MEC gives Logistics Park green light

SOUTH Durban communities who have risen in protest to the development of a logistics park earmarked for the site of the former Clairwood Racecourse, fear that the green light given to the development by the KZN MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Michael Mabuyakhulu, may be behind a plan to relocate communities who have lived in the area for decades.

Desmond D'Sa of the South Druban Community Environmental lliance (SDCEA) said the community would continue to fight the issue through every legal means at its disposal. The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) has been against the proposed development, and the group has protested against it on many occasions.

“From inception of this development project in 2013 regarding impact assessments, environmental and social, the entire process lacked meaningful public participation due to the fact that the appointed consultant and developer did not consult thoroughly in each and every local community that will be affected by this development,” said D'Sa.

Construction of the R3,5 billion logistics park will begin within the first quarter of 2016, creating much needed employment and business opportunities within the South Durban Basin.

Mabuyakhulu said his department found that the amended Environmental Impact Report (EIR) received from the Capital Property Fund in September 2014 complied with stringent regulations and adequately addressed concerns raised during an appeal.

It found that public participation process followed in the EIA process was more than compliant with EIA regulations and it outlined stringent parameters for development in response to objections raised. As a result, appeals lodged in response to the environmental authorisation granted in May 2015 were dismissed and the original decision was upheld.

However. D/Sa said the SDCEA had gathered a group of experts to assist and wrote to the department providing substantial evidence why the development should not be granted.

“The comments we provided were ignored and a decision was made in favour of the developer. After the department’s decision, SDCEA provided a comprehensive written appeal followed by letters of support from community groups, in addition to the thousands petitions signed by individual residents and schools that mandated the SDCEA to oppose the development of a trucking facility. The decision made by Michael Mabuyakhulu will have serious ramifications on the thousands of children and workers commuting in and out of Merebank, Wentworth and surrounding schools, as well as those that travel on the M4,” he said.

He said the group felt there will be an increased risk of safety to all through the decision to allow 2 000 trucks that will enter this property per hour, and this will affect the already over polluted South Durban area which has high levels of vehicle emissions and poor air quality.

“Communities are worried that this could be another plan to indirectly relocate people out of this area who have lived over 60 years, similar to the Group Areas Act. We are vigilant and intend to fight back; using legal means and community activism, and this applies to any development that impacts on the quality of life of the people of South Durban,” he said.

More about the Clairwood development

The Clairwood Logistics Park will be located on the site of the former Clairwood Race Course which was purchased by the then Capital Property Fund in 2012 for R430 million. Fortress Income Fund intends developing approximately 350 000 square metres of warehousing with the remainder becoming paved yards to service the facilities.

The development will also include an eight hectare wetland which will be fully rehabilitated. The EA (environmental authorisation) released by the provincial government has reduced the area for development of the site and has spelt out how Fortress Income Fund must proceed with both construction and rehabilitation of the site in order to create a sustainable wetland area and incorporate indigenous fauna and flora.

“The Clairwood Logistics Park will not only meet growing demand for A grade logistics and distribution facilities in the south of Durban, but also improve the livelihoods of surrounding communities through job creation,” said Mr Nico Prinsloo, Fortress Income Fund’s development manager. The new facility is expected to create an estimated 18 900 jobs during the four year construction period and more than 4 600 permanent jobs after completion in December 2020. The development comes at a time when South Africa is facing significant job losses that will add to an already high unemployment rate as the economy slows.

The South Durban Basin, in which the Clairwood Logistics and Distribution Park falls, is a national economic hub which consists of an industrial area interspersed with a residential population. The basin is bordered by major transport linkages. Market research has indicated that both national and international businesses have a desperate need for modern logistics facilities in close proximity to both the existing port and the proposed Durban Dig Out Port.

The R3,5 billion to be invested in developing the site includes R110 million that will be spent on extensive upgrades of roads and infrastructure surrounding the facility. “This will not only improve traffic flow into and out of the site but will ease overall traffic flow in the area and significantly improve road safety, especially for learners attending schools close to the site,” said Prinsloo.