THE Ministry of Public Works, on Monday, set the record straight in relation to misleading reports on the sea defence structures between the No.59 and No.61 villages.

These reports, the ministry said, indicated that a section of rock armour revetment at No.61 village beach access was partially breached due to shoreline erosion and an imminent flood threat has been created for adjacent lands.
In response, the ministry notified members of the public that measures are being implemented to address localised erosion that has occurred at the No.61 village beach access.

However, the Ministry added: “It must be clarified that this area was not protected by a rock revetment as was reported in recent media articles. The affected area was an unprotected sand ramp which was retained in this state to be utilised as a vehicular access to the No.63 beach.”

Against this backdrop, it was noted that the recent media reports and comments from a known community representative, who purports that there was a failure of a recently constructed sea defence structure, are misleading.

The press release also stated that the erosion of the beach access ramp was primarily due to progressive erosion during high tides.

It was further stated that an adjacent 30-metre section of shoreline where temporary flood protection works were executed was also eroded due to the displacement of the boulders by wave action.

Meanwhile, the ministry added that the permanent rock revetment structure which was constructed between No.59 to No.61 villages was assessed to be stable and continues to function as an adequate flood barrier.

However, in 2020 it was noted that a pattern of progressive erosion of the foreshore was observed which created the potential for complete loss of the natural sand ridge along the No.59-63 shoreline.

At that time, to prevent a breach of the sand bank and underlying clay embankment, the ministry had initiated the first phase of a rock armour revetment construction along a critical section of shoreline between No.59 and 61 villages.

“A total of 1,000 meters of revetment structure was constructed under two contracts totalling G$439,922,500, that remains functional and climate resilient,” the release said.

Consequently, it was stated that for future programmed measures, thesea and river defence department will undertake interim reinstatement and erosion protection works at the beach access with a climate-resilient design in the immediate future.

The release added, “Additionally, a programme of interventions has been developed for the phased execution of permanent flood protection works which will extend the rock armour revetment to adjacent sections of foreshore currently impacted by erosion. To ensure that the recreational use of the beach is preserved, a groyne field will be constructed to aid in sediment retention.”

These works will be initiated following the appropriation of the requisite funding in the 2024 budget.