Page 27 - Bulletin 1 1997

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parts of the main breakwater top structure. The breaking seas partly demolished the Jetty off

the North Mole and sank a number of boats. A contract was awarded to repair the main
breakwater, remove the old jetty, and build a new jetty, springing from the North end of the

original Fishing Quay. This contract was completed in October 1994 at a cost of R 1.7

million. This structure was built of precast reinforced concrete frames founded on concrete
footings set on bed rock. The deck was formed with precast units with an in-situ concrete top.

The new structure is far more substantial than the timber jetty that it replaced, and has

resulted in much improved harbour operation as the berths provided are linked directly with
the main working area of the harbour.

New Eras?

The further potentialities of the harbour have generated renewed interest from time to time.

During the 1970s and 1980s, in particular, a combination of circumstances again focused
attention on the harbour and its possible expansion for recreation/tourism purposes. In May

1973 the Kalk Bay Yacht Club was formed and it then requested the Department of Industries

to expand the harbour so that it could accommodate yachts. Around this time the False Bay
Yacht Club at Simon’s Town, fearing displacement through dockyard expansion, asked that

space be made available at Kalk Bay should a larger harbour be built there. A third party

adding its weight to the idea was the False Bay Conservation Society, who were keen to see
the termination of line-fishing from Kalk Bay and, by implication, the demise of the fishing

fleet. In place of the local fishing boats they envisaged the provision of berthing facilities for

yachts and pleasure craft, as well as slip facilities for ski boat anglers who would fill the line-
fishing niche vacated by the displaced Kalk Bay boats.

The whole idea was dependent on one major event which had nothing to do with the harbour:
this was the construction of the Boyes Drive freeway and tunnel through Trappies Kop to the

Fish Hoek valley. From it would have come the rubble with which to undertake the
reclamation and construction work. That scheme never materialised because of lack of funds

and so the harbour ideas have gathered dust. Some idea of the scale of what might have

happened is illustrated in Figs. 2.9 & 2.10.) The plan of the harbour has therefore remained
largely unchanged for over half a century.