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Durban’s New Promenade Extension Officially Opens Ahead of the Festive Season
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Date: 2021-10-03 22:06:03

Durban’s New Promenade Extension Officially Opens Ahead of the Festive Season

PRESS RELEASE
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
16 November 2019
 
Durban’s New Promenade Extension Officially Opens Ahead of the Festive Season
 
The sun shone brightly on Durban’s golden shores this morning, 16 November 2019. The day started early as the City’s first citizen, Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda led 6009 residents on an 8km fun walk to cut the ribbon at the beginning of the new promenade extension and officially declare it open.
 
INVESTOR APPRECIATION The City’s beachfront investments have paid significant socioeconomic dividends given the quality of public space promoting unity in diversity and direct investor confidence which has seen investment by the hospitality industry in the revamping and expanding of their facilities with Suncoast being the most notable and recent. The Municipality is inspired by both minor and major refurbishments witnessed along the Golden Mile over the last decade and the Captains of Industry must be recognised for their commitment and are urged to continue to champion eThekwini. The City’s vision to become the tourism destination of choice is beginning to emerge into acute focus.
 
NEW EXTENSION The promenade extension spans 750 meters long and 30 meters wide making it altogether the longest in Sub Saharan Africa and provides linkages to all beaches on the city’s eastern boundary, tourist centres and the uMgeni River estuary cycle route and jogging track.with multiple facilities accommodated. Breaking ground in January 2018, with a spend of just under R400 million on the project (incl. design costs etc), 23,000 tons of concrete poured, piling depth of just over 18 meters, this over 440 working days, employing 500 construction workers and in the process ensuring that R135 million was spent on sub-contracting.
 
The Point Precinct story has been one of resilience. Its potential refined and enhanced at various stages of its development preparing for a period such as today, we celebrate a beginning and not the end of an important chapter in the precinct’s endeavours to become the city’s playground.
 
PHASE ONE The investment made by the City will pay dividends soon, as partners prepare to launch phase 1 of the developments planned within this precinct. These developments include a 29 Storey Residential Development, Hotel Development and a Retail Mall with a combined estimated market value of R3,5 billion. In addition, the KwaZulu Cruise Terminal (KCT) together with Transnet will today, 16 November 2019 have a sod turning ceremony which marks the beginning of construction for the R200 million new cruise terminal. This investment will ensure that the City will not only retain our status as the “Leading Cruise Port” awarded at the Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Awards Ceremony on 1 June 2019 held in Mauritius but position Durban as a World Class Cruise Capital boosting Tourism and creating thousands of jobs through the multiplier effect.
 
Transnet’s commitment to the Point Precinct remains second to none and we await the start of their promenade construction project in 2020 along the harbour side which both continues the Point Promenade and connects to the new Cruise Terminal.
 
FESIVE SEASON MANAGEMENT PLANS (FESMAC)The opening of the promenade has come in the wake of the start of the festive season.
 
Today’s opening of the longest promenade in Sub- Saharan Africa will make this summer holiday even more memorable.
 
FESMAC is once again gearing up for a bumper festive period. EThekwini’s multi-pronged holiday plan includes various activities events and activations through the city will officially kick into gear from 1 December 2019 and continues until 14 January 2020.
 
The City’s Metro Police has made special provisions and will enforce a traffic management plans during these holidays.
 
FESMAC INTERVENTIONS Interventions to ensure safety and security of all our visitors and residents will be on high alert throughout the festive period especially on high peak days.
 
The following contingencies will be put in place this festive period:
 
50 pool guides and 50 beach buddies will be recruited to ensure that are beach and pool patrons are kept safe.
 
Child minders will be deployment from 06h00 to 18h00 and every child entering the beach will be tagged with particulars of their parent or guardian in the event of separation to facilitate parent and child are reunited efficiently
Security: Additional security resources will be procured through our Security Management Unit and the Law Enforcement operating hours will be extended during the festive season.
 
In addition to our 75 permanent cleaning staff, 60 additional staff will be sourced. All ablution facilities will close at 22h00.
 
The beach cleaning services will be increased with 56 seasonal staff together with 48 permanent staff on a 24hr operation base. In additional 200 litter pickers will be appointed for the festive season to augment the staffing provided by Parks and Durban Solid Waste.
 
Drawing on the success of the last two years the City will implement the Park & Ride facilities that will be based mainly at the old drive-in to ensure an ease of traffic congestion in and around the beachfront.
 
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, encouraged all visitors to take their time and explore our beautiful City and tourism facilities, in the townships, suburbs and bustling Central Business Districts. “The festive period is truly a time that we savour as it provides us the opportunity to showcase our beautiful City and its endless offerings to all, local, national and international visitors.”
 
Ends
 
Issued by eThekwini Municipality, Communications Unit.