March 2012: Construction work at the groundbreaking Cornubia development north of Umhlanga Ridge has already commenced, with work under way on eThekwini’s Phase 1A and access road.
Karen Petersen, Tongaat Hulett Development Executive responsible for Cornubia said, “The first six units of the pilot are complete (including the showhouse) and the balance of the contract is progressing well. Tenders for the industrial area close on March 15 and the developers intend to start construction on the 1st phase by the end of April.”
Cornubia is a joint venture between the city and Tongaat Hulett, and Petersen helped explain the relationship and history of this massive project, which is eventually projected to create 370 000 temporary construction jobs and 36 000 new employment opportunities: “Four years ago in 2008, Tongaat Hulett and eThekwini Municipality entered into a Co-operation and Alignment Agreement (MOU) with a view to co-operate on facilitating delivery of one or more integrated human settlements in the municipal area, beginning with Cornubia. Both parties subscribed to the national New Housing Vision and Policy (often referred to as Breaking New Ground), which is to promote the achievement of a non-racial, integrated society through the development of sustainable human settlements and quality housing, as well as to continue and deepen their existing ‘partnership’.”
Yet to be formalised
Petersen continued: “While this joint initiative has yet to be formalised and finalised, the agreement stipulated that one of the primary responsibilities of Tongaat Hulett was to make available suitable land which would be developed in accordance with the agreement. More specifically, the development of all non-subsidised housing and the planning and implementation of its developments were the responsibilities of Tongaat Hulett.”
In addition, Tongaat Hulett would support the local municipality by making its expertise and intellectual capital available to help drive this immense initiative.
The scale of Cornubia is indeed impressive: A 1 200 hectare landholding, it includes about 450ha of non-developable land (predominantly environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands, buffers and floodplains, but also servitudes, steep slopes etc). The remaining 750ha has been divided into several uses, with the residential development using more than 245ha of land (subsidised housing takes up more than 65% of this), followed by general business (which includes commercial, retail and office uses) of 186ha, light industrial of 171ha and mixed use of 50ha.
Petersen commented: “A development of this scale and magnitude (Cornubia will provide about 25 000 homes, and a population of close to 100 000 people), requires a substantial number of supportive facilities, and social facilities in the form of schools, clinics, multi-purpose centres etc, will need to be provided, utilising close to 60ha.”
Greenfields
As a massive greenfields development (defined as the creation of planned communities on previously undeveloped land), Cornubia is seen as the ideal opportunity to create a new town north of Durban.
Tongaat Hulett says the development will be built on sound principles of sustainable development, integration of income levels, employment and economic opportunities, lifestyle facilities and infrastructure.
“By offering attributes such as safety and security, public open space, traffic accessibility, proximity to labour pools, and an excellent working environment, Cornubia will build communities and position itself as a place to live, work and play. More importantly, Cornubia represents the vision and commitment of a government which has its dreams and ideals of its people in mind, as well as a willing private sector development partner keen to help make a difference.”
And how to get to Cornubia, where the access points will be for the development?
“A series of interconnected routes are planned. Due to its strategic location, the development will facilitate accessibility and connectivity to the surrounding areas and their respective opportunities. The north-south and east-west linkages allow the study area to be connected to the N2, M41, and R102,” said Petersen. “Key north-south linkages include the proposed ‘Dube West’ BRT, route accessed from the Mt Edgecombe/M41 interchange, as well as ‘Dube East’, to be accessed off the M41 and an upgraded Flanders Drive interchange.”
In addition to these, other key routes within the development include “Cornubia Boulevard”, another proposed BRT route which also forms part of the City’s IRPTN, which will link areas in the west such as Verulam, Ottawa and Phoenix from the R102 to Umhlanga in the east. “Blackburn Link”, which will link areas from the R102 through the upcoming Cornubia Industrial and Business Estate all the way to the N2, is seen as a more long-term route.
A major national retailer and financial institution will be investing in a new emerging commercial node off Flanders Drive in Mt Edgecombe. Negotiations are under way to conclude this major transaction and this 28ha portion of land will release about 100 000m2 of commercial bulk, mainly for value destination retail in early 2015. – By Garth Johnstone
***Karen Petersen is the Tongaat Hulett Development Executive responsible primarily for Cornubia, the future Cornubia North (located north of the Ohlanga River, opposite Sibaya, which THD believes will provide additional subsidised housing opportunities for eThekwini in the future) and other smaller landholdings north-west of the King Shaka International Airport.