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Locals Plant Vegetation on Our DunesCONGRATULATIONS 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! Calling all RatepayersNow 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.
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. 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 MorelandYes, 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 AGMComing up……The Umdloti Ratepayers and Residents Association AGM has been scheduled for Tuesday 20th 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. Whales Seen on a Daily Basis NowIf people are not spotting all the whales lately, then they are not looking. We are spotting them on a daily basis now, the best was on Monday 13th August 2007. An awesome sighting of mother and calf just behind the white water about 100m off shore. The dolphins have also been seen on a daily basis.
Dion Bezuidenhout, Drifters Dolphin Coast Inn First Whale of the Season?We have just seen our first whale of the season from Dolphin View at the southern end of Umdloti. It was quite far out so we couldn't see what type of whale but the spray was high. From: Evangeline McKay, Dolphin View Accommodation 7.45 am Thursday 5th July 2007 Feeling the Chill?...Take the Plunge!2nd July 2007. Whilst the rest of South Africa shivers, we measured 21 degrees centigrade in the surf at Umdloti today – yes you can swim in that! And many school children were spotted having fun in the gentle waves of Umdloti’s natural tidal pool. Oh and don’t forget to look beyond the protection of those lovely rocks – you could see the first of this seasons whales…..they come to our warm waters every winter to calve in the springtime. Having a “Whale of a Time”The sardines are on their way and it is whale season again! Who will be the first person to spot a whale this year and from where? www.umdloti.org will donate a FREE WEB-PAGE to the first person or organisation to report a whale sighting for inclusion on our Umdloti Whale Sightings Register. Send your report to whales@umdloti.org with a short description including date, time, species (if known) and direction heading. Sibaya Triathlon AftermathThe Durban Triathlon at Umdloti went off well with magnificent waves, warm surf and lovely winter weather for the competitors and their support crews. It was a wonderful commemoration for cyclist Julie Fraser, who was killed in an accident on the M4 recently. The traffic disruption in Umdloti itself was relatively short lived and generally, residents were pleased to welcome our visitors and the additional business they brought to local traders and accommodation establishments.
At 5:30am Steers was FULL of people queuing to use their toilet (what a pity they didn’t open early for breakfast) and the Total filling station courtyard and traffic circle area was jam packed with parked vehicles and trailers. As Julie left, to get home before the roads were closed, two Metro Police officers arrived on the scene to watch.
Traffic disruption on the M4 was another story with La Mercy residents virtually cut off for about four hours, unable to get to work – unless they were privileged sufficiently to be able to make a 40km detour and pay two toll fees for a round trip to the nearest church, mosque, chemist or the local shops for a loaf of bread and the Sunday newspapers. This cannot be allowed to happen in future – we are pleased that Sun International (Sibaya was a sponsor of the event) has taken this up with the organisers. See our brickbats and bouquets page for comments! Durban Ultra Receives Full Road Closure!13h15 …Latest extract from www.durbanultra.co.za “Following consultation with the local authorities, the prestigious Durban Ultra Triathlon, has been granted FULL road closure. Inspector Dieter Meyer of Durban Metro Police, Northern Region confirmed that there would be road closure on the M4 highway for the event, between the Umdloti on/off ramps and where the M4 intersects with the Watson Highway. This will ensure that the athletes are safe on the route thus making the event an even more enjoyable experience for them.” Durban Triathlon centres on Umdloti26th May2007. The inaugural Sibaya Triathlon starts in Umdloti tomorrow (Sunday 27th May) at 06h30, just after low tide, with a 1,6km ocean swim followed by a triple circuit 60km cycle ride along the M4 between the Desainagar and Sibaya traffic circles and a 16km run through the sugar cane fields surrounding the Sibaya Casino complex. 200 participants are expected. We will report on traffic implications later.
11h00….Conflicting stories are coming from the organisers about road closures but the consensus seems to be that the Main Road to Umdloti will be closed from 06h30 until 08h00 and the M4 will be closed between Desainagar and Sibaya from 06h00 until 12h00 noon. Ian Feely assured us that locals from and visitors to Umdloti and La Mercy would be allowed to use these roads for necessary trips providing they had proof of residence. However he has been unable to confirm this in writing and could only direct us to his “route planner”, Damien who told us that nobody would be allowed to use the roads during the “designated times”. We wish all athletes good luck for the event and all locals, visitors and traders patience throughout this Sunday morning disruption. More info at www.durbanultra.co.za Cold Winter Snap?24th May 2007. The first cold snap of winter hit South Africa yesterday with heavy frosts in Johannesburg where the temperature maxed at 8 degrees……even snow in Plettenburg Bay!... Meanwhile in Umdloti, the Bush Tavern proudly announced that it had fixed its air conditioner at last, whilst surfers enjoyed perfect conditions in wonderful winter swells and a water temperature of 24 degrees mmmm…this is the best time of the year in Umdloti – warm sunny days and beautiful surf. La Mercy Airport LatestThe Draft EIA was released on 3rd May 2007 and comments must be submitted by 25th May!!! There will be a public meeting at Umdloti Conference Centre on Wednesday, 9th May at 18h00. Be there, but be informed beforehand so that you can make a positive contribution – simply click here to go to our special “Airport Updates” page for all the details on the Draft EIA and background info, including Thabo’s speech to parliament on The Dube Tradeport, the masterplan for 2010 and much more. The Name Change OutrageDid you get it or did we get you?????........ our Umdloti Name Changes story was of course a tongue in cheek Freedom Day joke that produced much laughter and discussion, even a phone call from The Sunday Tribune!!!! Thanks to The Bugle for seeing the lighter side of things and running our story there too (well done Kasia). Some responses to our little bit of fun exhibited anger beyond the point of mirth, suggesting that in some quarters there is still an underlying degree of racial intolerance in our country. We desperately need to overcome this for the benefit of all our children in this beautiful country - we don’t need locals toyi toying through the streets of Slatterton! South Africa we love you! Umdloti and Name ChangesThe name change saga that has engulfed eThekwini Municipality recently has not yet affected Umdloti Beach as no street name changes are expected at this stage. There are strong rumours, however, that further name changes are on the cards and that next time Umdloti will be involved and may even loose it’s name completely. For more details click our Umdloti Name Changes page Umdloti Rides Massive StormsPhew, what a week!!... Sunday, 18th March the surf started growing and by Tuesday 20th March 2007 the entire eastern seaboard of South Africa was lashed by giant 10m waves that had been whipped up by a cyclone off Madagascar which combined with the highest spring tides in 18 years caused by the sun, moon and earth all lining up (see tide tables), led to destruction aplenty.
Umdloti rode the storms magnificently and unlike our less fortunate neighbours to the North and South there was no damage to any Umdloti properties as they are all built safely above the highest of high water lines. Waves pounded over North and South Beach roads and both had to be closed temporarily due to huge undercuts and collapses. However, nobody was hurt and the Metro Police and Emergency Services soon had the situation under control. Within a day the council had up to eleven trucks queuing up to offload granite aggregate into gaping holes in the road and soon all was operational again although it will take some time for a complete re-build of the roads and Nature to heal the devastation to our dunes.
Throughout this, your web hosts, Julie and Bob, were in Cape Town and so we didn’t get any pictures of the waves! However we have created a special Equinox page with pictures of the damage and repair work (click here). Please send us any photos of the waves that you would like added to this page…… there could be a big prize for the best submission – so watch this space!!! (send jpeg pics to waves@umdloti.org) Property Developers Beware!The Umdloti Envirowatch Committee has started the new year with guns blazing – check to see if your plans, developments and extensions are on their radar by clicking here. Umdloti goes for Blue Beach statusRead all about this and other developments planned for Umdloti in Richard Seidle’s open letter on the Ratepayers Association page. Umdloti Conservancy Response to King Shaka AirportWhat do they think?...Details are on the Umdloti Conservancy page – click here Airport construction to begin in March 2007The development of the new King Shaka airport at La Mercy is set to go ahead on a tight schedule that leaves very little room for error or objection.
This week the provincial government and the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) announced at a media briefing that construction at the site would begin in March next year and would be completed in time for the Soccer World Cup.
The "master schedule" assumes that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be accepted by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and rubber stamped in time for the March 7 deadline for the start of construction.
A plan for expanding parking areas at Durban International Airport has also been cancelled. Acsa board member, Sipho Sithole, said phases two and three of the extension of parking facilities at Durban International would not go ahead as the new King Shaka airport was expected to be up and running in 2010.
The future of the Virginia Airport is also in the balance, although the subject is not covered in the draft scoping report and operators at the airport have not yet been consulted. Rohan Persad, CEO of Dube Tradeport, said the eThekwini Council, which owns the Virginia Airport, said it would handle the matter.
Bryce said the Wings Club Forum, representing Virginia operators, had requested a meeting with Jennifer Mander from the Institute of Natural Resources (INR). The INR prepared the scoping report for the development of the airport and the Dube Trade Port.
The report was released on Monday, August 21, and interested and affected parties will have six weeks to comment on the findings.
Despite the tight schedule, NRI granted a two week extension for responses to the La Mercy Environmental Forum.
Although the report highlights the impact of, among other issues, noise levels, the developers are upbeat that there are no real concerns that could stop the development.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier S'bu Ndebele said negotiations on the details regarding the land, procurement, commercial, technical and legal issues were at an advanced stage.
"All regulatory approvals are also simultaneously under way, including the Environmental Impact Assessment . . . All iss-ues identified by the EIA process can be managed and mitigation measures will be put in place to address them," said Ndebele.
eThekwini mayor, Obed Mlaba, said it was a 40-year-old project so "why worry about the EIA". From Sunday Tribune written by jani.meyer@inl.co.za
Retail Boom Hits UmdlotiUmdloti has long been the property investor’s dream offering above average capital growth and high rental income. Property prices remain high and stable at the moment. Shrewd property investors are now looking just north of the Umdloti River at La Mercy where spectacular capital growth is taking place. Meanwhile watch the retailers in Umdloti!...... A total (excuse the pun!) re-vamp of the fuel station at the Umdloti Centre has given us a state of the art Total filling station plus a Steers fast food take-away and a Bonjour grocery outlet. Just up the road at the Whitesands shopping centre a Tops bottle store is about to open. With new owner/managers at Blue Mango, Umdloti now boasts 5 restaurants, 4 take-aways, 3 grocery outlets and 2 bottle stores! 3 ATM’s as well! Watch this space for an objective comparison of the price and service levels offered by these competing businesses.
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