Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

Access RoutesBoat Launch SitesThe Human DimensionCoastal Access: Stats & Facts
Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

PollutionSand MiningCoastal ErosionNurdlesUPL Chemical Spill
Back
03 Sep 2021

Final chemical report due end September as beaches from Umgeni to Salt Rock remain closed

(North Coast Courier) Picture: Image for illustration. Photo by FitNish Media on Unsplash

The Ohlanga River and its estuary at Umhlanga have been deemed toxic, with fences erected and guards barring access to beaches. Beaches remain closed from the Umgeni River right through to Salt Rock as government awaits the final report into a chemical spill resulting from July’s unrest.

A Cornubia chemical warehouse was set alight and toxic chemicals were washed into streams and the Ohlanga river by the water used by firefighters.

eThekwini metro and KwaDukuza municipality have cautioned beachgoers against eating fish caught in the area. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister Barbara Creecy said that multi-departmental investigative teams had almost finalised a preliminary report on their investigation, specifically into the regulatory environment in which the UPL warehouse was required to operate.

The final report was expected by the end of September.

Creecy told the national assembly last Wednesday, August 25, that the investigation was focused on 3 key areas. These include ensuring that any further risks were contained, overseeing and guiding assessments, clean-ups and remediation processes and lastly, investigating the incident within the ambit of the regulatory environment applicable to such a facility.

No new contamination had been released from the UPL facility, but as an additional safety measure 8 shallow water and 8 deep water boreholes are being drilled to confirm no contamination of deeper water aquifers.

The chemicals caused the deaths of a number of fish species at the initial impact areas, with dead fish washing ashore as far north as Umdloti. These chemicals are harmful to humans.

The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) will host a meeting in conjunction with the UPL Cornubia Fire Civil Society Action Group in which all those affected by the fire have been invited to attend. The meeting is intended to allow all stakeholders an opportunity to voice their concerns and discuss how to best map a way forward in terms of environmental and health hazards. It will be held on Saturday, September 4 from 11:00 to 12:30 at Reddam House School, Umhlanga.

 

Online Article