A LOCAL businessman has moved to assuage residents’ anger and misgiving over the proposed R3.5b Beachwood Estate, a private development aimed at a partial redevelopment of the existing Beachwood Golf Course.
Gavin Strydom, a shareholder of Beachwood Investments (Pty) Ltd, said several of the concerns raised at a public meeting had been considered by the developers, and plans were in place to upgrade infrastructure.
The developers bought the private Beachwood Course from the Durban Country Club (DCC) in 2017.
Styrdom’s comments come on the back of a public meeting more than a week ago, called by the Friends of Beachwood, who stand opposed to development of the land.
At the meeting, residents raised several concerns, including the impact such a development would have on the stormwater, roads and sewerage infrastructure and the potential impact on the surrounding mangroves and ecosystem. Questions were also asked about public beach access.
Strydom, however, said developers had considered all these factors and said plans are in place for a infrastructural upgrade.
He added, there appears to be ‘much misinformation circulated on social media’, which needed correcting.
“From an engineering perspective, there has been a cautious approach to the management of stormwater and all related engineering infrastructure. A significant amount of money has been set aside on a new stormwater management system. Various infrastructural upgrades, in particular to the existing road network, are incorporated into the design and feasibility of the project, all of which have been supported by the competent authorities. The preservation and protection of the mangroves, wetlands and dune forests have undoubtedly been foremost in our planning. It is therefore an inescapable reality that the re-purposing of golf courses is not endemic to Beachwood or South Africa; it is a global reality,” Strydom said.
On the concern over beach access, Strydom said the developers would be relocating the public parking area.
“The current un-monitored public parking adjacent to the shoreline has occasioned the significant erosion of the sand dunes and the dune forests. As directed by the MEC, this parking area will be relocated at the developer’s cost to a formal public parking, which will be a servitude registered in favour of the public. Once completed, the developer will rehabilitate the damaged sand dunes and dune forests at their cost, thus promoting environmental preservation and environmental longevity. Public access to the beach will be by way of a new servitude, again registered in favour of the public, so there is no infringement into the rights of the public with access to the beach,” he said.
He added, it is anticipated that the development will create approximately 800 jobs during construction and approximately 1 700 jobs post-construction.
“People often have the misconception of property developers being rough and ruthless. This is wholly incorrect. Property development is no different to any other business that operates and functions to earn a living. We are responsible developers that take absolute pride in our end product. A sustainable, environmentally conscious development initiative is being advanced that will result in the environment and neighbourhood being better off, post-development,” he said.
