buffer zones? no threat to houses prices?….

http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4569476

Concern that project rushed ahead of elections
Cornubia development treated ‘with urgency’

August 21, 2008 Edition 1

Matthew Savides

UMHLANGA was important to the eThekwini Municipality, which would ensure that a proposed 1 200ha integrated development near the area was done responsibly and would not affect property prices.

This was according to deputy mayor Logie Naidoo yesterday, speaking in the wake of the municipality’s threat on Tuesday to expropriate the land from Tongaat-Hulett Developments to speed up construction.

Tongaat-Hulett said yesterday it was treating the proposed Cornubia development, which will include 25 000 subsidised low-income houses, as “a matter of urgency”.

Concerns were raised that the mammoth project was being rushed, possibly to garner support for the ANC ahead of next year’s general elections. This was denied by Naidoo.

It is envisaged that Cornubia will incorporate low-income, middle-income and high-income housing, as well as industry, business, schools, clinics, parks and other public service infrastructure.

While the final costs have not been released, Cornubia is expected to cost at least R10 billion.

The development zone is bordered by the N2 highway to the east, the R102 to the west and the Ohlange River to the north, and is also in close proximity to the Gateway shopping complex, Sibaya casino and King Shaka International Airport.

According to a report tabled at the municipality’s executive committee on Tuesday, the mixed use of land would ensure sustainability and create jobs.

Tongaat-Hulett issued a statement yesterday confirming talks over the development, and saying the company was committed to finding a solution “to the affordable housing needs of the region”.

Tongaat-Hulett land development executive Michael Deighton said: “Cornubia offers a unique opportunity to address the urgent need for affordable housing, city-building and job creation in the region.

“A development of the magnitude envisaged can only be achieved in partnership between the public and private sectors and to this end we have been planning jointly with the city to achieve an optimal outcome. This process is continuing as a matter of urgency.”

The statement made no mention of the municipality’s threat to expropriate the land, nor did it address any of the concerns raised about the project, including whether the development would negatively affect property prices in nearby affluent areas.

Naidoo said the northern areas of the municipality were “perfectly poised for phenomenal growth”, hence the push for the development. He said the city would not be “irresponsible” and only build low-cost housing, thus avoiding any risk to neighbouring property prices.

“We are not fools. We will not threaten our own rates base. Umhlanga is an important node for us. We will not build low-cost homes that will impact negatively on the area,” he said.

He said “buffer zones” would be created and the site developed so that low-cost regions were separated from upmarket areas.

Naidoo denied the urgency regarding the development was connected to the elections, saying the council had wanted the development from “years ago”.

ANC councillors said on Tuesday they wanted construction to start in the next few months. This is despite the need for rezoning that would have to take place and the drawing up of an extensive environmental impact assessment, none of which has begun.

matthew.savides@inl.co.za