Sportsground earmarked for development

PLANS to use the land on which the derelict Umbilo Congella Sports Club stands for a residential development including some commercial retail development have been proposed by eThekwini Municipality.

The City’s plans come in the wake of a number of concerns raised by ward 33 councillor, Nicole Graham and surrounding residents over the sadly dilapidated buildings and unkempt grounds.

According to councillor Graham, she, together with the Umbilo and Glenwood ward committee, approached the municipality regarding council’s recent decision to allocate the old Umbilo Congella Sports Club land for housing.

The municipality’s proposed decision to use the land for housing came after a land use-transport study was conducted, based on the Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) and the Densification Strategy adopted in 2012.

According to a letter sent to councillor Graham by Lihle Phewa, deputy head of development planning, the municipality’s Land Use Management branch and Framework Planning branch of the development planning, environment and management unit, together with eThekwini Transport Authority had jointly embarked on this study for the southern public transport corridor, which was in response to the Back of Port plan and the public transport corridor.

The study also aimed at determining the densification potential within 500m of the IRPTN, which includes the rail corridor from Berea Station south towards Isipingo and Umlazi Stations and adjacent suburbs.

Phewa said a thorough assessment of the feasibility of sites in close proximity to the IRPTN stations and corridors was undertaken and the proposed King Edward node was identified. He said the lease by Umbilo Sports Club had ceased and the property had been vacant for some time. It was development planning unit’s intention to use the site to pilot densification.

The basic concept for the node is to use the club’s grounds for a proposed development which includes a high density cluster with a total of 652 units, with the ground floor designated for commercial retail development associated to the hospital such as shop fronts and pharmacies and IRPTN facilities. Phewa said the residential development was designed to keep with the surrounding character of the area, and plans included a sports field and provision of linkage to the adjacent Umbilo Ponds Park.

He said the development was viewed as desirable as it would consolidate a critical node within the southern public corridor, through the redevelopment of an under developed, abandoned site which could present safety and security issues for the hospital and surrounding residential community.

He said Graham had raised concerns about stakeholder consultation and indicated that the planning department would follow a formal structured public process for the next phase, and any proposal put forward by the municipality would have to follow processes regarding rezoning and an environmental impact assessment. He said at this stage the decision to allocate the space entirely for social housing had not been taken.

Graham said the city’s plan for the site was not a bad idea, but felt it was essential for the municipality’s plans to be in consultation with, and to the benefit of, the immediate community.

“There are positives to this proposal, but it needs to be done properly. There are a lot of people who could positively benefit from these plans, but the community needs to be consulted and needs to be able to lay down what they want too. There may be alternative uses, for example, there is a lack of recreational facilities and a community hall in the lower part of Umbilo,” she said.

However, Graham urged the city to take responsibility for the property while decisions were being made on the proposed development. “Someone needs to take responsibility for the property as it will only continue to get worse while we wait for all this to happen,” she said.

Guy Perrins, chairman of the Glenwood Community Watch, said the watch welcomed any sensible development on the site and adjoining park.

“The reasons for this are simply that the site and building are now derelict and used as an illegal dump. It is occupied by illegal squatters and is the source of local crime in the greater Glenwood and Umbilo area. The authorities have made some attempts to keep the area clear but these endeavors have not worked,” he said.

Karen Cotton from Glenwood Community Watch, said she had heard some members of the public that stood up and addressed Nicole Graham at a meeting earlier this year, saying that they were desperate for extra schools for the residents of lower Umbilo.

“They said there was really no space in the schools in this area, which I have heard from other sources and have experienced myself. If the 652 units go ahead, would these be family units and where would all the extra children be educated?  Would it not be a much better idea to build a really nice big school on that piece of land, for the children desperate for education living near that area already?” she said.

Cotton said she understood that this was not what authorities were proposing, as it has been said they need more accommodation for people.