The Mercury & Vetch's

Point Developers Gamble With Ratepayers' Money
18 September, 2007 Mercury
The Durban Point Development Company's new plans for the small-craft harbour at Vetch's, as revealed in The Mercury on September 14, reveal a number of concerning issues. [ Full Story... ]

City's workings remain a mystery
14 September, 2007 Mercury
The workings of Durban's city management remain a mystery to the ratepaying public. Consider the following as an example: [ Full Story... ]

Deciding on the future of the Point
Greg Ardé 14 September, 2007 Mercury
There are conflicting views on building a signature waterfront, but only time will tell what is in the best interests of Durban ratepayers, writes Greg Arde [ Full Story... ]

Transnet Is Ignoring The Human Aspect
28 August, 2007 Mercury
I have read with interest recent articles in The Mercury about the development of Vetch's Pier. I wish to remind readers that this is not the only development with pure economic gain in mind. [ Full Story... ]

Don't let greed pillage Vetch's
17 August, 2007 Mercury
Having recently listened through a lengthy debate at the Point Yacht Club (PYC), I came to the conclusion that there is a need to refocus on the Y in PYC. [ Full Story... ]

Weighing up the Vetch's odds
13 August, 2007 Mercury
The Durban Point Development's Neels Brink was quoted as saying that he believed three issues needed to considered equally in any development: the social, the environmental and the economic "Pledge to break EIA logjam" (The Mercury, August 8). [ Full Story... ]

Sandcastles on the slopes of a volcano
08 August, 2007 Mercury
Poor Pastor Ray McCauley seems to be caught somewhere between the devil and the deep blue sea. [ Full Story... ]

Vetch's Pier plan faces rethink
Tony Carnie 19 July, 2007 Mercury
THE controversial plan that will elbow out Durban's water-sports community from Vetch's Pier for a new yacht marina and commercial waterfront development has run into an obstacle. [ Full Story... ]

Durban needs bigger vision for a marina
29 May, 2007 Mercury
The Shosholoza campaign has highlighted two facts: [ Full Story... ]

Developers' Vetch's Proposal At Odds With Ocean Common Sense
24 April, 2007 Mercury
I refer to the article "Freak Waves Will Damage Yachts At Vetch's Pier" (The Mercury, April 12). [ Full Story... ]

We'll lose out both ways over Vetch's
17 April, 2007 Mercury
I have been following the debate surrounding the development plans for a small-craft harbour at Durban's Vetch's Beach for some time. [ Full Story... ]

Freak Waves Will Damage Yachts At Vetch's
16 April, 2007 Mercury
With reference to the article, "Freak waves won't damage yachts at Vetch's Pier" (The Mercury, April 12), where were the engineers on the afternoon of Monday March 19? [ Full Story... ]

'Freak waves won't damage yachts at Vetch's Pier'
12 April, 2007 Mercury
THE freak waves that battered the KwaZulu-Natal coastline last month have re-ignited "the battle for Vetch's Pier", with fears that the ferocious March 19 sea conditions would have pulverised any yachts in the controversial small craft harbour. [ Full Story... ]

Would Point harbour be used?
28 March, 2007 Mercury
Judging from the response in the press over the past few months, there doesn't seem to be too much public support for the proposed small-craft harbour at the Point. [ Full Story... ]

Beware the tides of March . . .
Tony Carnie 28 March, 2007 Mercury
BOY, what a week it has been! [ Full Story... ]

Storms underlined foolishness of Vetch's plan
27 March, 2007 Mercury
One thing is certain about the recent storm surge off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal - it will happen again. The only question is when. [ Full Story... ]

Developers, please take note
22 March, 2007 Mercury
I hope the developers of the proposed small craft harbour at Vetch's Pier are having some long walks along the Durban beachfront at this time. [ Full Story... ]

Developers continue to dice with nature
12 March, 2007 Mercury
The recent cyclonic swells illustrate only too well the obvious hazard of attempting to create a sea-facing small craft mooring in the Vetch's basin. [ Full Story... ]

Harbour at Vetch's will be impractical
09 March, 2007 Mercury
I have been involved in sailing for most of my life, having owned a variety of boats - including an ocean-going yacht - and I also love the Vetch's beach area and use it as well. [ Full Story... ]

Cyclonic conditions are proof enough
07 March, 2007 Mercury
With reference to the article "Durban is not Monaco or Dubai" (The Mercury, February 23): hopefully, all interested parties and developers of the small craft harbour have been enlightened by the sea conditions, as the effects of Cyclone Gamede were felt along our coastline. [ Full Story... ]

Legality of new marina questioned
Tony Carnie 06 March, 2007 Mercury
THE legality of the controversial yachting marina at Vetch's Pier in Durban has been cast into doubt, with reports that the developers have no authority to buy up a part of the sea to create luxury flats and a hotel resort. [ Full Story... ]

Sale Of Vetch's Beach Raises Legal Concerns
06 March, 2007 Mercury
The complexity of the situation surrounding Vetch's beach [ Full Story... ]

City ignores objections to Point project
01 March, 2007 Mercury
In the letter by J P Purshotum (The Mercury, February 14 ) he accused the municipality of not involving the public in the decision to build the new stadium. [ Full Story... ]

Durban is not Monaco or Dubai
23 February, 2007 Mercury
In The Mercury of January 25, Tony Carnie conducted an interview with Neels Brink, Project Director for the Durban Point Development Company. [ Full Story... ]

Anglers battling unkind conditions
23 February, 2007 Mercury
Weather patterns for anglers at this time of the year have been adverse, to say the least. [ Full Story... ]

Destroying Vetch's would be unfair to residents
16 February, 2007 Mercury
I wonder if the powers-that-be have ever swum at Vetch's Beach? Have they taken their elderly parents or young children there? [ Full Story... ]

Vetch's harbour site alternative
12 February, 2007 Mercury
The deadline for submissions for comments to the draft environmental impact assessment for the construction of a small craft harbour at Vetch's Beach passed on January 31. [ Full Story... ]

Vetch's Pier development will only benefit the affluent at the expense of the public
05 February, 2007 Mercury
I have lived in Durban for 50 years, regularly enjoying the recreational facilities of the port and beach. [ Full Story... ]

Boat owners don't want harbour at Vetch's
30 January, 2007 Mercury
Neels Brink's statements about the Point development (The Mercury, January 25) reveal the DPDC's real intentions for wanting to develop a small craft harbour on Vetch's Beach. Not only do they want the beach; they want to build out into the sea as well! [ Full Story... ]

Point needs a 'real waterfront'
25 January, 2007 Mercury
DURBAN'S much-vaunted Point Waterfront project would never become "a real waterfront" unless a new yachting marina and small craft harbour was built at Vetch's Pier. [ Full Story... ]

Many who are not club members use Vetch's Beach
24 January, 2007 Mercury
With the controversy regarding the Durban Point Development Company's desire to build a small craft harbour at Vetch's pier, I would like to make the following observations: [ Full Story... ]

Point developers' ignorance on display
23 January, 2007 Mercury
The letter by Rick Wilson, one of the developers of the Point area (The Mercury, January 19), demonstrates his ignorance of the Vetch's area. [ Full Story... ]

City Not Protecting The Interests Of Ratepayers
22 January, 2007 Mercury
I have been dealing with the relevant authorities regarding the preservation of the Vetch's Pier area for the use of the public in general and the watersports fraternity in particular for the past 17 years, in various capacities. [ Full Story... ]

New Harbour Will Open Beach To Many
19 January, 2007 Mercury
As a developer at the Point, I found the article which focused on the Point Waterfront Development and the proposed Yacht Mole Development (The Mercury January 12) somewhat one-sided. [ Full Story... ]

Point plans arouse passions
19 January, 2007 Mercury
The passions of many Durban residents are still running high over the latest Point Waterfront plans - although recent compromise deals may ensure reluctant support from surfers and other water sports groups. [ Full Story... ]

Have your say
18 January, 2007 Mercury
Retain Vetch's Pier for access to water sports for all and develop the Victoria Embankment. [ Full Story... ]

Waterfront Durban
Tony Carnie 12 January, 2007 Mercury
THE shape and character of maritime Durban is set to change dramatically - for better and for worse - as the city ponders the viability of two major waterfront development plans. [ Full Story... ]

Durban's double seafront projects
12 January, 2007 Mercury
The clock is ticking for the much-vaunted Point Waterfront development, where the latest "crown jewel" is being designed to lure a new wave of tourists and investors. [ Full Story... ]

Oppose Vetch's destruction
27 December, 2006 Mercury
It is common knowledge that the Durban Point Development Company intends destroying Vetch's Beach in order to build a small craft harbour... from The The Water Rat, Durban

Please clear rubble
08 May, 2006 Mercury
During July last year, eThekwini Municipal Manager Michael Sutcliffe allowed Portnet, or one of its contractors, to dump a massive amount of rubble on to the beach in front of the Paddle Ski Club at Vetch's Pier... writes 'Rat on the Rocks' from Durban [ Full Story... ]

No Teddy Bears' Picnic Down At South Beach
04 May, 2006 Mercury
The appalling state of South Beach, since the City Manager allowed Portnet to dump tons of rock and rubble on to it, has prompted me to pen this rhyme: [ Full Story... ]

Disconcerting silence on Vetch's Pier state
11 April, 2006 Mercury
When citizens of Durban criticise the municipality through the press, it usually does not take long for the authorities to respond and "set the record straight"... writes Johnny Vassilaros from Durban [ Full Story... ]

Sabotage behind beach rubble?
17 March, 2006 Mercury
There is something decidedly sinister about the condition of Vetch's Beach. What used to be an area with pristinely clean sand is now covered in rubble... from Disgusted of Durban. [ Full Story... ]


Point Is Not Really Suited To New Homes
12 September, 2005
Mercury
There is much hype surrounding the development at Durban's Point area. Flats are being built and canals dug. However, I am not at all convinced that the developer is on the right track... from Unconvinced of Durban. [ Full Story... ]