The Mercury 27 July 2007

Proposed harbour plan hits rough water
July 27, 2007 Edition 1

Tony Carnie

DURBAN yachtsmen, ski-boaters and other watersport clubs are likely to pull out of negotiations with the Durban Point Development Company until there is more clarity on the new shape of the controversial small craft harbour at Vetch's Pier.

This after a decision earlier this month by the KZN Department of Environmental Affairs to request several changes to the original harbour plan, including the scrapping of a proposed underground parking lot for club members.

Members of the Durban Ski Boat Club were to vote on whether to sign a memorandum of agreement with the company this weekend. Members of the Point Yacht Club and Durban Undersea Club are to meet on August 6 to consider the same issue.

A draft memorandum of agreement prepared by the development company has proposed the formation of a joint "super club" to accommodate skiboaters, yachtsmen, windsurfers, Hobie cat and paddleski members under a single roof.

However, the Durban Ski Boat club has decided to postpone voting on the super club proposal until it can get clarity on several issues from development company project leader Neels Brink.

Club spokesman Eddie Lahee said the recent amendments and queries from the provincial environment department had created several areas of uncertainty and it was likely that any firm decisions about the super club proposal would have to be postponed for the time being.


Senior Point Yacht Club members Nigel Milne and Rob Goulden were not available for comment on whether the memorandum would be tabled at the club's August 6 meeting.

But Johnny Vasillaros, Chairman of the Durban Paddleski Club, has cautioned all water sport club members against signing "blank cheque" agreements.

Vasillaros said Brink seemed to be pressuring clubs to sign to demonstrate that the interests of club members had been accommodated.

"We also strongly believe this proposal has been carefully drawn up for the purpose of setting the clubs up to fail and go into liquidation . . . There will be no swimming, no surfing, no snorkelling, no boogie boards, no sunbathing, no kids building sandcastles. I believe the boating fraternity of this city deserves a far, far better deal and if all the clubs refuse to sign there can be no way that the city will even think about evicting us."

Brink did not respond to telephone messages.