The City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management branch will be commencing with the Milnerton Beach Revetment project on 1 August 2022. The project will include the construction of a geo-container revetment structure at Milnerton Beach for coastal protection purposes. The project works will take place over the next ten months, however residents are assured that access to the Milnerton beach and ablution facilities will remain open throughout this period.
The City of Cape Town will commence with a coastal protection intervention at Milnerton where a gabion revetment structure to protect the embankment of this stretch of coastline will be constructed. The site that will be affected during this construction period is situated between Woodbridge Island and the Milnerton Golf Club.
‘The main aim of the project is to retain and improve the recreational and amenity facilities at Milnerton Beach as this is a popular recreational location for the public. The geo-container revetment structure will protect the beachfront from damage during future storm events and ensure the usability and safety of the beachfront,’ said Alderman Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment.
The work will include the following:
• Demolishment of the damaged concrete revetment/stairs and life savers ramp
• Replacement of the damaged concrete revetment with a geo-container revetment to protect the adjacent infrastructure and buildings
• Repairs and upgrades to the damaged beach access ramp adjacent to the Milnerton Golf clubhouse.
The geo-container revetment system has successfully been implemented at Big Bay beach and has proven to be fully effective. The revetment structure comprises of sand-filled geo-containers, specially developed for the marine environment, built to form a stabilising, defensive barrier against coastal erosion.
‘A portion of the beachfront will be closed to the public over the next ten months while heavy machinery will be operating in the area. In the interest of public safety, residents and visitors to the area are advised to please keep away from the cordoned-off area. We have however ensured that residents will have access to the beach and ablution facilities throughout the construction period. The protection of this fairly exposed area is critical for this popular beach and I believe that this is an effective and sustainable defensive solution,’ said Alderman Andrews.
Only 14 parking areas at the beach will be affected during this construction period and the MyCiTi bus stop located at the circle will temporarily be moved to the large parking area located next to the wooden bridge.
The newly reinstated beach access ramp in front of the Golf clubhouse will comprise of beach sand and a concrete edge which will form a transition between the sand access ramp and the paved ramp area.
This project (which entails the construction of the geo-container revetment will remain in place for a five to ten-year period) is Phase one of the long-term intervention at Milnerton beach, which is ultimately recommended to comprise a full retreat in order to implement a frontal dune.
Source: City Of Cape Town