RICHARDS Bay residents living in close proximity to the town’s main sports facility say they have seen a slump in property prices owing to the persistent noise pollution from ‘rowdy’ all-night music concerts.
Irate ratepayers of the suburbs of Veldenvlei, Wildenweide and portions of Arboretum are now calling on the City of uMhlathuze to revaluate their properties in line with legislation.
The continued use of uMhlathuze Sport Complex for music events has come under fire during the past year as residents feel it is ‘unacceptable that loud music can be heard two kilometres away from the venue into the early hours of the morning’.
Veldenvlei resident Rob Cowan, who submitted a petition to the municipality earlier this year, said the inability of officials to control the events resulted in a ‘huge drop in property values and sales near the sports ground’.
‘The numerous complaints and reports to authorities as well as letters in the local newspapers regarding the levels of noise at the sports grounds have been ignored,’ said Cowan.
‘We will lodge objections for the municipality to re-consider applications for property revaluation. There must be a review of monthly rates for property owners, who are affected by noise pollution resulting from the utilisation of the sports grounds for events other than sport.’
Within a 200m radius of the sports ground, residents are calling for an 80% reduction in valuation, a 50% drop for residences within 500m from the sports ground and a 30% reduction for property within one kilometre from the venue.
Other suburbs and individuals who are affected by the extreme noise levels from the sports grounds say they will claim up to a 20% reduction.
‘Not possible’
However, uMhlathuze Deputy Municipal Manager: City Development, Lindani Khoza said the re-evaluation of properties was ‘not possible’.
‘The municipality cannot deal with objections for valuations now. That window has closed as per legislation. There will be an opportunity for people to object during the next valuation which takes place every four years. It has also not been scientifically proven that noise pollution has affected property prices. The value of a property is based on several scientific factors including the sale of other property in the area and economic developments.’
Being a multi-purpose outdoor centre, Khoza said it did not preclude the municipality from permitting other community gatherings.
Residents told the Zululand Observer they would be subject to another three days of noise pollution when the DolosFees took place at the sports complex this weekend.
‘A bad stigma is attached to our suburb and owners are struggling to sell their property. This is exceeding the levels of the original Environmental Impact Assessment, where events were to be restricted to daytime only when the general ambient noise levels were higher and the impact would be reduced.’
