The article in the George Herald of 16 July on changes at Victoria Bay needs a response to put the record straight.
The townsfolk of George have always had a sense of proprietorship of this gem of the Garden Route and over the past 160 years, there has been a never-ending series of debates, controversies and arguments over issues and goings-on at the Bay. But for some time there has been no outcry and few voices raised in indignation regarding changes at the Bay.
So, as a past resident of 60 years, it was more than a surprise to see that the berm has been flattened. The mound was built, not from building rubble, but from earth and rocks excavated to accommodate the building of the restaurant, office and flat in 1991.
This was controversial at the time which elicited a long letter of concern over the developments at the Bay which were considered an eyesore and a waste of money. At that time, the Bay was under the jurisdiction of the District Council.
But there was a plan and a reason for the mound. It was an attempt to "restore the landscape integrity of the Bay". Photographs of the approach to the Bay showed there had been a very narrow Poort, through which a small stream flowed.
This is one of the few occasions in George where there has been recognition of its environmental heritage. The mound also formed an additional protective barrier for the safety of beach-goers.
There have been a number of occasions over the years where vehicles have come down the hill with a failure of their brakes or an inebriated driver who lost control of the vehicle - a fact which seems to have been forgotten.
Only on one occasion has a vehicle managed to go over the mound, took to the air and landed on the beach, where luckily there were no sunbathers. It is a great pity that there was no prior public participation for such a radical demolition of history.
