With the elevated Seekoei Estuary levels, the causeway is back in the spotlight with residents calling for the Seekoei Estuary mouth to be opened. Frustrated residents are forced to cross the flooded (salt water) causeway as the alternative route is not suitable for cars, especially in rainy conditions.
According to the Seekoei Estuary Mouth Management Plan permission can be sought to breach the mouth should the water level come within 0.7m of the main culvert. Permission was allegedly granted to Kouga Municipality (KM) to breach the mouth in March. This breach did not happen with no explanation given.
4 March 2023
DECISION AS TO WHEN TO BREACH ESTUARY IS AWAITED
Kouga Municipality has requested the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) to breach the mouth of the Seekoei Estuary to effectively counter the impact that the closed mouth is having on the estuary, as well as the surrounding community.
The DEDEAT has granted permission for the breaching of the mouth, but advised that this should ideally be forestalled until the next spring tide which is around 20 March 2023. The Department also advised that should the mouth be breached now and silt up before spring tide, they will not necessarily be able to permit a fresh breach later in the month.
Guidance is needed from the Estuary Management Committee in terms of when the breach should occur.
Managing the estuary will remain a very high priority to the municipality. A new management committee and updated plan will be communicated by the municipality shortly.
Since March KM has issued three weather warnings related to high rainfall. Despite the weather warnings, there appears to be no attempt made to breach the mouth to mitigate the rising water levels and use the high seas to flush the Estuary.
17 May 2023 WEATHER WARNING: DISRUPTIVE RAIN Localised flooding of susceptible settlements, roads, low-lying areas and bridges are predicted for tomorrow from 12:00. All flood and excessive water complaints can be reported at 042 291 0250.
26 May 2023 WEATHER ALERT: KOUGA Rain is predicted for the Kouga region from tomorrow (Friday, 26 May 2023) to Thursday next week (1 June 2023). Kouga Municipality urges residents, especially those in low-lying areas and already affected by the heavy falls of rain earlier this month, to take precautionary measures to avoid damage to their properties. Damaging waves are also expected tomorrow, due to long period swell with wind generated swell resulting in difficulty in navigation, localised disruption to small harbours/ports and localised damages to beachfront activities, from Plettenberg Bay to East London tomorrow.
All flood and excessive water complaints can be reported at 042 291 0250.
9 June 2023 WEATHER ALERT An estimated 6mm to 7mm of rain are predicted for today. Residents are advised to implement precautionary measures and to report any problems to the Kouga Call Centre at 042 200 2200.
With recent rains, bigger surf and millions of litres still entering the estuary from the WWTW it is safe to say people are very concerned about the management of the Estuary. To date, there are no clear answers from KM or DEDEAT regarding the breaching of the mouth or implementation plan of the Estuary Management Plan (EMP). The EMP and the Mouth Management Plan (MMP) are due for review. In the 5 years since their inception, there has been a significant deterioration of the Estuary.
Residents continue to ask how this matter is neglected while residents bare the brunt of continued inaction. There is also concern regarding the lack of communication from KM and concern that information that is communicated is often far from the truth.
