Blue Lagoon Park, a cultural and environmental hotspot within Durban, has been the site of significant upgrades by the eThekwini Municipality over the past year. With the construction of the uMngeni Green Hub and establishment of a Canoe Trails Centre run by community trail guides, installation of new public benches and braai facilities, this area is being regenerated as a favoured destination for residents and visitors to Durban, who can now enjoy a cleaner and safer public recreation space overlooking the uMngeni River Estuary.
In fact, it has become such a popular venue for picnicking that space is often at a premium in peak periods. The municipality is therefore considering additional upgrade works to the area to increase the capacity of the park for recreational use.
One of the proposals, that has been under investigation for some time, and which has raised interest and concern from various interest groups, is the infilling of the 1ha Blue Lagoon model yacht pond. The Municipality has proposed that it be infilled to create more grassed recreation space for picnicking, and to address the ongoing problems and necessary costs associated with its maintenance. Litter pollution and poor water quality are issues that need to be addressed if the pond is to be retained for use by the model yacht community.
Following the KZN environmental authority’s refusal in April 2010 of the eThekwini Municipality’s application for permission to infill the pond, the MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs has subsequently indicated that a Social Impact Assessment should be conducted to better understand the positive and negative social impacts of the proposed project. Based on the outcomes of this Assessment, the MEC will review her Department’s decision to either permit or prohibit infilling of the model yacht pond.
The eThekwini Municipality is committed to ensuring that this area of public parkland is used and developed for the maximum public good, and as therefore initiated a social impact assessment for the proposed infilling of the model yacht pond that will help to identify the best future use for this area.
Two scenario’s will be evaluated:
Infilling the pond and creating grassed picnic / recreational space in its place.
Retaining the model yacht pond, which will require the adoption of a suitable maintenance regime to maintain water quality, with the possible implication of levying a user charge for sporting clubs / groups that benefit from its direct use.
The Social Impact Assessment will critically evaluate the numbers of people impacted or benefitting from each scenario, and the perceptions and issues associated with each. This will be used in the drafting of a Social Impact Assessment Report that will be submitted to the MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs for a decision.
All interested members of the public are invited to participate in the social impact assessment by attending an open day on Saturday 6th August 2011, at the uMngeni Canoe Trails Centre, Blue Lagoon Park, from 9am to 1pm.
