Along the boardwalk, down by the sea, is a new extension
DURBAN’S Vetch’s Beach has been taken over by bulldozers and tractors as the final piece of the promenade finally gets under way.
In this R300-million project, the promenade will be extended from where it ends at USHAKA’s Moyo Pier towards the harbour channel.
Once completed, the snaking beach boardwalk will straddle the coastline from Blue Lagoon in the north all the way down to the harbour.
ETHEKWINI Municipal spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa said: “The construction of the extension of the promenade commenced as planned in January. Our builders have just completed the demolition of the old structures. The actual first phase of construction is expected to commence soon,” she said.
The old structures were the watersports clubhouses that sat above Vetch’s Beach.
The clubs did not want to move from their location and were locked in legal battles to avoid eviction for many years before reaching an agreement.
They have been temporarily relocated to a building about 100m away, near the NSRI at the harbour.
Now that the old clubhouses have been flattened, Mthethwa said the city had begun work on the massive R300m beachfront development project.
Mthethwa said the promenade extension will be 750m long and 30m wide, ending at the northern breakwaters at the harbour entrance channel.
The design of the newly extended boardwalk includes provision for the watersports club’s facilities.
“Below the elevated structure is provision for Point Watersports Club facilities, together with a dedicated launch site for their boat-launching activities,” said Mthethwa.
The northern side’s beach facilities and amenities will include change rooms and ablutions for bathers and staff facilities, mainly for Parks, Recreation and Culture and Durban Solid Waste employees, and public parking. Dedicated parking for clubs will be provided underneath.
There will be restaurant facilities that will be leased out to operators, and an amphitheatre, located in the centre of the promenade, which will serve as the main beach eventing space.
The design includes various on- and off-ramps, at 50m to 100m intervals, that will allow people to get from the beach to the promenade.
“The promenade extension unlocks the phase 1 investment into the Point Waterfront which includes a residential tower, retail mall and hotel.”
The project aims to maximise the use of the area by a network of vehicular and pedestrian connectivity that will link to and extend the existing beachfront promenade along Vetch’s Pier, around to the northern harbour edge.
“Populating the space in between will be multi-storey structures offering residential, office, retail and leisure infrastructure,” said Mthethwa.
The total investment of the project is between R30 billion and R35bn which will contribute annual rates of R200 million and result in the creation of 11 000 construction jobs and 6 750 permanent jobs, she said.