Cool heads needed for Utopian dream

If all the talk of major tourism developments come to pass, Zululand might just, in time to come, challenge Cape Town as the playground of choice for South African and international holidaymakers.

Over the past week we reported on massive projects in the pipeline – a waterfront development to rival the Mother City’s V & A Waterfront, a Gold Coast type beach precinct, walk through shopping centres, classy restaurants serving fine cuisine, amphitheatres, azure tidal pools and cobblestone walkways to name but some of the facilities.

Backed by the usual architectural utopian imagery, perceptions all too quickly become reality.

With it comes the promises of considerable economic growth and, of course, job creation.

The waterfront concept alone talks about a R300-million investment and 300 jobs.

While one obviously welcomes the possibilities and the fact that enterprising people are at least working on turning what is still in essence an industrial hub into a state of paradise, the sensible thing the public and business entrepreneurs should do at this juncture is too curb their enthusiasm until such time as more concrete and measurable plans develop.

The only tangible fact on the table at this stage is the R10.5-million grant funding from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to be used for basic infrastructure improvements. It is a pittance compared to what is needed to actually turn the wish list into reality.

A clear distinction must be made between pie-in-the-sky entrepreneurs and their projects and those driven by experienced, clear thinking investors, who won’t touch anything until proper feasibility and impact studies have been conducted. And that will take a very long time.

Rushing headlong into projects of this magnitude will lead to environmental and financial disaster.

This is exactly what happened at the much touted Durban Point Waterfront development. All the idyllic waterways, wooden walkways and apartment and office buildings went up in double quick time – but there’s nobody home. There it stand, a white elephant full of emptiness.