VIDEO > The Essex Ave beach in Margate was still off-limits to swimming on Wed July 19. This is now day #9 where bacteria levels, likely due to offshore dredging, have affected the water quality off of Margate.
We noted that the hopper dredge was gone today, and the disconnected pipes we saw recently, were re-connected.
Suffolk Ave in Ventnor was busy on Tuesday, with 18 wheel flat beds delivering more pipe.
JULY 19 Video Report >
WOND 1400 am RADIO discussion of Margate dunes, no-swimming, beach & surf bacteria, sand quality.
Many onlookers had NO idea just how large, messy and impactful this project would be. Just spend some time on the beach & boardwalk and listen. 99% of comments are negative. Sad. ‘I had no idea’ is common. Maybe due to fact that most Jersey shore homeowners are part-time, non-voting residents not reached by local newspaper & news radio?
That’s why we started DownbeachBUZZ …to become the eyes & ears for ALL taxpayers & visitors to Margate, Ventnor & Longport.
While dunes will provide some additional level of property protection for a period of time, the cost/benefit of this beach project is just not there. Far more harm is foisted upon Margate & Ventnor, than the supposed property protection a 13 ft dune may provide.
Downside of dune building: splits beach in half, kills views & breezes, creates swamp-like dead zone on back-half of beach, hidden views cause increased safety issues, access to beach & surf more difficult for those with limited mobility. You must now traverse 2 layers of steps & elevated walk-ways to arrive at waterfront.
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