Umhlanga residents to appeal decision allowing the installation of Bingo terminals in Lagoon Drive
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Residents of Umhlanga will appeal a decision by eThekwini Municipality that allows the establishment of a gambling facility at 4 Lagoon Drive in Umhlanga Rocks.
The decision has sparked a backlash from the Umhlanga Residents and Ratepayers Association (URRA), who argue that the approval undermines community concerns regarding gambling and its potential impacts.
An application was made to eThekwini Municipality last year for Special Consent for a place of entertainment that would feature up to 150 electronic bingo terminals and 30 limited payout machines at an existing commercial office site located at 4 Lagoon Drive, Umhlanga Rocks.
Members of the public were invited to lodge written objections.
The URRA said they were appalled by the approval of the gaming facility.
Residents are now calling for full transparency regarding the objection register, confirmation that every objection received was formally recorded, and a clear explanation of how each major objection category was evaluated before consent was granted.
Terri MacLarty, chairperson of the Umhlanga Residents and Ratepayers Association said residents were deeply disappointed that after taking the time to submit what they believed were valid and material objections, a number of those objections do not appear to be clearly reflected in the formal objector register.
"Public participation only has credibility when residents can see that every submission made in good faith has been properly captured and transparently recorded," said MacLarty.
She said residents are now mobilising affected parties, including bodies corporate, neighbouring owners and resident groups, to lodge formal appeals.
“We will be gathering as many affected residents and interested parties together as possible to lodge formal appeals against this decision. The community feels strongly that a matter of this magnitude cannot proceed without exhausting every lawful remedy available,” she said.
MacLarty also criticised the appeal fee of approximately R5 500 per appeal, saying many residents regard it as excessive and a practical barrier to participation where multiple households and bodies corporate may each need to appeal.
The URRA in a statement said residents noted that while the approval relies on the activity being contained within an existing structure, the practical consequences are external, such as vehicle movements, congestion, parking overflow and late-hour activity inevitably affecting surrounding roads, neighbouring businesses and nearby residential properties.
It further stated that there is also growing alarm over the economic implications as many owners and market participants believe parts of the local residential market have already softened by approximately 10% to 15% in certain sectors, and they fear that introducing a gaming facility of this intensity may deepen negative sentiment further.