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.
