Watersports clubs face ousting

WARRING watersports clubs on Durban’s Vetch’s Pier beach will have to resolve their differences or face having no club premises.

That was the word from chairperson of the Point Watersports Club and Durban Undersea Club, Cuane Hall, after the two months’ notice period given to the clubs by the Durban Point Development Company on June 8.

This includes the Durban Undersea Club, the Point Yacht Club, The Durban Ski-Boat Club and the Durban Paddleski Club.

The clubs were asked by the developers to sign a temporary lease agreement which will provide a site and clubhouse for the next two years, while the new promenade for the Durban Waterfront Project is under construction, as well as a permanent lease agreement for a new club site to be constructed under the envisaged promenade.

Commodore of the Point Yacht Club, Craig Millar, said yesterday that there was a need for clarity over the two months’ notice period – whether the notice period only came into force once building of the temporary construction was under way.

He also said the lease agreements were a “massive departure” from the clubs’ original plan to buy freehold property for R890 000 to establish the new site for the clubs.

“How have we gone from freehold to leasehold? What is offered is far less than appropriate,” Millar said, adding that a required rental of R108 000 a month for the permanent premises was excessive.

“We will also have to spend a couple of million to have the temporary premises fitted out, only for it to be knocked down two years later when they start building the permanent site,” he said.

But Cuane Hall said there was no confusion about the date the clubs had to vacate their current premises, warning that the clubs did not want to lose premises altogether.

“None of the clubs have a lease or any tenure, we are there by the grace of the landlord. We have to move out on August 8 and I believe our temporary building will be ready. We have the lease for the temporary site which is a 10 000m² site and the building is 450m² to share between the water sports clubs.

“The lease for the permanent site is for 15 years, renewable for a further 10 years,” said Hall, confirming the rent required for the temporary premises was R100 a month, while the rent for the permanent premises is “just over R100 000 a month”.

Hall added that developers had requested the leases be signed within seven days, but the clubs had requested an extension because their members had to be consulted on the proposed leases at a special general meeting.

The Durban Undersea Club has called for a special general meeting on June 27, while Millar said the Point Yacht Club had sent a letter to developers requesting a meeting.