The City would like to inform all residents and visitors that its Coastal Management branch will commence with work at the Camps Bay Tidal pool this Monday, 23 October 2023. The team will be levelling the beach that was badly washed out as a result of the recent storm and will remove as much of the sand bank that has formed in the near shore as possible.
‘Our Coastal Management team aims to get the required work at the Camps Bay tidal pool done within the next week and asks that all visitors and regular users visit another facility instead while the work is underway. The work is expected to take approximately three days if all goes as planned,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
In the recent storms, the adjacent river flooded and washed away a significant portion of the northern section of the Camps Bay tidal pool beach, depositing a significant amount of sand in the near shore. This has resulted in a large sand bank that is impacting the functional space of the pool.
On Monday the City will commence mechanical activities to remove as much of the sand bank as practically possible and to reinstate the beach. These works will require lowering the water level in the pool. As such, the pool will experience lower water levels during the execution of the works and will take a day or two to fill up to capacity depending on the tides and swell size of the work.
Given that much of the sedentary marine life died due to the freshwater ingress during the storm, it’s an opportune time to do the work. The fish and few mussels, starfish, whelks and urchins remaining will survive a reduced water level with minimal impact.
‘Residents are to note that it may take a day or two for the pool to refill completely depending on the tides and swell size and direction, as such lower water levels may be experienced for a short period post-completion. We thank the public for their patience while we do our best to restore this facility as efficiently as possible,’ said Alderman Andrews.
While the pool will not be closed in its entirety, it is recommended that the public consider visiting one of the City’s other facilities during this period, such as Maidens Cove, Saunders Rocks or Milton Pool.
