The Ocean Discovery Centre & East London Aquarium
A potentially devastating discovery at our historical East London Aquarium has brought to life an amazing opportunity that will hopefully see the face of the East London Beachfront change forever – and for the better.
Over the years, salt water has been absorbed into the cement mortar of the Aquarium structure, corroding the steel re-enforcement in the supporting walls and foundations. The damage is extensive, and the Aquarium, even with structural maintenance can only remain in it’s current form for another 2 years.
In addition to being the only venue to visit to view sea wildlife, the East London Aquarium performs a wide range of necessary services to the East London public, the marine scientific community and our local marine wildlife. Acting as a translator between these parties, The East London Aquarium helps communicate the scientific communities research findings to the general public in an easy to understand way. It allows the public to interact with, and understand marine wildlife in a way that would not be possible if we did not have such a facility. In addition, it shares everyday information and data on our local marine wildlife with the marine scientific community who are working to better understand and look after our local marine wildlife.
Unbeknown to us, a group of passionate East London and marine wildlife advocates from the SST (Sustainable Seas Trust) have been working tirelessly on a ‘Concept’ to build a Marine Scientific Centre in East London. Notoriously abused and ignored, the East London coastline is one of the few coastlines in South Africa that has not been researched and studied resulting in years of abuse as a result of ignorance and neglect.
The sad state of our current Aquarium structure has opened the doors to one of the greatest opportunities the East London beachfront has seen in recent times – The Ocean Discovery Centre and East London Aquarium Concept.
THE CONCEPT
A new, state of the art Scientific Centre boasting a Classroom/Laboratory, a Computer Room, an Auditorium, a flexible display area (to bring in moving displays), and the ‘highlight’ … an interactive area where children and the public can interact directly with the displays.
THE AIM
• Promote the practical applications of mathematics and sciences to our youth – addressing the critical skills shortages we have in this area
• Improve local teachers science & mathematics skills
• Provide a much needed Scientific Marine Research centre for our coastline
• Supplement the local universities education facilities in the marine sciences
• Promote East London as a tourist destination
• Upgrade (and encourage further upgrading of) our local beachfront
THE COST
Input from the designers of the Scientific Centres in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg has helped planners to estimated the project costs as follows for the building of approx. 1,850m2:
• R15million – Building + Professional Fees (excl land & services)
• R5million – Interior fit-out • R5million – Cost of exhibits
• R5million – Annual Operating Costs
These costs could increase by as much as R100 million if the full concept is implemented. This would include an ‘off the grid’ Ocean Discovery Centre, a new/upgraded Aquarium, Hero’s Park, a Tourist Centre as well as the beach front green belt which proposes that the esplanade be moved back from the coast line to run in front of the Osner Hotel across to the Aquarium. This would create a public green belt area on the beachfront, similar to those that have been so successfully created in both Durban and Port Elizabeth.
FINANCING
The Ocean Discovery Centre would be run as a NGO and would need to raise the funds needed to both build the centre and cover the day to day operating costs. Financial support will be required from National & Local Government departments, International groups supporting Education, Marine and Green Energy Initiatives, as well as local business.
JUST ANOTHER PIPE DREAM?
Is this just another pipe dream, you may well ask? Absolutely not! While this is still in a Concept phase, the hard working team have already presented the concept and received buy-in from BCKOB, the East London Business Chamber as well as may local prominent East London people in the fields of science, marine and tourism. Initial talks with local government are also looking promising.
So East London, we are looking to you to support this amazing Concept and help the hard working individuals who have put in so much work already, to bring it to fruition. How can we do this you ask? Share this information with as many people you know and help us encourage local government & business to buy into this Concept and change it from a Concept to a reality!
ShowMe East London supports the Ocean Discovery Centre and East London Aquarium.
Do you?
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