DESPITE numerous requests by the Sun to eThekwini Municipality for an update on the status of the South Durban beach upgrade plans, no answer has been forthcoming.
The last round of public meetings regarding the proposed upgrade to the ‘Whale Coast’ was held in November last year, where an artist’s impression of the plans was presented. Community members enthusiastically gave their input and were eager for the finalisation of the plans and for the budget to be set.
Since then, all efforts by the SUN to elicit an update have failed. Ward 66 councillor, Duncan Du Bois, was however able to get some feedback at a recent Economic Development Committee meeting.
“According to Themba Msomi, the official co-ordinating proposals for the upgrading of the Bluff and Cuttings beaches, road access engineering issues are holding up the release of an updated report,” said Du Bois.
“I find Mr Msomi’s response difficult to accept as an experienced road engineer informed me at the beaches upgrade meeting held at the golf club on 27 November, that construction of a road anywhere down the Bluff peninsula slope to the beach was, from an engineering point of view, quite manageable.
I raised the issue of the Bluff beaches during discussion of the proposed R23-million upgrade of Umgababa Beach. While I think it is necessary to have more developed beach nodes along our coast, I expressed disappointment that a report on the Bluff beaches, which was promised last month, was still on the backburner.
Nonetheless, the projected cost of the Umgababa Beach upgrade does provide a pointer as to what upgrades of Cuttings and Bluff beaches might cost. My guess is upwards of R40-million,” he said.
