NEWS Thursday June 11 2009 CapeTowner 3

Travelling along the waterways from town to the V&A

ORIELLE BERRY enabling a smooth transition into and out of ■ The first
the docking point at the Two Oceans Aquar- lock gate
here are few better ways to see a city or ium.

T
part of it than by traversing its water-
ways at a leisurely pace.
The waterfront has long been in need of a
water taxi where visitors or simply those who
want to make their way from the city centre
to the V&A Waterfront, or the other way
round, can sit back, enjoy the scenery and the
sounds of the water lapping at the sides of
their boat and simply hop on and off, as is
their wont.
Last week, a 20-year plan was finally
realised when the marina lock and waterway
was officially opened and a happy band of
journalists and officials became the first
group to test drive or rather float on the
canal, experiencing the rather dramatic
opening and closing of the lock and taking
the trip from the waterfront to the final point
of disembarkation next to the Convention
Centre.
The V&A Waterfront and the city centre
have been separated, if not by road then by
water, even prior to the reclamation of the
foreshore in 1940.
Planning was actually put into place for
the linking of these two vital parts of the city
in 1988 when the V&A first opened.
But as many projects where such
immense technical and financial logistics are
involved, it took a lot longer than anticipated.
Small wonder then that several contracting
teams were hauled on board to map out the
lock and design – which included the con-
struction of massive lock gates, floating fend-
ers, hydraulics and two lifting bridges.
But the final result of the Marina Lock
consists of an impressive engineering feat:
the large steel gates of the lock provide the
link between the tidal waters of the water-
front and the canal.
Once ferries enter the lock it is pumped
down to the level of the water in the harbour,
opens.
The boat passes exclusive apartments that
most cannot afford but can now ogle at, past
the One & Only Hotel and its adjacent apart-
ments, set right on the canal amid a plethora
of greenery and finally, one catches a glimpse
of the city centre’s skyscrapers as the boat
chugs into the city centre dock, next to the
Westin Grand Hotel.
Starting last week, two water taxis now
operate daily from 8am to 4pm – leaving the
city docking point every hour and the V&A
docking point every half hour.
If you’re taking the trip from town, the fer-
ries pass under the foreshore freeway bridges
and pass the Roggebaai canal.
There will be a ferry stop at the City Lodge ■ Guests board the
Hotel after which the ferries continue along Shosholoza which
the Gateway Canal where you can view the traversed the newly
imposing Amsterdam Ramparts. They then opened canal to the
continue their gentle pace into the Marina city centre.
Canal, proceed under the two lifting bridges
and finally dock at the aquarium.
Steven Bentley, the harbour master of the
V&A, commented prior to boarding the taxis
that the canals surrounding the waterfront
can be regarded as a great green lung.
To this end the change of water volume
that occurs every three days will allow sea life
and vegetation to continue thriving below sea
level.
The 1 985 metre canal will take approxi-
mately 15 minutes to traverse, taking into
consideration the closing of the gates, the
flooding of the lock and the docking and sub-
sequent disembarkation.
Prior to the introduction of the taxis, the
canal was used for dragon boat racing, (two enjoyed by more Capetonians. And as if those who had been privy to the
brightly coloured boats passed us as we were As David Green, the CEO of the V&A first trip did not already know, he pointed out:
chugging along). Waterfront commented about the City’s first “This is not only an operational taxi, this is
With the introduction of the taxis, at a cost navigable canal lock: “It’s a canal to be used entertainment – and this is exactly what the
of R20 a trip for an adult and R10 for a child and to be used by all. If it’s not being enjoyed V&A is all about – providing world class
under 12, the canal will now be able to there’s something wrong with my team.” entertainment.”

What’s On
Islam expo at CTICC
The Muslim Students’ Association presents Islam
“I’m investing this for my child,”
Expo SA 2009, From Slavery to Citizenship, in part-
nership with the Department of Arts and Culture,
says winning educator, Kgomotso!
The Muslim Judicial Council, The City of Cape
Town and Exhibition Islam UK, at the Cape Town
International Convention Centre, from Thursday
June 11 to Sunday June 14, from 10am to 9pm. The
expo is a showcase for the rich cultural and histor-
ical heritage of Muslims in the city and the rest of
the world. A comedian will entertain visitors with
his stand-up comedy show on from 10am. Entry fee
for adults is R20, children, schoolchildren, students
and pensioners enter free. Contact Fatima on 082 066
3353 or email Fatima@itheko.com for details.

Call for IYDE entries

Entries for the The British Council’s International
Young Design Entrepreneur (IYDE) award close on
Sunday June 12. Previous winners include Heath
Nash of Cape Town, whose innovative lighting
designs made from recycled goods won him a trip to
the UK to meet top designers. The top three appli-
cants will be chosen by a panel of South African
judges from the creative field. Then the public will
be able to vote online for the IYDY winner for 2009.
The winner will join nine other finalists visiting
London, Glasgow and Belfast in September.
If you are a business-minded person who is
creating work for others through your own or Kgomotso receives her R10 000 cheque from our Metropolitan Cover2go Promoter and Shoprite Mokopane’s Store Manager.
others’ designs, a South African citizen, fluent in
English, and between 25 and 35 years, visit Kgomotso Makgalwa is the deserving of her death, and R2 000 free cover for her It’s also easy to win R10 000! Don’t forget
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all the details you need to enter. Cashback Funeral Policy “Lucky Draw” there’s more! If Kgomotso pays all her buy your Starter Pack. There’s another
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