THE eThekwini Municipality has announced plans to revive the Lahee Park sports precinct in Pinetown, including the installation of fencing to secure the property and regular maintenance of the complex.

In a statement, the municipality said this comes as the Community Services Committee supported plans by the Recreation and Parks Directorate to fast-track the refencing of the sports precinct as well as sourcing new sport body leases.

“These interventions follow an oversight visit to the site, led by the chairperson of the Community Services Committee, Councillor Zama Sokhabase, this week to assess the state of Lahee Park.

“In order to protect the park from being vandalised, the Recreation and Parks Directorate will seek funding for new gating and fencing to secure the entire sports complex at an estimated budget of approximately R3.5m.

“The abandonment of leases has led to the neglect of buildings within Lahee Park, resulting in theft, vandalism, and deterioration of facilities. Areas previously maintained by lessees were left unmaintained, adding to the decline of the precinct.

“Through its ground maintenance budget, the Directorate contracted service providers to cut the surrounds of the facility (excluding the playing fields) approximately eight times per year. The playing fields themselves continue to be maintained by internal staff,” reads the statement.

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The municipality stated that the proposed interventions include the inclusion of Lahee Park in the upcoming ground maintenance contract, with a 12-cut cycle per annum, and continued field maintenance by the District Parks team, aligned with the regular cutting cycle, at an estimated cost of R750 000 per annum.

“The directorate has undertaken to engage with local sporting federations to establish structured use of the facilities. It will also implement a three-month maintenance plan to address overgrown grass, eradication of invasive alien plants, removal of weeds on hard surfaces, and issues of safety and security.

“The City, through a Council resolution, formulated a Sports Body Lease Committee which investigates challenges faced by sport precincts across the City. The committee is responsible for renewal, reallocation, assessment and termination of sport body leases to those who are in breach of lease agreements terms and conditions.

“Lahee Park is a massive eight to 10-hectare sports complex which offers many different sporting codes such as tennis, cricket, swimming, rugby, bowling, soccer, netball, gymnastics and more. Its core function is to deliver sports and recreation development in the community.

“Through the work of the Sports Body Lease Committee, the City’s Legal Services Directorate is currently assessing new lease conditions against the old long-term leases which were 100 years.

“Once all legal processes have been finalised, the Property Valuations and Management Directorate will begin the process of advertising for new tenants to occupy the property.”

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