The Two Oceans Aquarium has announced that plans for a new stand-alone turtle conservation centre are going ahead, with the hope to start construction in 2026.
The turtle rehabilitation facility is part of the V&A Waterfront’s Granger Bay precinct improvement project.
The announcement on Friday came days after the Oranjezicht City Farm Market also announced its move as part of the 20bn project, which is probably the single biggest infrastructural investment in the city since the Soccer World Cup, according to V&A Waterfront spokesperson, Donald Kau.
The Waterfront is applying for an additional 440 000m2 in development rights across its entire current footprint, with the majority of new build planned to be in the Granger Bay precinct.
Mr Kau said it was envisaged that Granger Bay will be developed as a residentially led, mixed-use development with significant public and cultural amenities, including re-establishing public access to the ocean edge.
The R20bn development plan is intended to be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years with plans to break ground in 2025, and will include a public walkway linking the city centre to Mouille Point, which would connect with the current Atlantic seaboard promenade; a new bay area created by coastal protection, suitable for water sports; opening up public access to a new protected area suitable for swimming, with adjoining public amenities.
Part of this will also be the conservation centre, built on the water’s edge, which will house a turtle rehabilitation hospital, education facilities, ample space for exhibition displays, a restaurant and a shop.
Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation executive chairperson, Ann Lamont, said the new turtle conservation centre will allow the expansion of the existing turtle conservation work by bringing under one roof turtle education, research, conservation, veterinary science and tourism.
“Importantly, members of the public will now be able to see first-hand the work we do with turtles, as this currently takes place only behind the scenes at the Two Oceans Aquarium.”
On Friday, guests were taken on a walk-about of the turtle conservation centre, where over 300 turtles were in the care of the aquarium following the stormy weather in the previous week, said Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation turtle conservation centre manager, Talitha Noble-Trull. The team were also packing up 70 turtle hatchlings that were transported to uShaka Marine World in Durban for further care, as the centre had reached its limit.
“While our present facilities at the aquarium have served us well, we have reached capacity as the number of turtles needing rehabilitation and long-term care is increasing every year,” said Ms Noble-Trull.
“Our work with turtles is critical, given the impact of climate change and plastic pollution threatening all seven species. We will now have the resources to assist with turtle rescues around the entire African coast and not just South Africa.”
The hatchlings had been found washed up on beaches along the coast by the turtle rescue network, then transported to the aquarium for rehabilitation.
After the turtles are seen by the veterinarians, they are cared for according to their injuries and needs, and are put into the aquarium’s ocean exhibit for a soft release and monitoring before they are released into the wild.
Up to now, the conservation centre had released 1000 rehabilitated turtles back to the ocean.
“The new facility will showcase various species of turtles in our care. It will provide us with the opportunity to share information about turtles and the marine ecosystems they call home, to demonstrate the care and attention needed to nurse turtles back to health, and to appeal to the public to make changes in their lives which will benefit not only the turtles, but all inhabitants of the ocean,” said Ms Lamont.
She said funds will still be raised to cover operational costs of the centre, which are yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, a statement by Oranjezicht City Farm Market founder, Sheryl Ozinsky, said the market will move to a wooden shed, constructed by the Waterfront, in the next six to 12 months. The shed will serve as the market’s home for the next five to seven years. Following this period, the market will move again – this time into the new development, “ensuring a vibrant and dynamic permanent marketplace for our traders and community.”
More details about the entire development could not be disclosed at this stage as applications still needed to be approved by the City of Cape Town, said Mr Kau.
“The rezoning application would allow the Waterfront to move into the next development phase, having successfully developed the Silo, and the Canal districts recently and it provides a compelling opportunity to expand the Waterfront’s public spaces, contribute to economic growth, job creation, and create new access to the sea.”
