Port sandbank plan draws fire
Much has been done, but still more needed for Durban Dig-out Port.
AT a meeting on Friday, 27 February, Transnet committed itself to the economic upliftment of the South Durban Basin (SDB) as the progress on the Durban Dig-out Port (DDOP) plan was revealed.
R150-million has already been spent in the last three years on planning and design for the DDOP and much has been done to develop the existing port to handle the expected growth from 2.7-milion TEUs per annum to 7.5-million in 2040. Transnet’s executive of planning and sustainability, Mark Gregg-Macdonald assured the gathering that skills development and job creation will be a priority for them and peer reviews will ensure their ongoing commitment to the SDB as the DDOP develops.
Short term plans for the existing harbour include, among others the creation of a point passenger terminal. With the increase in the number of cruise liners to the city, this is seen as an important development to attract visitors off the boats.
Berths within the harbour will need to be widened and deepened to prepare for larger TEUs and Durban Port manager, Moshe Motlohi announced that the Department of Environmental Affairs has granted authorisation for this. The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and Earthlife Africa have, however issued notices of appeal against this decision.
“We have notified all parties including government that we are appealing their record of decision as is the law. We are submitting our appeal by 10 March to the minister of the environment, Edna Molewe. We are currently drafting this appeal. Our reasons will be substantially written up and we need to apply our mind and if not, then we can kiss goodbye to the sandbank, which is the largest nursery for fish and birds and the mangroves,” said SDCEA co-ordinator, Desmond D’Sa.
About 170 hectares of land will be needed for the development of the DDOP alongside the already-purchased old airport site. Over the last three years, much of the planning and pre-feasibility work has been completed and the parastatal is now looking to finalising of plans and funding before the project commences in 2021. Although funding has not yet been sourced for the DDOP, phase 1 is scheduled to commence in 2021 and barring any unforseen issues, is expected to be completed by 2025. Gregg-Macdonald said the DDOP will be needed in Durban by 2025 according to projections. “The cost to the country of not having capacity for demand is unacceptable. We need to plan in advance,” he said.
