WITH the festive season fast approaching, DA councillors did a walk-about on the promenade to identify problem areas.
The party’s KwaZulu-Natal leader Zwakele Mncwango, KZN Conservation and Environment affairs spokesperson, Ann McDonnell MPL, together with councillors Geoff Pullan and Nicole Graham, inspected areas which Graham had raised concerns over. These included the Rachel Finlayson Pool, where reconstruction work is yet to begin, the paddling pools which were filled with sand and rubbish, an empty restaurant, which has been unoccupied for six holiday seasons, as well as a sculpture which has been torn apart by vagrants and used to hang their washing on.
“Our beaches are the main attraction during this time of the year as visitors from all over the country, and the world at large, flock to Durban to enjoy our beautiful weather and beaches. This, in turn, adds to the province’s economic growth. I don’t feel the current condition of the beachfront is up to standard,” said Graham.
The restaurant site, which, according to Graham costs an estimated R64 000 a month to maintain and secure, was the first stop on the walk-about.
Graham said these valuable municipal assets should be attracting tourists and much-needed revenue to the city, but rather have been a financial burden to ratepayers. “It’s incomprehensible how this issue is still not solved, six years after the fact,” she said.
McDonnell was shocked that the site which she said was in a prime position, was being unused.
“I’m deeply disappointed in the eThekwini Metro. The value of tourism is in job creation, therefore if we do not look after our visitors, they will go elsewhere causing jobs to be lost. There is enough bad news in KZN’s unemployment figures for this year. All spheres of government should be focused on creating and keeping jobs,” she said. McDonnell said the plan was to get the beachfront area back to 2010 standards.
Councillor Pullan said it looked like the city was not prepared for the expected influx of visitors over the Christmas period.
“Apart from sorting out the Rachel Finlayson swimming pool, the other improvements require only a little work. Huge improvements can be done with a bit of tidying up and a spot of paint. It almost seems as if there is no oversight by beach management. I suspect our senior officials have been so engrossed in spending money on the Essence Festival, that our jewel of a beachfront has been forgotten. As much as we all try and punt our attractive beachfront, with its all-year warm weather, we must maintain the facilities there,” he said.
Pullan said empty restaurants and uncared for street furniture do the citizens and city a disservice.
“We are the prime beachfront city in South Africa, so we have to ensure that what we have is well cared for and looked after,” said Pullan.
