February 1, 2012: The Umhlanga area has always been earmarked by the eThekwini Municipality as one of the most essential areas in the municipal area for the development of tourism and recreational facilities. Now a development plan outlined by the municipality has caused controversy among Umhlanga residents. The proposal of a tidal pool has been highlighted as a key area of expenditure for Umhlanga, with the coastal water management department being given a budget of around R2.9 million for the project in the 2012/2013 financial year.
According to Godfrey Vella, a senior manager at the municipal coastal engineering department, the development makes sense as an investment towards expanding Umhlanga as a tourist attraction, and he says the project for the tidal pool has already been in the pipeline for several years.
“In March 2007, eThekwini Municipality experienced extremely high stormy seas which caused extensive damage to coastal infrastructure. Following this the city had to reallocate funding to emergency disaster projects,” said Vella. “The funding that was allocated to the Umhlanga tidal pool was redirected and this project was temporarily suspended. The project was reinstated in 2010 and will be a valuable asset in expanding the area as an attractive tourist destination.”
Residents are concerned that such a long-term development could have a negative impact on the area. According to DA Ward Councillor Heinz De Boer, Umhlanga does not have the facilities required to accommodate the extra number of visitors to the area.
Infrastructure
“Umhlanga simply does not have the associated infrastructure, like parking and ablution facilities to cater for the hundreds of extra people who would come to Umhlanga to use the pool. To now make these facilities available would cost a huge, extra chunk of money. For example, extra lifeguards would have to be employed,” said De Boer.
“Secondly, a pool would negatively impact on the iconic look Umhlanga has had for many years. We are already a prime tourist destination. A tidal pool would alter the look of the beaches, impact on the environment and change the dynamics of the beach totally.”
According to a survey conducted by the municipality, Umhlanga residents are not directly opposed to the idea of such a facility being built in the area. Out of 522 people surveyed in the immediate surrounds of where the pool might be built, 89% of residents said they were in favour of the pool. But De Boer says this is a very modest survey and that a real public assessment needs to be done, and more consultation take place, before the project goes ahead.
“We need another public consultation process and public meeting. I am led to believe there were less than 50 people at the last public meeting in 2007,” said De Boer. “This is not consultative or representative of the community. The project should be scrapped. I don’t think the public would like to see their rates money being spent on such a non-essential project, when there are so many other pressing issues in the city.”
Currently the eThekwini Municipality is focusing on the environmental assessment and plans to start modelling for the pool by mid June.
