Panorama Park residents question development of new estate

A PUBLIC participation meeting was held last Friday (November 5) in Warner Beach regarding the proposed Msimbazi River Eco Estate housing development in Karridene, near Panorama Park.  

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The estate will be developed by the Inkwazi Group and is planned to consist of 720 three-storey units across 48 blocks. The proposed construction site is the vacant land between the Msimbazi River and Panorama Park. If approved, the construction is set to take place in phases over a 24-month period. Construction will commence when final approval is granted.

Justin Ellero, an environmental scientist from IDM Consultants, who will oversee the project’s environmental assessments, answered the questions of concerned Panorama Park residents.

Russell Warren, a local resident, felt the potential destruction to the Msimbazi estuary and its wildlife was being downplayed by the developer.

“This estuary has been identified as the most pristine in the whole of eThekwini. How can we be sure that the development of an estate this size is not going to damage it?” asked Warren.

According to the estate’s building plan, it showed to be in close proximity to the Panorama Park border. Warren and other residents are concerned that the green buffer is insufficient.

Summing up some of the concerns raised, Debbie van Rooyen said they had issues with potential damage to the R102 road with added traffic from the extra 720 families, the strain on the already overloaded municipal infrastructure, the duration of the construction phase, and a short time window for submissions.

In response to the concerns and questions raised at the meeting, Ellero said a detailed traffic impact assessment was undertaken and it was approved and authorised by the Department of Transport, subject to certain conditions.

“This includes the upgrade of the P491 access road and intersection to accommodate increased traffic flows,” said Ellero.

He said the upgrade includes the installation of large culverts under the P491 that will ensure the ecosystem connectivity between the depression wetland and the Msimbazi estuary. The P491 road connects to the R102 and runs parallel to the Msimbazi River. To preserve wildlife at the site, Ellero said the developer will convert the land on the property, which does not fall within the development footprint, into a non-useable conservation zone.

“In creating this zone, the developer will formulate a management plan for the employment of active measures to effectively preserve, manage and monitor this area in perpetuity.”

As a concern was raised regarding the strain the extra families will put on the already struggling municipal infrastructure, including sewage disposal, Ellero said it was the intention of the development to treat all effluent on site and incorporate the wastewater into a potable bulk water supply.

He said the recycling of waste water would help alleviate pressure on municipal bulk water supply systems. Since some residents at the meeting felt the window for submissions was too short, Ellero said the public participation process will be extended to November 26, to afford residents time to provide further comments and queries.

Objections and comments can be sent to IDM Consultants and emailed to:

Justin Ellero at justinel@idmconsultants.co.za or posted to: PO Box 918 Umhlanga Rocks 4320. Ellero can be called on 031 566 2856 or 072 028 9151. Comments can also be faxed to 086 649 8450.  

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