When people look back on the demolition of iconic structures many question why more wasn't done to save them for future generations to admire. As time passes the complexities of each case often disappear. We really enjoy digging deeper into the debate of the day and trying to unravel the motivations and interests of the parties involved. In the case of the Newtown Cooling Towers there were strong arguments on both sides. The short Sunday Times article (1985) below highlights a few of the complexities of the time.
Although Johannesburg's four cooling towers in Newtown will soon come tumbling down the 6680m2 site is not top priority for the areas redevelopment. John Mortimer, chairman of the city council committee responsible for advising on the redevelopment plan, says the decision to implode the towers is a result of an investigation into the feasibility of redecorating the towers for Johannesburg's centenary next year. The centenary festival committee wanted to spend R500 000 on renovating the towers but the city electrical engineer found they were in too dangerous a condition to allow work on them.
According to the overall plan, the cooling-tower site is the last part of the area to be developed. Dr Mortimer says: "We see the Newtown site being developed from the north-east side towards the motorway." The City Engineering Department's mechanical workshops are situated around the towers and new premises will have to be found before the site can be put to other use. As the site is next to the...
