Changing the game with development at scale

The Municipality has earmarked a number of key infrastructure investments that will change the landscape of the city and create a true global destination, which will serve as an economic and logistical gateway into the African continent.

There are a number of catalytic projects underway within the eThekwini Municipal Area, each at various stages of planning and development. Below are highlights drawn from some of the latest publicly available information on the status updates of various major projects.

Point Waterfront

The project is a public-private sector investment and forms part of the City’s initiative to redevelop and regenerate the inner city. The private sector is expected to spend R35 billion on the Point Waterfront development to be undertaken over the next 10 years, comprising a hotel, retail mall, offices, as well as a residential apartment and leisure infrastructure. When completed, the development will create 6 750 permanent jobs and provide 11 000 construction jobs with an annual rates contribution of R200 million. The City has already spent about R900 million due to the Point promenade, trunk sewer upgrading and Point watermains, as catalysts for the much anticipated private sector investment.

A particular highlight here is the official opening of the MSC Cruise Terminal in December 2021, which is valued at approximately R200 million.

Cornubia

The Cornubia development is a strategic flagship programme of eThekwini Municipality. The project is based on a framework of public-private partnership where, apart from the housing solution it provides, it creates an atmosphere for emerging business to become part of the development framework. The Cornubia development is regarded as a catalytic intervention establishing the first fully integrated human settlement in the country. Cornubia is a government priority project and large-scale, mixed-use, mixedincome integrated human settlement.

This groundbreaking development caters for logistics and industrial development, as well as commercial, integrated residential, retail and other social and public facilities. Current development nodes include a town centre, retail park and business park, with a number of mixed-income housing opportunities, as well as a school facility and the Cornubia Mall.

Two GO!Durban routes will run through the development: the C8 route linking uMhlanga and the Durban CBD with King Shaka International Airport, and the C9 linking Bridge City with uMhlanga.

The development is set to have a large impact on job creation in eThekwini during both the construction and opportunities will be created due to the commercial activities associated with Cornubia, representing a healthy 12% of total employment in the province.

Dube TradePort

The Dube TradePort node is a 3 800 hectare development near King Shaka International Airport, with an airfreight hub comprising cargo terminal, trade, agri and support zones. Dube TradePort has secured R3.2 billion in private sector investment and R880 million investments in infrastructure projects by

Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status for the TradeZones has been received, while the new link road from uShukela Highway has been constructed. Building on this success, work is underway to develop the second phase of the Dube TradeZone light industrial development, which will be 45 hectares, as well as Dube AgriZone 2. Bulk earthworks and platforming are in progress, while the installation of internal services is underway. Recent projections point to the expanded zone attracting in excess of R10 billion in private sector investment over the next years. The total rates contribution of R180 million annually. The complete investment value is R13 billion.

Dumisani Makhaye Development

The Dumisani Makhaye Node (Westrich Mall) Development (Midway Crossing) is strategically located on the City’s C3 IPTN Corridor, which creates a northwest connection through Bridge City to Pinetown CBD, and entails the commercial development of a shopping centre. This will be integrated with the GO!Durban feeder facility, safety and security centre, Sizakala Centre, municipal services centre (library, clinic) and the Newlands Expressway. The development has already been completed and was officially opened in September 2021. The total investment value was R900 million, with the municipality contributing R375 million towards municipal infrastructure. A total of 810 construction jobs were created and over R80 million was spent on

Contractor Participation Goals and local economic empowerment.

The completed facility generates significant monthly revenue and benefits the communities of Lindelani, KwaMashu and Newlands West.

Brickworks

The Avoca Nodal Development is made up of three precincts ideally located along the N2 corridor. The precincts consist of the Brickworks and Northfields industrial developments, as well as the Caneridge residential development. The Municipality will be funding some of the bulk infrastructure (i.e. upgrading of Old North Coast Road) for the development of this node.

The development investment value is estimated at R10 billion.

Private sector construction for Phase 1 commenced in January 2021, with the first phase of construction set to result in the development of about

150 000 m2 of gross lettable area (GLA), worth close to R2 billion. Once all three phases have been developed, The Brickworks will include in excess of 450 000 m2 of GLA, at an estimated value of R6 billion. The municipality is currently finalising plans for construction at Old North Coast Road.

Oceans uMhlanga

Oceans uMhlanga is a R4 billion mixed-use development situated strategically within the core tourism node of uMhlanga Rocks Village. It is currently being facilitated as a Catalytic Project within the Municipality due to the anticipated positive socioeconomic benefits it will bring into the municipal area. This includes R725 million towards GDP, an additional annual income to the City of R135 million per annum from rates and service charges, as well as the creation of over 2 100 sustainable jobs. The mixed-use development consists of the Raddison Blu Hotel, a retail mall and 600 apartments.

The project, which began in 2016, has so far created 6 000 jobs during construction and another 2 500 permanent jobs. Positive progress was made during 2022 and the first phase of the development, namely the hotel and hotel apartments, as well as retail spaces opened their doors in late 2022.

Rivertown

The Rivertown Precinct lies to the east of Durban CBD, between the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Complex (Durban ICC) and the Durban Beachfront. The precinct is formerly Durban’s light industrial area with several low-rise warehouses, some of which are of heritage value. City architects have been exploring the potential of reopening the canal (along John Milne street) as a strong feature of the City and developing a vision and character of the precinct centred on this canal.

The objectives of the redevelopment of this precinct include:

• providing linkages between Durban ICC and the Durban Beachfront

• developing the precinct taking an overall cultural theme and in service of the Durban Exhibition Centre

• commercialising creative ventures through private galleries, small theatres, restaurants and other entertainment venues.

Construction for the upgrading of the Rivertown precinct commenced in June 2019 and was completed by June 2021 with a contract value of R44 million.

Arrangements are underway via the Development Planning Unit to encourage property owners to facelift their premises (buildings and open yards) to enhance the aesthetic look and feel of the area.

Centrum Site

The Centrum Site has always been at the crossroads of a developing Durban. Movements from west to east intersect with north-south connections. The Centrum Urban Design Framework aims to develop a new mixed-use precinct comprising IRPTN and innercity distribution service bus stations, a new super basement parking with public service buildings such as a city library, council chambers and municipal buildings, integrated with high-density residential, hotel, retail and commercial developments anchored by an expanded Gugu Dlamini Square. It is expected that this site will complement the adjoining CBD while trying to preserve the city’s heritage in terms of its historic buildings. This development is itself currently at a crossroads.

Durban Iconic Tower

The City received a proposal from the Durban Tower Development Company in 2016 to build a R6 billion, 88-storey skyscraper near the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which would become the highest building in the southern hemisphere. It was planned to be built over five years and become operational by 2021 should construction commence in 2018, following approval of the project.

The proposed location of the project is on the Durban Country Club site and the premises of the Natal Mounted Rifles. These timelines have shifted out significantly, but a formal letter was received from the Country Club in 2022, giving the Municipality consent to excise a portion of the leased property.

The project may serve as a potential catalyst to future large-scale development within the Durban inner city and the greater metropolitan area. The most recent status regarding the developing is that internal Council discussions were being held.

Keystone Park

Located immediately adjacent to the N3 Hammarsdale interchange, the 152 hectare Keystone Park Light Industrial Warehousing and Logistics

Precinct is being developed by Rokwil Property Development. The R6.5 billion Keystone Park development – which consists of 152 hectares of logistics, warehouse and light industrial zoning – has been categorised as one of the best projects to tackle unemployment, creating 2 000 permanent jobs within the first phase of the development.

This development, which is a privatepublic partnership, is also aimed at attracting new industries to the region and unlocking further employment and business opportunities for locals. Development activity at the site commenced with the 15 000 m 2 Malda Pack facility having started business operations. Mr Price’s new National Distribution Centre, Ackermans, ND Engineering, Dromex, Kerry Foods, and Pepkor’s new Distribution Centre have also been completed. Several further significant top-structure projects are in the final stages of

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