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uShaka Marine World has developed out of a vision to create a
world-class entertainment and tourism destination for Durban and all of
South Africa.
Incorporating fresh and sea water, natural materials, the
recreation of a wreck of an old 1920 cargo ship, coupled with indigenous
African imagery, lush vegetation and maritime images of the Port of
Durban, uShaka is a complete 'marine world'.
The design of the park incorporates strong local themes,
bringing a multicultural Durban flavour to the park while also providing
cost saving opportunities against more international and hi-tech themes.
The overall design theme is indigenous and multicultural in its use of
colour, building materials, layout and aesthetics.
The superstructure of a contemporary shipwreck dominates the
design aesthetic, creating a landmark that will become symbolic of a
visit to Durban. The design theme also recognises the open space at
uShaka Beach and the interaction between land, sea and sky. The park is
laid out in open-plan so that visitors seldom lose sight of sea or sky
and are able to enjoy the very best of Durban's sub-tropical climate.
The key components of the park are Sea World (relocated from
it's current site on Durban's beachfront), an underground aquarium,
dolphin and seal stadiums, a water park, a retail village, numerous food
and beverage outlets, access to the beach and dozens of adventure sand
and surf activities, pay parking, and the administration offices of the
uShaka management company (USIM) and the South African Association for
Marine and Biological Research (SAAMBR). These components of uShaka are
clearly delineated into five separate worlds.
Village Walk Our retail and food and beverage outlets can be
found close to the main entrance to uShaka, encircling the south west
area of the park. From the mysteries of the ocean floor to the wonders
above, you'll find many of the treasures you're looking for in over 11
250m2 of retail speciality stores.
These will be leased to primarily smaller operators of
restaurants, bars, kiosks, fun products such as clothing and apparel,
outdoor gear and equipment, arts and crafts and other indigenous and
tourist-focused goods and services. What ever your food passion you'll
be able to reward yourself at one of our unique restaurants' including
the truly amazing Cargo Hold Restaurant, situated in the themed
shipwreck.
uShaka Village Walk will be market-like, lively and
characteristically Durban. The various structures will give the
impression of a village, with articulated shop frontages and
interdependent roofs, yet interlinked within. Wide 'street scenes' with
generous roof overhangs will provide a spacious environment for visitors
to amble and browse at leisure. As in a typical village, the sizes of
the buildings will vary, thus adding interest and diversity appropriate
to a range of retail options.
The Village Walk area is accessed directly via the main
entrance to the park. The bulk of the area is 10m above sea level and
overlooks Sea World and Wet 'n Wild World at certain localities. All
visitors to the park must pass through the Village Walk when moving to
and from the main entrance to the park, thus enhancing traffic flow
through this retail node.
Restaurants, bars and shops will enjoy exceptional views of uShaka and
the Indian Ocean.
Sea World Located in the centre of uShaka Marine World is Sea
World, comprising a saltwater aquarium with indoor and outdoor displays
and exhibits, the iconic cargo ship wreck, the 1200 seater dolphin
stadium where you'll be entertained by the world-famous Gambit and
friends, the seal stadium and penguin rookery. In addition to this, Sea
World offers daily edutainment tours behind the scenes and special
interactive activities such as snorkeling through the coral reefs and
grottos and dive tank.
Building on the work of the South African Association for
Marine and Biological Research (SAAMBR) and the facilities currently on
offer at Durban's Sea World, it will bring the interpretation and
display of marine animals to a new level. While focusing on education,
visitors will be offered fun, interactive experiences.
The area also incorporates the marine research facilities of
the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), which are currently
accommodated in the existing Durban Sea World premises. ORI provides the
project with scientific and environmental credibility and the
maintenance of the relationship with this organisation is regarded as
vitally important.
uShaka Beach
Durban is famous for its beaches and that's exactly what you
will find at uShaka. uShaka Beach adjacent to uShaka Marine World has
been set aside for adventure seekers and offers perfect all year non
stop fun. Activities include: Windsurfing, Beach volleyball, Beach
rugby, Surfing, Jet skiing, Kite flying, Paddle boat rides, Dolphin
sightings and boat charters, National and international beach sports
events
Wet 'n Wild This freshwater entertainment facility offers
thrilling water rides, swimming pools, and other leisure amenities. Its
built for adrenaline pumping action and rides include Kamikaze speed
slides, Stuka freefall slides, a five lane racer, awesome super tube
open rides, Kiddies rides, a 750-metre lazy river ride around the centre
of uShaka Marine World, part of it actually flowing through the uShaka
ship wreck as well as numerous sunbathing areas on sand, grass or
decking.
Stakeholders
- eThekwini Unicity Municipality Project initiator and primary
underwriter. The Council has engaged DBSA and Citibank for funds.
- Durban Marine Theme Park (DMTP) Established as a new company. The
Council, DBSA, SAAMBR and Citibank make up the board
- South African Association for Marine Biological Research Currently
owns and runs Durban Aquarium and Sea World. It also includes an
education arm and the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI).
- Moreland Developments (Pty) Ltd Appointed as Development Director and
subsequently engaged Mirage Leisure (Pty) Ltd as Development Managers.
- uShaka Island Management (Pty) Ltd USIM comprises the Durban-based
Three Cities Hospitality Group, which brings its tourism and hospitality
management experience to the joint venture; Isundu, a South African
empowerment company and their American partners ProFun who offer
significant experience with theme park management.
Contractors
Over 50 independent contractors are currently employed on the
development including project management specialists; building and
landscape architects; civil, structural, electrical, hydraulic,
geotechnical and aquatic engineers; land and quantity surveyors;
environmental control officers; retail letting agents; insurance
brokers; empowerment funding agencies; and many more sub-contractors for
earthworks, piling, plumbing, slides, fire safety, photography and other
elements.
Our Mission
- To bring people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds together to
enjoy an international marine theme attraction with a focus on quality,
fun and entertainment.
- History behind the creation of uShaka Marine World
- The need for a Marine Theme Park in Durban
Over the past two decades Durban's market share in terms of
national tourism arrivals has declined from more than 34% to below 26%
at present. In addition, the metropolitan region's market share of new
investment into tourism infrastructure and other economic activities has
also declined.
Research undertaken by the Best Practice City Commission
reveals a number of reasons for this decline in Durban's tourism appeal
and in investor confidence in the city. In terms of tourism, factors
such as the downgrading of beachfront hotels in the 1980s, changes in
the socio-economic profile of the local tourist market and 'very
importantly' the opening up to South Africans of more competitively
priced international travel since 1994 have resulted in a real decline
in tourist arrivals, average duration of stay and value of spend for
Durban.
This decline in the economic value of tourism resulted in a
downward spiral wherein tourism operators chose to either downgrade or
neglect the quality of their operations, and external investors chose to
seek alternative destinations (mainly Cape Town). The inability of the
city to bring to realisation key infrastructure projects such as the
Point Waterfront and the international airport at La Mercy, and the
prolonged delays in the issuing of casino-resort licences, also
contributed to a substantial decline in investor confidence in the
region.
Between the beginning of 1990 and the end of 2000 there was a
limited total value of new investment into hotel accommodation and other
tourism product in Durban. Highlights during this period were the ICC
Durban (opened 1997) and the Hilton Hotel (1997), which created some
critical mass within the northern end of the CBD, resulting in the
upgrading of adjacent buildings (NBS, Kingsmead Office Park are
examples). In the northern precinct, some R1bn was invested into a new
commercial, retail and residential node at Umhlanga Rocks and Mount
Edgecombe. The development of the R100m Zimbali Lodge and Country Club
north of Durban, and the exclusive Zimbali Coastal Estate were
indicative of the relocation of investment to the north of the city.
What became clear from these examples of investment during
the previous decade was that the introduction of new public sector
investment (e.g. ICC Durban) and private sector investment (e.g.
Umhlanga Ridge) into isolated development nodes had ripple effects on
adjacent properties, thereby leveraging the overall end value to the
city of the original investment. The principle evident in these
precedents underpins the strategic thinking behind the proposals for a
marine theme park in the Point: create a significant intervention and
the entire area will reap benefits.
In terms of entertainment and cultural attractions, no new
investment of any value entered the city during this decade. Properties
in the Durban CBD experienced a continual decline in value, in some
cases to levels as low as 40% of their values at the start of the
decade. Vacancies escalated as employers and the retail and service
sectors relocated out of the central business district to malls and
office parks. Also during this period the province was the focus of
on-going internecine violence, escalating crime and deteriorating
infrastructure, all of which exacerbated the declining attraction that
Durban has for many years held for the domestic tourist markets. As a
result, Durban in 2001 is no longer the destination it was for tourists
in the 1970s and 1980s. More importantly, domestic tourism trends' the
regular measurement of how South Africans prefer to spend their
vacations and disposable income suggest that this decline in visitor
confidence is continuing at pace.
There exists a real fear that despite the best efforts of
Council and the private sector to put in place Public-Private
Partnerships aimed at better planning for tourism marketing and
development, and despite the establishment of Durban Africa, the Events
Corp, the Safer City Project and the soon-to-be launched Investment
Promotion Agency, Durban's tourism industry seems set to face on-going
challenges and further losses in market share in the coming decade.
Respected property industry researchers and economists paint
a pessimistic portrait of the city and unless one or more key strategic
interventions are initiated these predictions of a 'low-road scenario'
appear certain to unfold. Durban simply has to break out of this spiral
of despair and the Point Marine Theme Park project described in this
report is seen as a crucial step forward in this regard.
During much the same time that the Durban Council was calling
on Rocpoint to proceed with its undertakings and commitments in respect
of the development of the Point, a parallel process was taking place
that would eventually catalyse council into taking a decision to become
directly involved in developing this precinct. This parallel process
pertains to the pressure that was brought to bear on council to secure
the future of organised marine conservation in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.
A study of the coastal economy of South Africa shows that
marine-based assets such as ports, beaches, estuaries, recreational and
commercial fishing, diving, yachting, boating and the many other forms
of activity that characterise life by the sea play an extremely
important role in shaping and sustaining the economies of cities and
regions. The White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South
Africa (April 2000), published by the National Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism, proposes that the direct and indirect
benefits of the coast to the South African economy is valued at more
than R186bn per annum.
The warm waters of the Indian Ocean and Durban's magnificent
and safe swimming beaches combine to underpin a substantial tourism and
residential economy. People choose to live along and to visit the Durban
and KwaZulu-Natal coastline primarily because of the natural attributes
found here. This economic value that can be attached to our provincial
and metropolitan coastal attributes was recognised decades ago and in
1959 the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR)
was established in Durban to undertake a spectrum of activities focussed
on preserving and conserving the region's rich marine heritage.
In 1960, SAAMBR established and opened Durban's first
commercial aquarium, a facility that soon became Durban's leading point
of visitation for tourists to the city. In addition to operating Sea
World as a tourist and entertainment attraction, SAAMBR continued to
focus its activities on marine biological research and marine
conservation programmes, creating the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI)
as its research wing, and an educational arm that has focussed its
activities on encouraging the youth and community groupings to gain a
better understanding of the natural marine environment.
SAAMBR has since 1960 endeavoured to sustain its operations
by generating income from the aquarium entry fees, research assignments,
grants and donations and 'ultimately' an annual grant-in-aid from the
Durban Council. Over the past forty years the organisation has expanded
its research capacity, in the process becoming world-rated and
internationally recognised as a leading marine biological research
institute. ORI has conducted research assignments along almost the
entire eastern seaboard of Africa, as far north as Eritrea and Somalia,
and among the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion, Seychelles, Mauritius and
Madagascar.
By the mid-1990's SAAMBR had begun to experience serious
operational and financial challenges. The Sea World premises and
equipment had become outdated and antiquated, creating technical
difficulties for animal husbandry and other core aspects of the
organisation's activities. The total staff complement of the
organisation had grown considerably and this resulted in space
limitations and the challenge of escalating overheads.
During the same period, the demand for marine biological
research and conservation programmes escalated with additional pressure
being brought to bear on local fish stocks and other marine resources.
Between 1960 and 1990, KwaZulu-Natal experienced a significant
deterioration in fish stocks as a direct result of over-fishing along
the coast. This was in spite of concerted efforts on the part of SAAMBR
to mitigate this depletion through effective conservation programmes. An
added problem was the intimation from Durban's Council that the
organisation should do its best to find alternative means of funding in
order that the council's contribution could be reduced over time. SAAMBR
therefore set out to find partner organisations that might be able to
assist in providing a viable solution to safeguard the future of the
organisation.
In 1997 SAAMBR entered into negotiations with Afrisun KZN
(Pty) Limited, a company that had made public its intentions to bid for
one of the two casino licences to be allocated in the Durban
Metropolitan Region. Afrisun KZN in which South Africa's leading
casino-resort company, Sun International (South Africa) Limited, holds
44% share of the equity had identified the opportunity to obtain 50
hectares of prime developable land near Umdloti Beach and to create a
casino-based 'must see' attraction with a strong marine theme.
The project proposal to be known as the Aquarius
Entertainment and Water Wonderland was expected to cost some R1.6bn and
would proceed on the basis that Afrisun KZN was awarded an exclusive
(one-only) casino licence in Zone 1 (the Durban Metro Region). Aquarius
would contain a Sea World facility on pvar with the very best
marine-based theme parks around the world and SAAMBR would be engaged to
manage the marine conservation and entertainment components of the theme
park. Afrisun KZN and SAAMBR concluded Heads of Agreement in respect of
the management contracts and, for a while, the future survival and
expansion of SAAMBR seemed assured.
In April 1998, and again in August 1998, Afrisun KZN
submitted to the KwaZulu-Natal Gambling Board two separate casino
licence bid applications for Durban: one in respect of the Aquarius
project in which SAAMBR would be directly involved, and the second in
respect of an alternative non-marine concept that excluded SAAMBR. This
second bid submission was predicated upon the Board issuing two casino
licences in Durban, in which event Afrisun KZN believed an investment
into a project of the scale of Aquarius would not be viable.
Although Aquarius scored top points in the KwaZulu-Natal
Gambling Board's adjudication of a theoretical one-casino licence
scenario, the Board announced its intention in December 1998 to proceed
with a two-licence scenario for Durban, thereby effectively excluding
Aquarius from bidding contention. The agreement between SAAMBR had with
Afrisun KZN was therefore terminated and the organisation was left once
more to face the challenges for its future survival on its own.
Source: official web of
uShaka
Marine World (2010)
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