DELAY in the upgrading of Rachel Finlayson pool on Durban’s beachfront came under discussion at a meeting of eThekwini council last week when it was revealed that the city would be spending an additional R2.5 million in an attempt to upgrade the pool to the standards required for the Commonwealth Games which Durban will host in 2022.
According to Councillor Nicole Graham, Deputy Leader of the DA in eThekwini, the upgrading of the pool is estimated to run six months over its projected completion date and will cost a further R2.5 million.
Graham said reasons for the extra costs cited included “structural issues” with the pool and the fact that the planned pool design did not comply with standards required for the Commonwealth Games.
“It seems utterly bizarre that construction would begin without a proper determination of what was required, and to now spend additional millions on altering the depth and circulation of the pool is simply bad planning. If we are serious about hosting a great Games, we have to at least get the basics right and keep costs contained,” she said.
It is estimated the project will now be completed around March 2017, which means it will be under construction during Durban’s peak tourist season. “No explanation was given as to why the site is currently abandoned and no work is taking place. I have confirmed this on a number of visits to the site,” she said.
Graham said she would continue to monitor progress on the pool as well as the promenade as a whole, and work to ensure that the beachfront is a world-class tourist attraction.
