BEACH EROSION AT DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA 



The following article is based on correspondence from 

 Colonel David E. Paterson, Beach Consultant for the City 

 Council of Durban, Natal, South Africa. The problem at 

 Durban, namely that of intensified shore erosion downdrift 

 from harbor entrance structures, is similar to many pro- 

 blems in the United States. Description of the problem 

 and efforts by local people to alleviate it (which include 

 operation of a sand bypassing plant) is therefore con- 

 sidered to be of interest to readers of the Bulletin. 

 Photograpsh used for illustration were furnished by Colonel 

 Paters on. 



Description of Problem 



Durban, a port city in the Province of Natal, Union of South Africa, 

 is located on the southeast coast of Africa. (Figure 1) This stretch 

 of coast is directly exposed from about east-northeast through south to 

 the open water of the Indian Ocean. Durban, as one of Southern Africa»s 

 leading year-round resort areas, is vitally concerned with the preserva- 

 tion of its beach and shore recreational area. The erosion problem at 

 Durban started over £0 years ago, or sometime after construction of 

 breakwaters at the entrance to the harbor. (See Figure 2.) 



Construction of the south breakwater was commenced in 1882 and com- 

 pleted, along with construction of the north pier, shortly afterward. 

 Intensive dredging at the harbor entrance was initiated in 1896, and 

 since that time navigable channel depths of hZ feet below low water of 

 spring tides have been maintained by dredging. As littoral drift is 

 fairly heavy in this area and is predominantly from the southwest toward 

 the northeast, considerable dredging has been required. An estimated 

 60,000,000 cubic yards of sand was removed from the vicinity of the 

 harbor entrance through 19^3, a portion of this dredged yardage being 

 part of the original harbor deepening and the rest being maintenance. 

 Over a l|0-year span within this period, more than 1|0 acres of foreshore 

 area were lost by erosion in the area north of the north pier to Vfest 

 Street. 



Just north of Iflfest Street, improvements at the Lower Marine Parade 

 project somewhat seaward of the alignment of adjacent shores. A rubble 

 mound revetment was constructed to maintain the position of the shore 

 line in this section. This revetment has required constant maintenance. 



