By Nangamso Mabindla
23 October 2007

A COASTAL education and visitor centre - worth R2-million and built in the shape of a footprint - has been handed over to Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zintle Peter.

The project is a partnership between the municipality, DaimlerChrysler South Africa (DCSA), the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and the Swedish International Development Agency, or Sida.

Located in Nahoon, the centre is modeled on the child's footprint in Nahoon that scientists believe to be 120 000 years old, making it the oldest known footprint in the world. Bill Hartley and Rhett Kaiser, the former municipal employees who discovered the footprint in 1964, were at the handing over, on Thursday, 18 October.

Christened the DaimlerChrysler Coastal Education and Visitor Centre, it will focus on environmental education for local school children, residents and tourists. It forms part of the R11-million plan to improve the Nahoon Estuary Nature Reserve and the Nahoon Point Nature Reserve.

Speaking at the handing over, the DCSA's Joachim Follman said that he was happy that the motor manufacturer was involved in an environmental project.

"Environmental issues are always under discussion and as a result are an important part of DaimlerChrysler's strategies. Environmental and HIV/Aids issues receive top priority in our company."

He said that to ensure its sustainability and professionalism, the DCSA would invest R3-million in the centre over the next three years.

The DEAT has invested R9-million in the project to improve Nahoon's nature reserves, and its Xolani Skenjana congratulated the City on the work done. "We appreciate the partnership between the City and its business partners, and with the DCSA on board, we know that the project will be sustainable."

Peter said the centre would be a living monument to what could be achieved if partners worked together.

"I would like to make a special mention of the important role that the DCSA played as a responsible corporate citizen of Buffalo City in supporting projects of this nature. It is fair to say that without their foresight and willingness to make tangible commitments to protecting our environment, the Nahoon Point area would not be the tourist asset that it has become for the city."

She also thanked the DEAT as the major funder and Sida for its support.

"When we look at the environmental degradation caused by industrialisation, when we look at the gradual destruction of the world's rainforests, when we consider the implications of global warming, we worry that our grandchildren may struggle in a world that has suffered serious damage because of our short sightedness."

The mayor added that the centre would go a long way towards proving to future generations that the current one made efforts to conserve the environment.

There will also be a coffee shop at the centre for people to relax after taking a walk along the Nahoon Boardwalk.