Heritage Cases

The Applicant, Intaba Ridge Developments (Pty) Ltd has proposed the expansion (Phase 2) of the existing Intaba Ridge Private Game Estate located on Erf 115 Almond Bank in the Bisley Valley area of Pietermaritzburg, Msunduzi Local and uMgungundlovu District Municipalities of KwaZulu-Natal. Intaba Ridge Private Game Estate is located at GPS Coordinates 29°41’36.22”S and 30°23’32.83”E within the Bisley Valley area of Pietermaritzburg. The property is approximately 285 ha in extent and has historically been used for agricultural production, prior to Phase 1 being developed. The site currently comprises 59.6ha of primary grassland, 16.7ha of wetland, 0.73ha of indigenous woodland, 7.3ha of alien woodland and 193.6ha of transformed land. There is stone walling on the property dating to the late nineteenth century to demarcate farm boundaries. One ancestral grave was identified on the property located very close to the current entrance gate. The property is surrounded by a security fence. The property is surrounded by agricultural properties and small game farms, and the Bisley Valley Nature Reserve to the north. The property bounds the Richmond Road (P5-4) at the very south western corner of the property. The main access road to the estate runs through the Bisley Valley Nature Reserve. The Intaba Ridge Private Game Estate development comprises two separate phases, Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 of the development received environmental authorisation 16th March 2007 (Ref EIA 7161). The following infrastructure was approved under Phase 1 of the Intaba Ridge development: • 100 residential houses; • 2 residential subdivisions for the existing houses on the property; • 2 subdivisions for a clubhouse and office; • A new subdivision for the remainder of the property which is to be common property of the Homeowner’s Association; • Communal facilities including stables, estate office, convenience centre and clubhouse; and • Associated infrastructure including internal roads, water and electricity reticulation, and sewage disposal. The Applicant, Intaba Ridge Developments (Pty) Ltd, now wishes to further expand the existing Intaba Ridge Private Game Estate through Phase 2 of the development to include the following additional infrastructure: • 50 freehold sites; • A 100 unit low impact Sectional Title Village (A lifestyle retirement village for over 50’s); • A package plant (sewage treatment plant); and • A 250Kl reservoir. In addition, the proposed Phase 2 expansion will also include the upgrading of existing infrastructure to include the following: • Upgrade and surfacing of all internal roads in the estate; • Upgrade of the estate security infrastructure; and • Upgrade of communal facilities and the clubhouse. The proposed Phase 2 infrastructure is proposed to be incorporated into the existing freehold sites where possible and 85% (230ha) of the property will remain undeveloped open space. The proposed package plant will be situated in a lower lying, less visible area of the property near the main entrance gatehouse. The proposed expansion is therefore not considered to deviate from the development concept as historically approved. The key difference is an increase in net density of residential units on the property.