An assessment of the capacity of waterfront developments to adapt to climate change : a case study of the Point Waterfront Area, Durban.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
This research set out to investigate the resilience of the Point Waterfront Development in Durban, South Africa, with regards to climate change. Considering that South Africa is a Third World country, the assumption was that Point Waterfront area would fall short of resilience when it comes to climate change. This research made use of primary and secondary data from the Point Waterfront case study. Primary data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders of the Waterfront development. These are The eThekwini Municipality Planning and Economic Development units, Laurusco Developments, Durban Point Development Company and the local Ward Committee and Councilor. Secondary data were obtained through recent publications in the form of municipal reports, newspapers, internet articles, and books had the relevant data on the resilience of Waterfront developments to climate change. Findings suggest that the Point Waterfront is relatively safe unless something of very extreme nature comes along in terms of sea level rise from the Indian Ocean. All the stakeholders are aware of what climate change might do to the development but the municipality is, the findings suggest, the only stakeholder that goes an extra mile as to improve the resilience of the Point Waterfront and of the city of Durban at large. There seems to be some irregularities when it comes to funds as the municipality does not have enough to tackle adaptation on its own. As a recommendation, waterfront developments should be approved only aftermeasures that enable them to be resilient to climate change have been put in place.Developers must ensure efforts to mainstream the issue of climate change adaptation. Policies should be put in place to formalize adaptation among residents. An example would be instituting a policy requiring every property to have a green roof.
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Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.
Keywords
Climatic changes--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Resilience (Ecology)--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Housing development--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Waterfronts--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Theses--Town and regional planning.