Virginia Airport proposal met with anger
Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, says key documents from city proposal missing.
A PUBLIC meeting regarding the proposed R6.1-billion development on the Virginia Airport site took place mainly in the dark on Wednesday. The overarching feeling from Durban North councillor, Shaun Ryley, was the proposal by SeaWorld Investment Holdings, who made the unsolicited bid to the eThekwini Municipality, was shrouded in secrecy.
The irony of being kept in the dark was not lost on residents who also rejected the plan with some suggesting a ‘rates boycott’ as one way to oppose the development.
The development includes a hotel, upmarket residential houses as well as leisure and related developments while Virginia operators would be moved to a larger airport down the South Coast in Scottburgh.
Ryley who addressed a crowd of more than 300 residents said he found a number of discrepancies and missing documents in the proposal. He added further investigation of the company, revealed that two of the directors listed on the document had left the company a year ago.
Have other companies put forward proposals?
“I think sitting here in the dark is indicative of the predicament most residents find themselves in. This whole process is about transparency and accountability. The fact that the proposal document states that the city was in negotiations with SeaWorld for two years before the plan was released is ludicrous. I’ve addressed a letter to the city manager, Sbu Sithole, regarding the unsolicited proposal with a number of questions.
“Have any other companies at any point submitted proposals for the development of the site? What engagement has the city undertaken with the Umdoni Municipality with regards to the proposed airport development to take place there and which will fall under the administration of eThekwini Municipality? How does a company with no background in development get the nod of approval for such a large undertaking?”
Ryley urged the residents to make submissions to the eThekwini Municipality which can be seen at www.durban.gov.za. The closing date for comments is 7 November.
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