Muizenberg and Fish Hoek beaches to undergo lowering for summer preparation

The City of Cape Town will start its annual beach lowering programme at Muizenberg and Fish Hoek from Wednesday, October 1, if all goes as planned.

This work, done every year before summer, helps manage windblown sand along the False Bay coastline, according to the City’s mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews.

The City uses both manual and mechanical methods to carry out beach levelling, pushing sand from the beach down to the low water mark. Wave action then transports the sand back into the coastal system.

“By lowering the beach sand levels, we ensure greater areas of the beach become wet during high tides,” Mr Andrews said.

He added that this helps limit the risk of windblown sand covering roads and infrastructure during summer, when Cape Town experiences strong southeasterly winds.

He also said the City aims to complete the work ahead of the festive season and asked beachgoers to keep a safe distance from the work areas and to keep pets on a leash.

The work in Fish Hoek will stretch from Jager’s Walk in front of the Galley Restaurant to the lifesaving building, and at Muizenberg from the Zandvlei River mouth to the wheelchair access ramp.

Similar beach lowering will also take place at Gordon’s Bay, from the Spur restaurant to the end of the parking area in the north, and along the length of Bikini Beach.

The programme is set to run until mid-November. The beaches will remain open during the work, but the public is advised to avoid the machinery.