'Voluntary compliance' to resolve encroachment upon beach

A plan the George Council approved last year to deal with illegal encroachment by some front-dune properties upon public land on Wilderness Beach is based on voluntary cooperation by the property owners.

- Alida de Beer

Wilderness resident Dr Arne Witt, biodiversity specialist of the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (Cabi), raised his concerns about the rehabilitation of the foredune, on which many properties have been extended onto a municipal road reserve on the beach. He says the matter has been brought to the attention of the George Municipality on various occasions since 2017, but no action is taken. There is potential for municipal liability in case of property damage due to the rising sea levels, or personal injury due to infrastructure such as steps erected by property owners.

Witt says double standards seem to apply as law enforcement and the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association (WRRA) recently demolished an illegal shack on the dunes. At the same time, some foredune property owners, especially those who cater for tourists, are benefitting from public land at the expense of the environment.

"Our approach has been to support voluntary compliance and to build cooperative relationships with landowners."