Victory against floating water park in Southbroom
Concerns were raised over the potential environmental impact on the sensitive lagoon ecosystem.
The Southbroom Property Owners’ Association (SPOA) has scored a major victory in its campaign against a proposed floating water park in the Imbezane River estuary in Southbroom.
The association announced that following legal action, Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) has acceded to its Part B application, effectively preventing the park from being approved without all required municipal procedures being followed.
The dispute dates back to December 2025, when residents and environmental advocates staged a protest at Southbroom’s main beach lagoon. Contractors had begun preparing the site for the park, which was designed as a modular installation capable of covering up to 1700m² and accommodating more than 300 users at a time. Community members from Southbroom and Ramsgate, along with community police forums, monitored the protest. By the afternoon, all equipment had been removed from the site.
Concerns were raised over the potential environmental impact on the sensitive lagoon ecosystem. The Imbezane River supports rich birdlife and wildlife, including flamingos, oyster catchers, and the rare palm-nut vulture. Residents and conservationists argued that the development posed a significant threat to the estuary’s natural habitat.
Following the protest, SPOA filed an urgent interdict in the High Court in Durban against RNM, the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sierra Global, and the Minister of Water and Sanitation.
SPOA chairperson Eric Annegarn said the municipality’s decision to accede to SPOA’s Part B action now prevents any further progress on the floating water park without full compliance with all required procedures, marking a decisive win for the community and environmental stakeholders.
RNM had initially granted approval for the project, stating that it had complied with all statutory and procedural requirements, with the approval letter signed by the municipality’s accounting officer.
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