PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS – For many long-time Plettonians it was like seeing a bad dream arising from the depths of the Indian Ocean when they got view of the agenda for Bitou Council's meeting on 30 March.

Listed on page 1 131 of the agenda was "Small Boat Harbour: Western Cape Marina Investments Heads of Agreement".

But there was a sigh of relief from those who read further: the item recommended to Council that the Heads of Agreement to obtain approval for and develop a small boat harbour, entered into 21 years ago between the municipality and Western Cape Marina Investments (Pty) Ltd, be cancelled by mutual consent or due to the "failure by the developer to perform".

The report said the developer has failed to obtain the required environmental authorisation and has since July 2017 not taken any action to submit a new application for environmental authorisation.

The land areas that form part of the proposed small boat harbour cannot be used for any other purpose while the Heads of Agreement are still valid, said the council documents.

"Should Western Cape Marina Investments (Pty) Ltd not be willing to agree to cancel the Heads of Agreement and the Addendum to the Heads of Agreement by mutual consent, they be informed that the municipality intends to unilaterally cancel the agreements due to their failure to obtain the required environmental authorisation, and be provided an opportunity of 30 days to comment on this intention," Municipal Manager Mbulelo Memani and Mayor Dave Swart recommended.

Said DA Councillor Bill Nel, who has had a long involvement with the project, "It is virtually unthinkable that it (the small boat harbour) can commence again".

The plug has finally been pulled on the proposal.

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