iSimangaliso signs new deal to restore Lake St Lucia Estuary
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park has signed two contracts - both worth R23.41-million for the loading, hauling, tipping and disposal of sand from the dredge spoil island in the mouth area of the Lake St Lucia Estuary.
This brings the total value of iSimangaliso's Lake St Lucia restoration project to around R62-million.
The two contracts with T&T Marine and Scribante Africa Mining were signed yesterday. They'll run until the end of June this year.
Quantity surveyors have confirmed to date that 96 842 cubic metres of dredge spoil have been removed.
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A total of 1.2-million cubic metres are expected to be removed by the end of June.
iSimangaliso says the removal of material has begun to reverse the negative impacts of dredge spoil deposition - enhancing the hydrological and ecological functioning of Lake St Lucia - Africa's largest estuarine system.
The park's Andrew Zaloumis says a lot more still needs to be done - adding that the appointment of more than one contractor aims to expedite the work, improve efficiencies and optimise money spent.