Community voices rise as Newlands East shopping mall plans student residence

The eThekwini Municipality has approved an amendment to the land use scheme for a Newlands East shopping mall to have a student residence on the property. 

The proposed amendment of additional control to allow for a student residence on Marble Ray Drive was discussed at council meeting on Thursday.

 A report from the eThekwini Economic Development and Planning Committee explained that:

• The proposal aligns with the strategic intentions of the municipality, specifically the Newlands sub-area of the northern urban development corridor, Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma, and KwaMashu (INK) local area plan. This plan encourages mixed use, and the redevelopment of the existing Marble Ray complex provides a balance of commercial and residential usage. 
• The composite commercial and residential usage is appropriate in this context as the area is characterised by a plethora of mixed uses, including several offices, medical facilities, a veterinary clinic, a supermarket, and a fueling station. The proposal is not anticipated to impact on the surrounding residential developments and land uses. 
• The retail commercial component will be retained, and the student residence will offer a residential opportunity for quality student accommodation. 

The municipality stated that conditions included the student residence component be restricted to 138 students. 

The proposal is expected to have positive financial implications, with the city anticipating benefiting from an increased revenue base.

The municipality added that there was sufficient infrastructure to accommodate the students. 

Residents Association New Dawn (RAND) Chairperson Anthony Pierce said it was disconcerting that the municipality had ignored the petition objecting to the developer's plan.

Some of the residents' concerns included:

• The existing infrastructure of water, sewage, and electricity will be burdened.
• Noise nuisance.
• Impact on property values.

Ward 11 eThekwini Councillor Allan Peterson said that when it comes to student accommodation, people are aware that challenges often arise within the entity and within communities. 

"There have been petitions submitted, and to date, residents who feel directly affected by the proposed rezoning have not yet been afforded a proper opportunity to express their concerns through a public engagement process," he said. 

Peterson said that the director of the property in question reached out to him and expressed willingness to sit down with the local civic structures, or even attend a public meeting, to hear the concerns of the community. 

"The director has shown a willingness to meet the community halfway to ensure that they feel comfortable and adequately consulted. The concerns raised are genuine, and it is only fair that the director be given the opportunity to respond directly, engage constructively, and assist in finding common ground."

Busi Ndlovu, an ANC eThekwini councillor, said that the shopping centre was struggling, and the influx of students would provide a much-needed cash injection for the stores

However, ActionSA eThekwini Councillor Saul Basckin said it sounded as though the decision had already effectively been made before it reached council. 

“In this agenda, we are not shown the actual objection; we do not see who objected, and we only get a short assurance that it was comprehensively answered. We cannot exercise meaningful oversight on that basis. We are not arguing the merits of this specific student residence, but a summary of the key concerns by objectors should have been provided. Otherwise, we reduce council to a rubber stamp, and that is not what the law or our residents expect of us,” he said. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za