Controversial Durban port plans seek Board approval

Portnet's latest plan to extend Durban's container terminal facilities is set to be placed before the Portnet and Transnet boards on the 24th February and 6th March respectively.
This is despite strong reservations having been expressed in certain quarters over environmental and traffic flow complications that will result from dredging part of the central sandbank, and from developing deep water berthing alongside the Point.
The situation as it stands is that Portnet wants to extend the present container terminal with two additional berths, 206 and 207, by dredging a channel through the controversial central sandbank. A new quay south of berth 205 would create a much larger terminal area behind it and resolve much of Durban's container congestion problem.
A second part of the plan calls for a new combi terminal to be built at the Point, with deep-water berths. This will free-up Pier No 1 for container handling. Concerns over increased traffic flows along sensitive CBD streets, especially the Victoria Embankment, are another
area of concern.
It was reported that the Local Advisory Committee, consisting of all the main role players and established to advise Portnet, has produced a confidential report raising these concerns. One of these main role players, Durban Bay 2020, has gone on record saying that they were not consulted over the latest proposal, which they strongly oppose.
By Terry Hutson