NPA planning for a coastal home

THE HEAD office of National Ports Authority (NPA) is to move out of Gauteng with Durban the likely new headquarters. There is nothing positive about a planned move at present, but chief executive, Siyabonga Gama, has hinted that this is on the planning boards. But while Durban appears to be uppermost in most calculations for the repositioning of the head office, Gama is certain there will be stiff competition from other coastal centres. Durban’s municipal authority has a memorandum of understanding in place about its future relationship with the port, and Mayor, Obed Mlaba, is known to be eager to press this point home should NPA decide on a coastal site. The city also hosts the busiest port in the southern hemisphere - and one that has a history of congestion that would then have the top brass of NPA on hand to deal with matters. Heritage site Meanwhile Gama has approved a recommended project for the construction of a boardwalk and visitors’ information centre at the entrance to a new natural heritage site on the Richards Bay port zone. The NPA chief has confirmed that the site has been registered with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The protected conservation area to the south of the harbour contains flora and fauna regarded as a natural asset to the port and public in general. The boardwalk has been designed to follow a route through the dunes and mangrove forest and will be wide enough to accommodate disabled visitors. The centre is to be opened in February 2004.