Highlights
- Stakeholder Relationships
- Sanitation & Estuary Water Testing
- Dry Bones Valley Sand Dune and Bushman’s Estuary
- Update on Desalination Plant
- Purchase of Patrol Boat
- Stakeholder Database
- Bushman’s River moorings / buoys
- Jetties, Towpaths, Alien Vegetation
- Boating and Bait
- Boat Licenses
- SARS 18A approval
Stakeholder Relationships
We continue to enjoy solid working relationships with other Civic organisations active in our area. Estuary Care has taken the lead on:
- Westbourne Rd/DBV Dune issue
- Sanitation in general with emphasis on keeping our estuaries clean
- Water Management Committee which handles our water supply
- Estuary Moorings
We have also implemented a partnership-based approach to working with the major users of the estuaries, namely the Kariega and Sibuya Game Reserves, Kenton Seagull Regatta and the boating, mooring and boat storage communities. We are very pleased to have formal agreements for operational coordination and financial assistance with both game reserves which we see as a significant positive development. We are also pleased to report that a proactive working relationship has been established with Chamber of Business, KOSRA and BRRAG and the Ndlambe Municipality to monitor and act on sanitation matters to ensure our estuaries are preserved from any contamination.
Sanitation and water quality
Howard Ball continues to monitor the Kenton Sewerage works and do regular water testing of the Kariega estuary. Duard Scholtz monitors the complex sewer lines, the many pump stations and the reed bed setting ponds in Boesmansriviermond and does the water testing. We are pleased to report that our estuaries are safe and clean. An incident which occurred at the Sewage Treatment Plant in July which led to an adverse water quality reading above the Kariega bridge was attended to promptly by Ndlambe Municipality and follow-up water testing showed results were back within acceptable limits.
As reported previously, the general water and waste cycle has presented numerous challenges during the year, and Duard and Howard keep very detailed records of their activities and findings from inspection visits and testing which are reported to the Estuary Care committee regularly. This matter remains a priority.
Dry Bones Valley (DBV) Sand Dune and Bushman’s Estuary
We are excited to share positive developments on the Dune Issue with our members and the wider community that supports us. As previously reported, the Estuary Care Dune Group, representing BRRAG, KOSRA, the Chamber of Business and Tourism, and Estuary Care, has made numerous attempts over the past year to engage with Ndlambe Municipality and the relevant government departments on legal issues concerning the validity of the Environmental Authorisation and Municipal Maintenance Plan (MMP), and the implications for any work planned on the dunes. Unfortunately, our correspondence did not elicit a response. By agreement with the Municipality, we also submitted our consultant’s report on a solution to the Dune Issue, which went unacknowledged.
Photos of the dune at Bushman’s mouth / end of Westbourne Road
By way of explanation, the MMP must be reviewed every five years which requires a revised and updated MMP to be submitted six months before expiry, following a public participation process. This review is necessary because the MMP is intended to be a living document that is refined as circumstances change. In the case of the Bushman’s Estuary and the dune system in Dry Bones Valley, significant environmental changes have occurred since 2020, which we believe, makes the current MMP environmentally outdated. We are of the view that the MMP lapsed in August 2025 and can no longer be amended or revived. According to the Municipality it only lapsed in July this year. Either way the MMP has lapsed.
During March 2026 we became aware that the Municipality, its consultants and certain interested parties, but excluding all stakeholders, considered various new options for reshaping and management of the dune and that the work was to start early April 2026.
We wrote to the Municipality asking that no work should begin on site until a lawful review and amendment process has been completed, including proper public consultation.
In early April 2026, we received a response from the Municipal Manager who undertook that no work would go ahead until all required processes had been completed, including stakeholder engagement, the submission and approval of site-specific method statements and Council approval. He also assured us that the Municipality stays committed to constructive engagement with all stakeholders and to ensuring that any future interventions are undertaken lawfully, transparently, and following the Environmental Authorisation and applicable legislation. These undertakings have created the opportunity for a structured and constructive process.
The Dune Group has consistently emphasized its willingness to engage constructively to find a lawful and sustainable solution to the Dune Issue, including measures to prevent further siltation of the Bushman’s River estuary.
We have now taken the initiative to propose a framework to the Municipality to facilitate a review process of the MMP and the various management options for the Dry Bones Valey dune system and adjacent coastal areas. We believe it provides a structured, transparent, and lawful framework for reviewing the Kenton Dune MMP. Key to our proposal is that the options submitted will be independently evaluated by an expert who will recommend a preferred option. The process will allow for public participation. The process, if accepted, aims to ensure that any intervention implemented is legally valid, scientifically credible, environmentally sustainable, and supported by the broader community, while bringing an end to the impasse that has affected the Dune Issue for more than six years.
Brian Hendry very kindly donated a set of photographs which were given to him by Alan Ford. They are a series of photographs taken from their home in Westbourne Road on the Bushman’s River. It’s a fascinating tale of the river and its dynamics spanning fifty years. We plan to scan them to digital format to preserve the history and to provide an additional perspective on the changes. Thank you to Brian and the Ford family.
Update on the application for environmental authorization of the Albany Coast reverse osmosis desalination facility (RO Plant)
Amatola Water applied for environmental authorisation for the proposed upgrade to the RO plant at Bushman’s River mouth. The application was for the redrilling of four sea water abstraction wells, and the drilling of two new sea wells; the decommissioning of an existing sea well, installation of new pipelines and the increase in volume of brine discharge into the Bushman’s estuary from 800 m³/day to 3000 m³.
As part of the public participation process Estuary Care, with funding from KOSRA, BRRAG and Chamber of Business and Tourism, engaged an environmental practitioner to assist us in a review of specialist studies included in the application. We then submitted our comments. From the comments received from various interested and affected parties (I&Aps), the Department in the Record of Decision noted that:
- The site is located in a highly sensitive coastal archaeological landscape and that an archaeological and heritage impact assessment should have been undertaken;
- The information contained in the basic assessment report contained insufficient and inaccurate information with regard to actual brine discharge volumes which could significantly underestimate potential environmental impacts and measures to mitigate the risk of brine discharge into the estuary.
- The proposed listed activities will conflict with the general objectives of integrated environmental management.
- The final Basic Assessment Report was procedurally flawed as it did not comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.
- The application was therefore refused.
- The decision to refuse the application can be appealed by any person within 20
calendar days of notification of the decision being sent to interested and affected
parties. The application can also be resubmitted but only after any appeal has been
finalised or after the time period for the appeal has lapsed. - This outcome may be appealed, and we await further information on the proposed way forward for the desalination process.
Purchase of Patrol Boat
Our boat is up and running.
The Estuary Care boat is now officially licensed and ready for use. Most of the equipment needed to operate it has been purchased, with just a few finishing touches still being attended to.
Best of all, it has already done its first useful job on the Bushmans River, helping to replace the rock-marker buoys.
The boat gives Estuary Care a practical way of getting onto the water when work needs to be done. It can be used for placing and maintaining buoys and river markings, clean-ups and monitoring activities on both the Bushmans and Kariega estuaries.
We are also putting some simple rules in place to make sure the boat is looked after and remains available for many years to come. These cover who may use it, keeping a record of trips, reporting any problems and making sure it comes back clean, refuelled and ready for its next outing.
Keep an eye out for more news about the boat over the coming months — including the important question of what we are going to call it!
Stakeholder Database
Less visible, but just as important, is the work underway to tidy up and improve our stakeholder database.
We are cleaning up the existing information and making it easier to keep family and supporter details properly organised. The system has also been improved to help with the administration of Section 18A certificates.
A new QR-code registration form will make it much easier for people to add or update their own details. Our next step will be to contact stakeholders to check that the information we hold is correct and obtain the necessary consent for us to keep in touch.
A good database may not be as exciting as a boat on the river, but it helps us stay connected with the people who support Estuary Care, share news and activities, and make it easier for more people to become involved.
Together, these projects are giving Estuary Care better tools — both on the water and behind the scenes — to look after the Bushmans and Kariega estuaries.
Bushman’s River moorings / buoys
As reported previously, the ability to use buoys and have boat moorings available on the Bushman’s estuary is a major attraction for many property owners and visitors. Not having moorings available would create chaos at the slipway and trailer parking areas during holiday periods and has the potential to seriously damage the tourist and home-owner value proposition. However, there have been cases of abuse and safety concerns, and we were extremely concerned to hear that Ndlambe was considering the removal of all buoys. Estuary Care has collected relevant data and proposed a solution to Ndlambe Municipality through a carefully managed process, however the matter now depends on decisions of a number of bodies such as the South African Maritime Safety Standards Authority (where buoys are used for safety and navigation), the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and the District Council and Local Municipality which will ultimately issue permits for private boat mooring buoys. We are not sure of where the decision now lies and do not expect any movement on the matter until after the municipal elections in November. So, as it stands currently, no new buoys will be permitted and we will approach Ndlambe Municipality again before December to discuss how to proceed given buoy placement in inappropriate areas and movements expected due to river channel changes after the floods.
Boating and Bait
Above – a muddy view of the Bushmans River a few days after the storm
There have been recent heavy rains and subsequent flooding of both the Bushmans and Kariega Rivers. This has resulted in significant channel shifting in parts of the rivers and sand deposits from material carried from upriver. Estuary Care has inspected both rivers for navigability and safe use. There is significant debris of fallen trees and plant matter on the banks.
The Bushmans River is safe for use and the existing channels are usable. The Kariega River below the road bridge has had significant sand deposited and at spring low tides the river is very shallow in places. The channel has moved to the east and boat users should travel very slowly and carefully when using the river at low tide. Beyond the bridge the existing channel is still applicable and usable.
The problem of bait sellers at the BUCO corner and slipways continues. While one has some sympathy for the sellers trying to put food on the table, the recreational fishermen who buy from them should know better and surely understand that continued abuse of bait resources will in the long term be bad for all concerned.
Jetties, Towpaths and Invasive Plants
We have plans to build a second jetty near the Kariega slipway, with a donation from Kenton Seagull Regatta and Rotary confirmed. We were expecting a contribution of materials from Ndlambe Municipality and await confirmation of this. Construction is now underway.
Clearing towpaths and invasive alien plants is an ongoing struggle and Jim Davies and his team are continuing with regular clearing of the towpaths and access paths and eradication of alien plants in these areas. This happens weekly and is an extensive exercise which needs dedicated attention. Some of the problem plants are the Ink Berry, Syringa, Lantana and Madeira Vine. Control is a never-ending process and we have allocated a dedicated budget to allow the clearing process to continue.
Boat Licenses
There has been no change to this since our December 2025 report. The possibility of Estuary Care selling boat licenses on behalf of Ndlambe and earning a commission has been discussed with Ndlambe on numerous occasions during the year and our proposal to take this on has not been taken any further by Ndlambe. The fact that we are contesting Ndlambe’s position on the dune and estuary management matters is probably contributing to this.
SARS 18A approval
We are grateful for several substantial donations during the year which contributes to our essential operational costs and enabled us to acquire the patrol boat and continue to find the research and legal costs associated with the dune issue.
In closing
2026 continues to be a challenging year, with the dune river siltation issue absorbing a disproportionate amount of time, energy and money. Despite this, Estuary Care is well managed financially, we have received our Section 18A tax status certificate to enable more targeted and significant fundraising, we received significant donations to enable us to acquire a patrol boat and we have made good progress on several fronts as set out above. We are proud that we play a meaningful role in managing and maintaining our extremely valuable assets, our estuaries.
Marguerite Davis
Chairperson
