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Archive -Tourism

Grand Anse boardwalk: More than just a pretty sight |27 December 2014

The Grand Anse Mahé beach has for several years been accessed majorly by a number of boardwalks built precisely for this purpose.

These boardwalks have also allowed the dense coastal buffer vegetation to remain intact and free of trampling by foot access.
 
However those who are familiar with this area would have noticed that these boardwalks have degenerated over the last few years due to exposure to climatic conditions over time to the point of being removed completely.

The Coastal Adaptation and Management Section within the Ministry of Environment mandated for undertaking of coastal protection and rehabilitation projects, having determined that these boardwalks have over the years served their purpose very well, have as such included their reinstatement as part of their capital projects for the year.

If you were to access the Grand Anse beach at present you will be welcomed by this wooden boardwalk with casuarina balustrade directing you  to the boardwalk end which converts into a small hexagonal viewing area. The viewing area which is new to the boardwalk have been designed in mind of the beach users who wish to simply stand and look across the Grand Anse bay, take a breath of fresh sea air before  settling on the white sandy  beach itself. In front of this viewing area lies a stone masonry step leading to the beach itself. The stone masonry steps have been placed not only as steps but to act as a protective barrier to the base of the boardwalk in order to prevent scouring from wave attack which can undermine the boardwalk. The casuarina balustrade has been beautified further using white ship shankropes onto which the elderly and younger ones can hold onto while walking down the boardwalk.

The project which has considered not only the public in mind but the natural environment has been executed to great satisfaction by Franky’s Construction Company after having been awarded the project through formal tender procedures. The project started in mid-August 2014 and was completed at the end of October. Due to cost associated with implementation of such boardwalk with expected increased life expectancy as compared to the previous ones the ministry has only been able to cater for one boardwalk this year but with plans to complete the two remaining ones as and when funding becomes available.

Despite the effort placed the project has encountered some vandalism during implementation from youngsters wanting to kick down the casuarina balustrade to a fisherman wanting to steal the ship shank rope. As such the Ministry of Environment and Energy along with the district administration who have been supportive of the project would like to bring to the attention of the general public that the project has been implemented as more than just a pretty sight for the area but with the aim of preventing people from trampling over vegetation all across the beach buffer area. In turn beach vegetation allows for beaches to remain stable and less vulnerable to the impacts of erosion by wave attack. It has been designed for the people and the environment in a bid to allow the two to make the most of the space in a most sustainable manner. The Tourism Police have so far been corporative in keeping an eye out for any misuse of the boardwalk but to complement their effort the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the district administration would like the public’sappreciation and cooperation in maintaining the boardwalk over the years to benefit the people and its surrounding natural environment.

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