Heritage Cases

The Applicant, 11 on Karkloof (Pty) Ltd, wishes to obtain Environmental Authorisation for the proposed establishment of residential units and hospitality facilities, on Portion 3 of the Farm Umgethu No. 14830 (The Old Mushroom Farm), Karkloof, KwaZulu-Natal. The property is currently zoned as ‘Agriculture and Medium Intensity Tourism’. The site is located at GPS coordinates 29° 25’ 45.33” S and 30° 14’ 46.81” E and is approximately 21,43 hectares in extent. The property is commonly referred to as The Old Mushroom Farm. The Old Mushroom Farm consists of a variety of shops, cafes, a bakery and a gym which are located inside pre-existing mushroom growing tunnels, which have been converted into a retail space that is open to the public. The Old Mushroom Farm also offers a variety of accommodation options that were once used as accommodation for staff. The existing infrastructure being converted / upgraded comprises: • 9 x commercial spaces (as built) (T1 – T9). • Conference / events facility (existing) (CC1 – CC3). • 5 x existing cottages (C1 – C5). • Old workshop – to be converted into two (2) terrace houses (O6 & O7). • 4 x mushroom tunnels to be converted into apartments (R1 – R4). • Round house. • Falls house. • Boutique apartments (9 units x 4 beds = 36 sleeper) – under construction (B1 – B9 and associated garages). • Storage facilities (S1 – S7). New proposed infrastructure: • 17 Free-standing Sectional Title Houses and associated services (P1 – P17). • Security gatehouse. • Farm shed and garages. • Manager’s cottage to be demolished and 3 x cottages to be built (M1 – M3). The proposed development incorporates the following floor areas: • 17 proposed residential units with site size approximately 2 000 m² with units varying between 230 m2 and 350 m2. • 2 812 m2 of existing buildings used for B&B, guest house, overnight accommodation, and multi-unit development units. • 1 255 m2 existing buildings used for arts and crafts, workshop, home activity, agriculture industry, restaurant and home business. • 529 m2 existing buildings used for conference facility, arts and crafts, workshop, agriculture industry, home business and overnight accommodation on upper floor. • 1 012 m2 existing buildings used for storage, arts and crafts, workshop, agriculture industry, small scale tourism, home business and accommodation on upper floor. • 356 m2 alterations to existing buildings. • Infrastructure services for roads, parking, water, stormwater, sanitation and electricity. • Security gatehouse.