Tidy Towns Buffalo City and Border Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) have renewed calls for BCMM to issue a tender for the repair of the iconic Bonza Bay beach slide, which will hopefully commence in 2024.
Tidy Towns BC believes the slide’s revival will be a pivotal step toward reclaiming the region’s public recreation spaces.
BKCOB along with Tidy Towns BC has been in meetings with BCMM throughout October including yesterday to prioritise and fast-track the project’s tender and inviting corporate partners to assist with funding and adopting the site.
Tidy Towns BC’s Scott Roebert believes this initiative could potentially offer holiday employment opportunities for residents and make Bonza Bay beach a tourist attraction.
BKCOB’s Lizelle Maurice emphasised the chamber’s commitment to boosting the local economy, with tourism playing a pivotal role.
She noted that the Bonza Bay beach slide would be another compelling attraction for both tourists and locals, contributing to the city’s income generation potential.
Maurice also highlighted BCMM’s lack of political will and budget allocation as hindrances to the slide’s repair over the last six years.
BB Ratepayers Association chair Malcolm Symons said the association had been tirelessly championing the slides repair for six years with BCM’s property section however, as the years dragged on, ratepayers felt it was best that the slide be torn down and the facility closed.
Symons supported the move to the repair the slide however both he and Beacon Bay ward councillor Frederick Pohl believed this needed be accompanied by security upgrades including improved lighting, full-time security, fencing and an alarm system.
Roebert said: “As a resident of the Beacon Bay area, I spent years enjoying the beach and the supertube slide, it was with much sadness that the fun ended a few years ago.
“Beaches are supposed to be fun places where families go to make special memories and our goal is to bring back the fun activities so we can start building places where happiness and fun thrive.
“With our new partnerships with BCM, BKCOB and Tidy Towns BC we are prioritising a few projects of which the Bonza Bay supertube slide is one.
“We want families to return to the beaches to make special memories and have fun.”
As the festive season draws nearer, the safety and security of beachgoers are paramount and Roebert said Tidy Towns and BKCOB recently met with BCMM and law enforcement to plan for a secure and pleasant holiday period.
The strategy hinges on regular patrols and the strict enforcement of bylaws.
Tidy Towns BC aims to ensure a zero-tolerance policy for drinking in public and is in discussions with BCMM to establish an efficient system of fines to discourage such behaviour.
By the end of the year, Tidy Towns hopes to achieve several key objectives including; clean and operational ablutions, alongside litter-free and safe beaches.
