Blue Lagoon a ‘white elephant’
Traders, families fear hang-out spot will never be the same
THE Blue Lagoon area has for decades been enjoyed by the Durban Indian community as a popular hang-out, picnic and fishing area.
However, over the past year, due to construction and other factors including crime, the once-vibrant area has been abandoned by revellers.
An R80 million upgrade, which began in February this year, is expected to cover the extension of the promenade, new parking areas, landscaping, improved street lights, street furniture, paving, new braai facilities, new paddling pools and rehabilitating the dunes.
The pools at Laguna Beach will also be moved to Blue Lagoon.
Traders says they have suffered huge losses as a result of being moved from the lagoon area to the old Coconut Grove site. Some fear even after the upgrade of Blue Lagoon, affectionately known as “Lugs”, the area will never return to its former glory, with former visitors having now migrated to shopping malls and other places of entertainment such as casino complexes.
Reshad Mohammed, the joint chairman of the Blue Lagoon Informal Traders’ Association, said that even though they were given sufficient notification by the municipality of the project, traders were disappointed with where they were moved.
“It’s like being in a jungle, compared to where we were before – in an open beach area. We are looking forward to the upgrade, but the construction has been inconvenient.
“People don’t know about the relocation or that we are at Coconut Grove. We cannot point fingers at anyone for this, but if we had a choice we would have opted for an area along the beach, not the secluded spot where we are.
“Much of our business depends on passers-by and now we don’t have that, because no one can see us. So our business has deteriorated.
“Coconut Grove is not what it used to be. It is dead, whereas Blue Lagoon was booming on weekends,” said Mohammed.
Members of the association, comprising about 50 traders, were moved from Blue Lagoon on March 16. They pay rent of between R70 and R150 a month.
“We are trying to let people know where we are, but it is getting increasingly difficult. The municipality told us the upgrade would boost tourism in the area. But it has always been a family place, not a tourist one,” he said.
A regular visitor to Blue Lagoon and Coconut Grove, Keeran Eshwarlall, 38, of Verulam, said the area had lost its cultural appeal and become “a white elephant”.
“Few people now go there on a weekly basis. At one point it was the hub of the Indian community. It brought the community together and gave us a unique identity.
“When I drove by recently, I was shocked to see the state of the place because of the construction work.
“I believe the community has moved on to shopping malls and Suncoast, which is buzzing, but there is still no place like Blue Lagoon and Coconut Grove used to be.
“Ultimately, this will lead to the Indian community drifting apart and not having the unity it had at Blue Lagoon,” said Eshwarlall.
Kerusha Chetty, 21, of Chatsworth, said her family used to have a weekly gettogether at Blue Lagoon, but had not met there since the construction work started.
“My extended family and I used to go to Blue Lagoon and Coconut Grove almost every weekend. The atmosphere was amazing – it has that Indian vibe, which I love.
“There were no distinctions between linguistic groups, cultures, religion or the area you came from. Most of the people just got together to have fun.
“Now we hardly get to see anyone. It is sad. That sort of culture no longer exists. People have gone to other places, not to one specific area,” said Chetty.
Demise
Nikhil Bhanjan, 26, of Newlands West, said that apart from the construction there were many other factors contributing to the demise of the area.
“Blue Lagoon was a great place to go to hang out with friends from different areas. Centrally located, it was accessible and convenient. I have noticed a decline in the past 10 years, so the construction is not entirely to blame.
“Crime, the police presence and the closure of Coconut Grove have been contributing factors.
“The new hangouts are places such as Suncoast, Sibaya and uShaka, with the younger crowds at malls, clubbing and so on.
“The Blue Lagoon culture gave rise to a special bond among Indian South Africans. I believe that bond will change or evolve thanks to the changes the country is going through.
“The place helped to seal that bond, but not necessarily to keep it. People have changed. Maybe the bond can be preserved if some other place can inspire people to get together like that place once did,” said Bhanjan.