Why rush to sign leases, asks PYC?
Still no clarity on future of water sports clubs at Point
ACLOUD of uncertainty still hangs over the signing of new leases for a temporary and permanent facility for Durban’s four water sports clubs.
This week, the Durban Ski Boat Club, Durban Undersea Club (DUC), Point Yacht Club (PYC) and Durban Paddleski Club were still at odds with one another while the eviction date of August 8 looms.
This is in regard to the further development of Durban’s beachfront promenade with the developers asking the clubs to sign leases for temporary and permanent premises which will house all four clubs.
Chairperson of the Point Watersports Club and Durban Undersea Club, Cuane Hall, sent a letter to their members yesterday saying, “There are a lot of rumours, misinformation and fake news doing the rounds on social media and other news platforms regarding the Point development and the future of the Point Water Sports Clubs within the Point Precinct”.
He added that at the Special General Meeting held at the end of June, members were given a detailed presentation on the timeline of the agreements with the developers to date.
“The Point clubs signed one agreement in 2008 with three subsequent addendums up to December 2014 to accommodate the changing face of the development.
“The overwhelming support given to the club at the meeting shows DUC club members are embracing the changes and fully support the developers and city in the venture,” said Hall, adding that “as the largest water sports club in the country”, the club is “excited to be part of the Point Waterfront which will be a premier attraction in KZN”.
But yesterday, Commodore of the Point Yacht Club, Craig Millar, questioned the rush to sign both leases.
“There seems to be an extraordinary urgency by the Durban Undersea Club and The Durban Ski Boat Club to sign these unfavourable leases.
“Point Yacht Club cannot understand this haste. We have simply been trying to stop this runaway train and we want the best possible deal for all the members of all the clubs.”
Millar added that Point Yacht Club was “of the opinion that we have a right to freehold land and are not prepared to sign these leases until the possibility of freehold land is off the table”.
The Durban Paddleski Club had issued a letter via their lawyers on Thursday, which included among other matters, that the developer was obliged to comply with a 2008 Memorandum of Agreement “before any affective or legitimate steps can be taken to evict any one of the clubs”.
The Durban Ski Boat Club commodore, Hilton Kidger, said this week that members had the right to comment on the proposed leases.
The comments would be taken back to the developers after which modifications could be made which would still be approved by their members.
We have simply been trying to stop this runaway train and we want the best possible deal for all members Craig Millar Commodore of Point Yacht Club