Introduction

The economy plays a pivotal role in the environmental management of the Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA). Economic activity can potentially negatively impact on virtually all aspects of  the natural environment. Economic activity, however, also provides the resources to enable action to be taken to address environmental problems. Profitable and growing firms are more able to make investments in improving their environmental performance. Such firms are also likely to provide more jobs which will enable people to afford adequate housing and services. The DMA's economy also supports the rates base which enables the Council to effectively manage the environment as well as to provide adequate services to residents. It is important, therefore, to find a balance between a maintaining a thriving economy which creates jobs and wealth while still retaining Durban's valuable natural resource base for current and future residents to benefit from.

Past industrial growth has occurred in the DMA with few environmental controls, creating a legacy of degraded living environments, particularly in the industrial heartland of the Durban South Basin. The impacts of economic activity on the natural environment have often been far reaching and severe. Some examples are described below.

Air pollution
Air emissions from industry in the DMA have resulted in air quality problems in some areas of the City, in particular the South Industrial Basin. This also affects the aesthetics of the area.

Fresh water pollution and usage
Sections of many of the DMA's rivers have been severely polluted by industrial effluents. In particular, the Umlaas Canal and Isipingo Estuary, both draining from the South Industrial Basin, are so polluted that they are no longer fit for recreational use. Industry uses large quantities of fresh water requiring the construction of ecologically damaging dams and water abstraction infrastructure.

Marine pollution
Considerable quantities of industrial waste products are disposed of at sea through marine pipelines. Although the waste is dispersed relatively quickly because of the fast flowing current running along the coast, pollution has impacted on marine life in the vicinity of the marine outfalls. Cumulatively, non-organic pollutants in these waste streams are increasing the overall pollutant load in the ocean.

Waste production
Industrial activity in the DMA produces large quantities of waste material including hazardous wastes. These require large landfill sites for safe disposal, which in themselves can have significant negative environmental impacts. The DMA and the province is currently without a disposal site for hazardous waste which is transported to other provinces for safe disposal. A considerable quantity of waste, including hazardous material, is illegally dumped causing health and environmental hazards.

Noise
Industrial activity is often associated with high noise levels through the use of noisy machinery and vehicles. This is of particular concern when there are residential areas close by such as in areas of the South Industrial Basin..

Loss of Biodiversity
Industrial and commercial activities occupy large areas of land which are inevitably stripped of their natural habitats. In the case of the South Industrial Basin, a large wetland was drained, rivers diverted and canalised, and dunes excavated. The development of Durban Port resulted in the reclamation and dredging of large sections of Durban Bay destroying extensive natural marine habitats and mangrove communities.