Marina makes 'greens' see red

TERRY HUTSON
PROPOSALS FOR a new waterfront
and marina along Durban’s Victoria
Embankment recently made
headlines, without quite raising
the ire of too many people. Not
like another development at the
Point, facing into Durban’s outer
anchorage, which is the cause of
fierce controversy.
This later development is well
under way in terms of planning
but has earned the wrath of
environmentalist bodies concerned
about its effect on the nearby
Vetch’s Pier, as well as displaced
skiboat and watersport clubs.
Vetch’s Pier was one of Durban’s
early attempts to create a viable
harbour for ships arriving off our
inhospitable shore. The fact that
it was a failure hasn’t lessened its
allure.
Since the later 19th century,
when it was reduced in size to lowtide
height level, it has become an
artificial reef replete with marine
creatures including a mussel bed.
It became a safe place for people
to snorkel and learn to dive and
a heritage that Durbanites should
fight for.
Similarly the beach sheltered by
Vetch’s is one of the safest along
the long Durban coastline, and so
when developers announced they
intended creating a fancy marina to
cater for international yachts and
motor vessels the gloves came off.
Questions have also bee asked
whether a marina facing into the
Indian Ocean is a wise choice,
considering recent freak seas
caused by a low weather pattern
off the East London coast, in which
many KZN beaches were eroded
and properties destroyed.
The other proposed marina
lies within the harbour precincts
and has received much support,
although few details have so far
been revealed. The irony is that in
1992 Transnet offered to do just
that – develop the precinct with a
very ambitious waterfront complete
with hotels, restaurants and shops
that would have rivalled the V&A
and any other elsewhere.
Sadly the city fathers of that
day in their wisdom turned it down
and the opportunity was lost. We
could have been enjoying that
facility by now.