STORMWATER CAPTURE - VITAL PLANNING STEPS TO INTEGRATE THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

The heavy precipitation along the Dolphin Coast on 1st May is a stark "WAKE-UP CALL" for all parties. Where Storm Conditions continue to cause violent damage, a lack of Comprehensive Planning and appropriate Implementation and on-going Maintenance is evident to both previous areas of Development and New Projects, alike.

"Change of Usage" of Agricultural Land for Residential, and/or Urban Development is granted with legal "Conditions of Authorization" applicable. Where these conditions are over-looked and/or lack Compliance plus on-going Management and Maintenance the 'Climate Change" weather patterns are revealing man's neglect.

Planning Steps for Projects, regardless of size or position, MUST ALLOW for Initial Professional Land Resource Assessments to cover the entire area of Survey. Surveyed contours indicate steep slopes with accuracy, streams, dams, 'wetlands' and ephemeral catchments. The existing vegetation composition requires professionally identification into 3 Categories, namely : Indigenous species, Exotic plants and Alien and Invaders. The content indicates the level of "Disturbance and Modification". Where sugar cane has been cultivated the stolens should only be lifted in Phased Approach, as these deep roots secure the soil.

A Professional Team with a Proven Track Record of not less than 10 years is essential to include a Geo-technical expert and top Engineer to conduct cone penetrometer tests. The results indicate SAFE foundation depth for new Buildings. On the Umdloti Rear-Dune slopes results revealed "Loose" to "Very Loose" soil conditions with only minimal areas showing "Medium Density". Necessary under-pinning for a proposed swimming pool showed that these structures would cost more than the Pool!

Previously recognized and accepted Engineered methods appear to be now "Out-ofDate" and leave the Owner and/or Body Corporate "At Risk". Firstly, the extensive and expensive use of Gabions in now under the spot-light and questionable. The Volume of Rainfall in 24hrs, plus rapid "DELUGE" downpour amalgamates with exposed soils forming a dense, heavy colloidal mass which in turn pushes through the cracks in the rocks in the basket. In no time the lawn on the lower terrace is again covered in thick silt deposit - alas NO Grass! The answer is to create new substantial earth Berms to be "Site Specific" and secured with proven Specialist "Methodology". Then Loffelstein Walls another aspect of "Collapse", maybe due to unstable foundations with the rising of the underground Water-Table..

Stormwater Gutters and Gullies require URGENT REVIEW AND RE-DESIGN with mathematical accuracy in order to "Capture Stormwater 'AT SOURCE'. Calculate the

roof area then apply a volumetric estimate for new gutters and ground-level gullies. Discharge from gullies requires an accurate estimate by the Engineer, to ensure adequate storage capacity into Soak-away drains, Jo-Jo tanks and/or Reservoir.

Where the Surface Landscape suffers man-made "Disturbance" a "Site Specific" Application to SECURE THE TERRAIN with the appropriate indigenous species to include, trees, shrubs, succulents, ferns, grasses and groundcovers with a Bio-diversity of not less that 75 species per individual LOT or ERF is possible, Once again a "Specialist" procedure with proven "Methodology" being a critical ingredient, plus ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring for a minimum 5-year period. Another error is the continued use of "Honeycomb" synthetic fabrics under the surface. The artificial fabric negates slope stability in terms of the Coastal Zone categories as the plastic inhibits 3- Dimensional "Rooting Capacity" and at the same time prevents access to the natural underground inhabitants, namely Moles, etc. who naturally aerate and carry material underground. This increases the Humus layer within our Coastal Forests and "D'MOSS" Conservation habitats.

"Water Goes Down! While Fire Goes Up!" It is of paramount importance that Upper Catchment areas receive Professional and Expert Planning steps, including Implementation and Management, otherwise the Lower Catchment Land Resource and residents will continue to suffer the consequences. This is NOT allowed in Law, as the Upper Catchment Land Resource Owner(s) may be held responsible and accountable.

Our Earth is a mobile sphere and all therein are similarly "At Risk: of Upheaval including earthquake, subsidence with cavitations, Stormwater RUN-OFF and at present a RISING Water Table. "Duty of Care" of our cherished Natural Environment is once again paramount.