Following the historical project progress further down the page, the following represents the latest project status updates:
- Project Steering Committee meets monthly
- Environmental Scoping underway
- Geotechnical Investigations (borehole drilling) April 2021-June 2021
- Bulk Services Report: March 2021 – April 2021
- Transnet Approval of 30 year lease is underway with an “In Principle” support letter from (TNPA) in 2020.
- Expression of Interest approved for advert 26 March 2021
- Lease award to Bidder expected in July 2021 with operations expected December 2021 with potential delays to April 2022
For the latest updates and/or more information, please contact Invest Durban:
Historical information
(Supplied by TIKZN and Tourism KZN; Dated: August 2020)
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (Tourism KZN) facilitated a feasibility study and business plan for the establishment of a giant observation wheel (or Ferris wheel) that will offer a spectacular 360 degree panoramic view of Durban and the Indian Ocean from the iconic Durban Beachfront.
The “Durban Eye” or “Durban Wheel” will serve as an iconic tourist attraction to the area, complementing the city’s current tourist offerings, and is planned to be situated in close proximity to the nearby hotels and other tourist facilities and amenities.
The observation wheel will be positioned as a prominent landmark for the city, to form an integrated component of the Durban cityscape. It will contribute towards raising the profile of the city as a prime destination for domestic and international tourists.
Tourism KZN welcomed this new bankable tourism venture as it is seen as a positive initiative towards increasing tourism experiences within the province and it complements the product offering of KwaZulu-Natal.
This initiative was also quoted in the recent State of the Province Address (SOPA) by the Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Sihle Zikalala, as it addresses our transformation agenda and should stimulate sustainable development and employment in the area. The eThekwini Municipality is in full support of this giant Ferris wheel tourism product referred to as the “Durban Eye” to be part of their beachfront attractions and has been assisting with all the approval processes.
