the beach levels on the eastern side of the beach. This will result in increased grain size and a higher tidal reach, meaning it will reduce the accumulation of windblown sand on the adjacent Promenade Road. 

All beach sand removed in the lowering will be pushed back into the sea.

‘The City will continuously monitor the accumulation of windblown sand on the road during the trial period, through winter and summer, to assess the success of the interventions. Given our natural environment, the City and its residents are exposed to harsh weather conditions and this project is aimed at keeping this road passable,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.

This project forms part of the greater Hout Bay Dune Rehabilitation project and the City’s efforts to reduce the impact of beach sand on the Hout Bay infrastructure.

The beach will not be closed, but the City apologises for any inconvenience caused during this trial phase.

Source: City Of Cape Town