SAVE the BUSHMANS ESTUARY PETITION

Update on the Bushmans Dune

KENTON (DBV) DUNE NEWS

Environmental Plan Dispute

The Estuary Care Dune Group (ECDG), representing BRRAG, KOSRA, the Chamber of Business & Tourism, Estuary Care, and backed by over 1,400 signatories of a petition, have been in talks with Ndlambe Municipality about solving the Dry Bones Valley Dune problem. Our environmental experts agreed with our proposed reducing the Westbourne Dune and restoring the natural sand movement between the Bushman’s River and Middle Beach as opposed to the Municipal plan of moving the sand towards the river and vegetating the sand.

Our plan was backed by a professional report by EcoCoast and submitted to the Municipality in July 2025. The Municipality has refused to meet to discuss any compromised solution to the problem and Mr. Robert Rose stopped all discussions between the two parties by not allowing Ted Avis (CES) and Andy McCarty (PRDW) from meeting with us and our consultant.

Under law, the Maintenance Management Plan (MMP) for the dunes had to be reviewed before it expired on 11 August 2025 as it did not automatically renew. Missing this deadline has meant that now no work can legally be done. Worse, the Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the project has already lapsed because no work started within the required time. This makes the current MMP and EA invalid.

We will now ask:

• The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DEDEAT) to confirm that the EA and MMP have lapsed.
• Propose a new MMP so essential work can continue lawfully.
• Raise concerns with the Minister about past illegal activities in the Joan Muirhead Nature Reserve by Mr. Rose.

If the Municipality ignores these issues, we will take the matter to the High Court. Any work done after 11 August 2025 without a valid plan is illegal and could lead to criminal charges. We, how ever,  are still willing to meet and work together on a solution, but the decision to reopen talks lies with the Municipality.

For more detail on the legalities of the current situation, visit the Bushmans Kariega Estuary Care Forum website.

We thank all signatories for your support so far and we will keep you informed of progress.

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