Breaking News from Umdloti Beach!

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Local News and Events from Umdloti Beach

Airport Named....atlast!!!

15th January 2010. After much deliberation and protestation the name of Durban's new airport at La Mercy has at last been finalised....to exactly what was originally intended viz. King Shaka International Airport (KSIA)

Feral Cat Slaughter in Umdloti?

Hi, I’m emailing you out of desperation as I have tried to stop the slaughter of our feral cats in vain; it seems that no one is particularly interested in saving them.

I'm a resident at Cascades and have had the heartache of seeing the feral cats that have been living in and around our complex being euthanized. Is this not a protected area? It is proven fact that "getting rid" of one feral colony only promotes the onset of another colony moving in, surely they would know better?

Could we not put together a fund to have the existing cats sterilized and let them die out on their own? Is there anybody that you could get in contact with so that we can put together an action plan?
If you have any contact details for me, please give me a call: Janice 082 560 7836
Here is a picture of one of the kitty's that has been "put to sleep"...

Hen's Teeth found in Umdloti?

Luxury offices with sea view to let in Umdloti? This must be the only one available for years! Recently refurbished, nice sea view, own courtyard and garden, automatic garage, excellent security. Option to take over minimum 6 built-in workstations plus fully equipped kitchen. Various office chairs and phones available too, if needed. Available immediately. Ideal for "quiet" business with few visitors. R7 500 pm. The office can be viewed at SAFindIt or Call Geoff on 082-3256-889.

Durban gets Brazil v. Portugal

The MEGA CLASH and language Derby of the World Cup group matches, Brazil v. Portugal, will be played in Durban's beautiful new 70,000 seater Moses Mahbida stadium on 26th June 2010! What a match that will be! We will also have the top team, Spain, plus Netherlands(3rd seed) and Germany(6th) playing here giving Durban 5 out of the top 6 FIFA Coca Cola rated teams in the World....WHAT A SPECTACLE - full details of all the World Cup matches to be played in Durban are available on our 2010 webpage

Whales return to Umdloti and website winner announced

WOW! what excitement.... the first reported whale sighting was on June 6th, EXACTLY the same date as last year and the winner of access to a free website for life has been announced. THE BUSH TAVERN award is still a begging and Rob Connor has extended this prize to run on a monthly basis - so now the first to spot a whale from the Bush Tavern Whale watcher's Deck each month wins a free R100,00 BUSH TAVERN meal voucher! For full details visit our Umdloti whale sightings register

Our famous Bush Tavern to sponsor Whale watching in Umdloti

The Bush Tavern's fabulous new Whale Watcher's Deck, which replaced the original Dolphin Terrace, boasts wonderful breaker and sea views, making it the perfect place from which to view the splendour of our Humpback Whales.

To add to the splendour of this awesome occasion, The Bush Tavern is offering a R100,00 discount on your meal when you spot the first whale of the month from their Whale Watchers Deck....just confirm your sighting with the duty manager and you will receive your free R100,00 Bush Tavern meal voucher!

Spot the First Whale of the Season

Last year the first whale of the season was spotted from Umdloti Beach on 6th June, quite a bit earlier than normal. If you spot the first whale of the season this year and give us a report, www.umdloti.org will give you access to a
FREE WEBSITE FOR LIFE.

Seen a whale?......then send your report to Julie and Bob, your webhosts at www.umdloti.org

Election Results 2009

We have all the results for Umdloti, La Mercy and Mount Moreland. See for whom people voted - you might be surprised! Just click here for a lovely chart of the politics in our beautiful neck of the woods.

Umdloti Name Changes Sorted

Melanie Arabsky Ledger identified confusion at Ethekweni Metro and Richard Siedle has obtained Councillor Steenhuisen's commitment to get the errors corrected - well done Melanie and Richard!...full details of the errors are on our blogs page

Umdloti street names change: this is no joke

Without any consultation or discussion whatsoever, Ethekwini Municipality has changed the name of Main Road to JABU NGCOBO DRIVE and 1st Ave becomes MATHEWS MEYIWA AVE. This is no joke (unlike our 2007 April Fools joke about Umdloti name changes that highlighted the somewhat challenged sense of humour of some locals!) and you are encouraged to air your views on the issue by sending mail to news@umdloti.org. Comments will be published on our blogs page.

New Umdloti Restaurant Page

Gastro hub Umdloti now has a new restaurant page with details of all the new eating places in Umdloti

The NEW Umdloti Centre

Exciting new developments have changed the face of Umdloti Centre!
Over the last few months there has been a lot of activity at the Centre. A new surf shop has opened catering for the surfing enthusiasts of Umdloti, both local and visitors. Parsons Letting has moved from the front of the centre to the newly paved walkthrough area past Seaside Liquors. Umdloti Pharmacy has moved into the centre and is situated in the front next to the hardware. The Bush Tavern has also had a total facelift and now boasts a lovely deck area where sundowners can be enjoyed watching the dolphins. Another new attraction to the centre is Mundo Vida. Situated between Bel Punto and the Bush Tavern, this restaurant offers an international flavour to Umdloti's eating venues, with a lovely deck area to be enjoyed as well. Cafe Java has replaced the old Nino's and the new Calypso Bar (ex Harry's Bar) complete the gastro hub.
All in all, Umdloti Centre caters for all your shopping requirements and offers a complete entertainment and dining experience.

Strictly exercise and ballet classes in Umdloti

Kitty Setz (R.A.D. R.T.S.) has restarted her popular pilates based exercise and ballet classes in Umdloti. Kitty is a professional dance teacher, qualified with the Royal Academy of Dancing (London). e-mail or call 082 940 3733.

Turtles now in Umdloti...and a whale shark too!

25th January 2009 at around 17:00 a group of surfers including myself got the fright of our lives when a 4 meter whale shark cruised past us in the line up just south of the shops-we followed its' path down to the point with numerous people on the beach confirming the sighting before it disappeared south. Another delightful visitor for the past few months is a turtle that is hanging around the point at South Beach car park-I think it's the same guy but do not know too much about them(somebody said it's a greenback turtle) anyway the turtle seems to have made Umdloti its' home for now! Michael Ryan

Holiday Traffic Control and Parking Procedures

Holiday time is upon us again and Umdloti will be full from 12th December 2008 until after the New Year festivities. Traffic control procedures will be enforced by Metro Police and PERMITS will be required to enter Umdloti. These are available from Umdloti Hardware and full details can be found on the attached page submitted by The Umdloti Residents and Ratepayers Association - click on this link Free Umdloti Entry Permits

Bush Baby!

8th November 2008
CONGRATULATIONS to Steve and Kim on the arrival of their beautiful bouncing baby girl! Welcome to planet Earth, Caitlin - we love it here and trust that you will too!

Java Caffe replaces Nino's

25th October 2008
The Nino's coffe shop has finally closed its doors in Umdloti and we now have a brand new Java Caffe in its place. A fantastic venue for coffee and cakes whilst whale watching from the deck. Breakfasts and light meals served too, plus fully licenced. Good with luck with your new venture guys!!!

Traffic Stoppers!

14th October 2008
Whales calving, breaching and generally having a whale of a time close in shore off La mercy Beach caused traffic jams on the M4 coastal highway as motorists stopped in awe to watch and take pictures of these wonderful mammals. News of the spectacular whale performances was reported on local and national radio and in the press with the Pretoria Daily News running the story first!

Gateway Cycle Challenge notice

15th August 2008
Dear Umdloti Rate Payers
Organisers of the upcoming Gateway Cycle Challenge encourage the public to come and watch this prestigious and exciting cycling race unfold at Gateway Theatre of Shopping. The organisers, B-Active Sports, have asked the public to be careful when driving near Gateway, Verulam and Tongaat, Area on Sunday 24th August. However we look forward to the public coming through to Gateway to see South Africa's top cyclists in action.
Traffic will become congested between 9am and 11:30am, but the roads around Gateway will not be closed. The Public are welcome to park inside Gateway and make their way to the Palm Boulevard, which will be closed for the Cyclists finishing line.
AFFECTED ROADS:
> Gateway Boulevard / Palm Boulevard: Closed 12am until 3pm PLACE TO WATCH
> Centenary Drive (Gateway): Closed between 5am and 12pm. PLACE TO WATCH
> Twilight Road (Gateway): Closed 6am to 12pm PLACE TO WATCH
> Millennium Drive (Gateway): 6am to 12pm PLACE TO WATCH
> Millennium Bridge: 6am to 7am (Disruption) PLACE TO WATCH
> R102 to Tongaat: 6am to 12pm (Disruption)
> Tongaat Centre: 7am to 9am (Disruption)
> Maidstone Centre: 7am to 9am (Disruption)
> Verulam: 7am to 8am (Disruption)
> Shaka’s Kraal City Centre: 7:30am to 10:30am (Disruption)
> Umhlali Centre: 7:30am to 10:30am (Disruption)
> M4 Highway (South Bound): 7am to 11:30am (Disruption)
> Umdloti Bridge: 7:30am to 11:30am (Disruption) PLACE TO WATCH

The organisers and athletes of this event thank you for your understanding and patience. We apologise for any inconvenience caused during these times. Should you require any further information please don't hesitate to contact us.
Kindest Regards, Damian Bradley, B-Active Sports Marketing, Tel: (031) 564 4062, Fax: 0865122 182, E-mail:Damian Bradley

Women's Safety and Security

Umdloti Library, 14th August 2008 at 11h00. Inspector Valery Govender from SAPS, Durban North will be hosting a display on issues surrounding women's safety and secuirty. Entrance is free and all women are welcome (you do not have to hold a library card)

BEACH FRONT

WOW how it has changed, steps down to the beach, grass and plants planted, this has changed the whole appearance of the beach front. Well done and thanks! Glenn Tippett, Fleet & Commercial Manager, GMSA Financial Services. 20th June 2008

First Whale of the season!

Friday, 6th June. Spotted from La Mercy a humpback whale frolicking just beyond the breakers. Welcome back!!!....early this year too. We have also heard that the Sardines are on their way, spotted off the Transkei Coast and heading North. Could be off Margate by mid June!

Two New Restaurants for Umdloti

Business must be booming? The good news for Umdloti is that two new restaurants are opening in June. The old Mira Mar will be taken over by Jay who is converting it into an Indo/Portugese restaurant which will offer some delicious Indian fare plus Portugese food and a fusion of the two.....could be very interesting. GOOG LUCK Jay!! The old Blue Mango will become Bean Bag Bahia Beach Club and Deli run by Carlos and partners from the famous Bean Bag Bohemia in Florida Road. Again sounds delicious and interesting. GOOD LUCK Carlos!!

Durban Ultra Triathlon: Road Closures

Due to the Durban Ultra Triathlon taking place on the 25 May 2008, there will be full road closure along the M4 in both directions between the Desainagar traffic circle and the Umhlanga Rocks, Lighthouse road Off ramp on Sunday morning between 6am and 11:30am.

Traffic coming from Durban heading north will be diverted at the Umhlanga Lighthouse Road off-ramp towards the N2. Traffic heading from the Lighthouse Road turnoff towards Durban will not be affected. The Desainagar traffic circle will remain open however traffic will not be allowed to proceed South from the Desainagar circle towards Umdloti between the above mentioned times.

The Parking area in-front of the Umdloti Ninos will also be closed on Saturday from 4pm until 9am on Sunday morning. For full details click here

Locals Plant Vegetation on Our Dunes

CONGRATULATIONS to beachfront residents who have taken the initiative and started re-planting our dunes opposite their properties and caring for them with regular watering. Click here for pictures of sour figs (Carpobrotus acinaciformis) and an irrigation system placed on South Beach Road dunes by Belinda Weyers. Sour figs are grown as ground cover to stabilise sandy banks and the astringent juice of their succulent leaves provides excellent relief from Physalia (blue bottle or Portugese man-of-war) stings. Nice choice!
Tracey Simkiss, Meryl and Don Cockerell, Elsa and Richard Seidle have also joined the swelling ranks of "Umdloti Dune Planters"

Hlumelela Natural Products CC, sponsors of www.umdloti.org, make a special dune fertilizer that helps dune vegetation grow in nutrient depleted sugar cane soil and Umdloti Dune Planters can apply for sponsored supplies from Hlumelela. 9th April 2008

Calling all Ratepayers

Now there IS an opportunity to have your say.

We're all aware of the new municipal valuations on our property. But what will really affect how much we have to pay in rates each month, is what annual budget is set by the Ethekwini (Durban) Municipality for the financial year starting on 1st July 2008.

The Municipality is giving all Ratepayers the chance to have a say in the level of budget - and service provision for that matter.

The Umhlanga, Umdloti, La Mercy, Tongaat and Verulam communities get their opportunity on:
Saturday 12th April - 9am at the Verulam Sports Ground.

Directions: take the M27 through to Verulam. Take a right turn into Wicks Street (the Main Street) Continue down towards the market and take a right turn into Moss Street.
See you there..........

Caught by a luminous green cockroach???

Surely not?.....Check the date of our luminous green cockroach story and then re-read it for a laugh !!!. Cheers, Bob

Cockroaches destroying Umdloti beachfront.

1st April 2008. A rare species of cockroach, initially thought to have mutated in the disused sewer under the Umdloti traffic circle, is eating away the new bidum sand bags recently used to prop up the Umdloti beach front.

Wade Holland's Umdloti Conservancy meets regularly every month and is said to be monitoring the situation closely whilst urgently seeking an effective insecticide for these extremely destructive cockroaches. If nothing is done to stop them, the entire beachfront will collapse into the sea within a year.  The roaches, which are a luminous green in colour, come out after midnight and chomp away at the polyester linings of the bidum bags just like white ants (termites) destroy woodwork.

The chair of the Umdloti Ratepayer's Association, believes the matter is very serious as damage to our newly repaired and as yet unfinished beachfront could be faster than e-mail....well, that depends on when he responds.

The green colour of the cockroaches is believed to have come from wash water off the turquoise roof of the Tahiti Apartments across the road from the traffic circle. Well known local resident, Ray Coates, says it has nothing to do with the luminous green colour of inarticulate disco-ordinated bar flies which also frequent the traffic circle area just after midnight.

Donovan live at The Bush Tavern!

Guitar supremo and Musical Director for Centre Stage, Donovan Hattingh will be playing LIVE at The Bush Tavern this Monday, 31st March 2008 from 7pm onwards. Donovan is rated as one of the finest guitar palyers in South Africa (eat your hearts out Rob, Mark and Hylt!!). He is in Durban for a week whilst staging the 'ELVIS' show at the Durban Playhouse. No cover charge!

BUSH BABY!

Congrats to Rob and Shiri Conner on the birth of their new born baby 'Elah'. Wishing your new Family the best for the Future. Regards Dion and Kirsty from Drifters (4 March 2008) Drifters Dolphin Coast Inn Dion Bezuidenhout 031 568 1794 0836081107 driftersdci@mweb.co.za

Swallow Celebrations in Mount Moreland

Yes, of course and predictably the barn swallows have returned to Mount Moreland after enjoying their Northern Hemisphere summer. Join the residents of Mount Moreland this Sunday, 11th November to welcome more than a million barn swallows home to this National Geographic registered site. Braai fires will be lit for visitors to use and food will be on sale as well. Cash bar too or you can bring your own. Live music later. It’s a festival to celebrate nature’s splendour!.......will the swallows return in future years once the airport is operational? The Airports Company says yes. Birdlife South Africa seems to agree and you can “buy” a swallow for R1,00 as a donation to them!!!

Bush Tavern Celebrates 15th Birthday!!!

Say no more….just be there on Tuesday evening, 13th November!!!!!.....to visit their web page just click on www.bushtavern.umdloti.org

Ratepayers AGM

Coming up……The Umdloti Ratepayers and Residents Association AGM has been scheduled for Tuesday 20^th November 2007. Full details, plus background info on issues (to help ensure you are fully informed) are available now on our dedicated Ratepayers Page.  

Golfers Wanted, Sponsors too….

We have two exciting golf days coming up for locals and visitors alike. Both are fund raisers for school projects. Children are our future, so come on folks, have some fun and at the same time help secure our future! Click the links for details as follows: Thekwini College on Tuesday 6th November at Prince’s Grant and La Mercy Primary School on Saturday 24th November at Papwa G.C., Clare Estate. Both lovely courses and one a links too!

Airport Construction to Take-off – well almost.

La Mercy Airport, 24th August 2007. “No substantial detrimental impact on the environment” says the EIA and construction so start on (next) Friday, although there is still a 30 day window for objections and a further two month delay if appeals are received. Meanwhile surveying work has started with some site offices and staff accommodation already in place – see pictures.