Communities protest Clairwood development
Residents took to the streets in the Clairwood Racecourse action committee picket.
DURBAN South communities in Wentworth, Umlazi, Merebank and surrounding areas gathered in their numbers to protest the proposed development of a logistics park at the Clairwood Racecourse site which they believe will cause irreplaceable damage to the land, the environment and people.
More than 100 protestors, displayed placards and banners in an attempt to voice their objection to the MEC’s decision to grant Fortress Income Fund the go ahead with the development.
“The aim was to get the project manager Mr Nico Prinsloo from Fortress Income Fund to accept a memorandum with the communities' concerns, however he unfortunately did not show up despite many emails, invites and requests to previous engagements,” said Des D'Sa from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance.
He said affected communities and residents were very distressed about the impact the development will have.
“By Fortress Income Fund having completely no regard for them does not make the situation any better or assuring in any way because their quality of life will be destroyed in the name of profit and they will bear the brunt of the trucks, noise and industrial development. The community will take this matter on further to fight for their rights, health and well-being. They will not be bullied by industry's greed,” said D'Sa.
However, Fortress Income Fund said in an earlier media release that the Clairwood Logistics Park would benefit local communities.
Nico Prinsloo, development manager of the Fortress Income Fund, which will develop the former Clairwood Racecourse site, said the company remained committed to regularly providing information about the development’s progress through the local media.
The Clairwood Logistics Park will comprise approximately 350 000 square metres of warehousing accompanied by paved yards to service these facilities. The development will also include an eight hectare wetland which will be fully rehabilitated and incorporate indigenous fauna and flora.
The South Durban Basin, in which the Clairwood Logistics Park falls, is an important national economic hub which consists of an industrial area interspersed with a residential population. The basin is bordered by major transport linkages and forms an integral part of the wider maritime and logistics sectors that are regarded as the backbone of the city’s economy. These have been earmarked as priorities for future development by the eThekwini municipality as well as by both provincial and national government.
“Market research has indicated that the Clairwood Logistics Park will meet growing demand for A grade logistics and distribution facilities in the south of Durban and is of particular importance as it is in close proximity to both the existing port and the proposed Durban Dig Out Port. Construction of the R3,5 billion Clairwood Logistics Park will begin within months, creating much needed employment and business opportunities within the South Durban Basin where many families currently live below the breadline,” said Prinsloo.
He said research into the socio-economic effects of the project had revealed that it was likely to generate an estimated 18 900 jobs during the four year construction phase through both the development of infrastructure and the facility itself. A further 4 000 jobs could be created once the facility is completed in 2020.
“The surrounding communities have a great deal to gain from this development. The increase in logistics operations in the south of Durban will boost the local economy, not only providing jobs for the unemployed in this area but also business development opportunities for entrepreneurs from previously disadvantaged communities. This will significantly improve the quality of life for many,” said Prinsloo.
The South Durban Basin is one of the oldest parts of Durban to be developed for commercial and industrial use. As a result, infrastructure is old and inadequate. Of the R3,5 billion to be invested in developing the Clairwood Logistics Park, R110 million has been set aside for extensive upgrades to roads and facilities surrounding the facility.
“This will not only improve traffic flow into and out of the site but will ease overall traffic flow in what is often a congested area. It will significantly improve road safety, especially for learners attending schools close to the site,” said Prinsloo.
