The Environmental Subcommittee of the Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (DOCRRA) has rejected the first basic assessment report on The Square development in the Ballito Old Quarter and called for new proposals from the developer.
The call was contained in a submission to the Environmental Impact Management Unit of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development Trade and Environmental Affairs (KZN EDTEA) this week.
DOCRRA has also associated itself with a 24-page objection lodged by a local environmental lawyer which points to wide-ranging flaws in the basic assessment.
DOCRRA supports the call for the developer to present revised plans for the site which are within height limitations and are consistent with the cafe character of the beachfront precinct.
It also wants a full public participation process, sight of revised traffic management plans and a Statement of Community Engagement from the developers/operators spelling out how they intend to support community environmental objectives.
“That small slice of Ballito is precious to local residents as a place of open-air relaxation amid a welcoming beach environment,” said Brian Pottinger, Chair of DOCRRA’S Environmental Subcommittee.
“We are fully supportive of all sustainable development initiatives, but they must be sympathetic to the built environment and respect the historic and emotional ties local communities have to their neighbourhoods.”
Pottinger said it was particularly disturbing that the developer sought relaxation of height restrictions on the basis of the project’s financial exigencies. This rationale could pave the way for wholesale exemptions for all projects, he said.
All documents relating to the project can be found on the DOCRRA website here.
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Object to proposed building
Hi
Have any counter proposals been made/modifications suggested at thos stage, that would satisfy the concerns that have been raised? Or, is it the wish to leave the space as is?
We purposely moved out and away from Uhmlanga to Ballito for this very reason, it became a “Sandton city” and took what the heart of what Umhlanga was a “village, sense of community, relaxation and safety” away
Uhmlanga now is broken, over populated and the infrastructure due to these “high tower” projects and developments has collapsed, both power and water, with constant sewage leaks, due to water pipe bursts literally daily, which lead to the abundance of potholes and roads deteriorating whenever heavy rains have occurred and then taking months to fix, sometimes it never got fixed at all.
I could go on and on about how this terribly affected our lives, bottom line is THIS CANNOT HAPPEN!! we are absolutely opposed to this project and will provide support where ever it is needed.
Ballito is already showing the signs of a stressed infrastructure with all these apartment buildings going up, so we need to do whatever it takes to keep our little village “LITTLE”… that’s its charm, and why holiday makers keep coming back, they leave their city lives to come escape to a little holiday village.
We are all deeply indebted to DOCRRA and its Environmental Sub Committee for the dedication to the task of objecting to the proposed “Square” development. The sub Committee has produced a well researched professionally presented and convincing formal objection. Well done to all involved
When there is a shortage of parking, all of the surrounding businesses start to fail as people are inherently lazy and don’t want to have to walk far to their destination.
I think we are sick and tired of these developers who just arrive and build another monstrosity makes another 10 or 20 million and then disappear 🤬
It’s not just about buildings going up; it’s about what gets lost in the process. Spaces that people have real memories tied to—where families gather, kids play, and people just enjoy the environment—can’t really be replaced once they’re gone. When developments feel rushed or driven purely by profit, it often creates that sense of “this isn’t for us anymore.”
There’s also the bigger issue of trust. When people feel like decisions are being pushed through without proper transparency or community input, it naturally leads to resentment—even if the development itself might have some benefits.
If this is something that matters to you (and it clearly does), communities sometimes have more influence than they think:
• Getting involved in local municipal planning meetings or public participation processes
• Joining or forming residents’ associations
• Raising awareness through petitions or local media
• Asking for environmental impact assessments and transparency
At the very least, it puts pressure on developers and authorities to engage properly and not just push things through.
I fully support DOCCRA in this!
Developers don’t care as long as they can put money in their pockets, how they do it doesn’t matter to them. Sad really … I’m opposed to the building as it only serves the developers bottom line and not the community.
This town already gets so busy when its holiday times and that area in particular. It is loved the vibe and restaurants that are there and putting up this building is going to take all of that away. It is a prime spot to sit and have a sea view while you are eating at the reataurants there and it will all be taken away. It will also add unnecessary extra traffic to that already busy space. There are so many other pieces of land that can be built on that is NOT in the middle of nowhere. I get it is a prime location but it seems a bit silly to put up a big building on such a tiny piece of land.
please do not build this six story building in the middle of the old ballito village, there will be no going back if you do, old ballito will forever be spoilt.
No development in the village please. We all need some green space and air in the village – And for the the village to keep its charming olde world, caring, character. It is the heart of old Ballito – develop as much as you would like in the Ballito area but keep the village as it is.
I fully support this, and have sent a objection letter to the developer and environmental impact assessment.
The flaws shown in the evaluation of this construction is evidence that it should not be built. This building will create an unsightly situation not conducive to Ballito residents open air ideology.
There is already a shortage of parking
Stop this development, it’s changing our town to have an ugly building in front of a bratifill area just because of greed. Leave our town as is.
If that project goes through, Ballito will have lost its last bit of charm. It will be indistinguishable from ‘just another’ place along the coast.
Why would anyone choose to come here when there are many more inviting, and beautiful beach front places?
I fully supported DOCCRA!
The Ballito village atmosphere is worth more than a developer’s profit! Please stop this high building which will ruin the ambiance of this very popular node!