Residents not keen on mall plan for Victoria Grounds
The BCMDA bid adjudication committee recommended that the project be retendered.
Plans to get rid of the Victoria Grounds in Qonce (previously King William’s Town) in favour of a new shopping mall seem to be on track, but some locals are not happy.
The Buffalo City Metro Development Agency (BCMDA) reissued an advert for an investor or developer to come up with a proposal to develop the land occupied by the sports grounds.
Agency spokesperson Oyama Makalima said: “After advertisement for proposals by investors in October 2020, no appointment could be affected as all tenderers were noncompliant with the conditions as set out for qualification.
“The BCMDA bid adjudication committee recommended that the project be retendered.”
King William’s Town Central and Districts Sports Veterans’ Association secretary Thembani Tom said the matter was frustrating.
“How is this possible when the BCMDA is going to do away with two cricket practising nets, two rugby fields, one soccer field, a cricket pitch, a grandstand and some open stands?
“It wants to replace them with one netball court, one tennis court, one field [for rugby and soccer], and no grandstand or even any open stands.
“The so-called sports facilities on these sites have been pushed right onto the banks of the Buffalo River. There is no development to take place on erfs 2221 and 2222 except for a shopping mall.”
After a recent visit to the fields, Tom said they could no longer use the grounds.
“Access to change rooms has been sealed, goalposts of the different sporting codes have been removed and the taps are closed. We effectively cannot use the grounds any more and this shows us that the BCMDA is moving forward with their plans.”
The Dispatch asked Makalima if the agency had removed equipment and closed access to change rooms, but he was vague in his response.
“Theft and vandalism to municipal property is a very serious challenge. Security and the upkeep of the facility are critical parts of the sustainability solution we are seeking from the Victoria Grounds process.”
“The public purse is not deep enough any more to provide for 24-hour security, so we need the facility to generate revenue and have a management approach that addresses these challenges.”
Makalima said it was possible to use the space to house everything in the plan.
“With creative and appropriate designs, it is possible to use the site to accommodate both retail and sports.
“A critical challenge with the current model is that it does not have a revenue generation solution to keep the facility sustainable. We must extract maximum value from the facility.”
The ambitious plan for the redevelopment on two erfs (2221 and 2222) include:
A full-size sports field for soccer and rugby, and related sport events and activities; a cricket pitch; a clubhouse or heritage building; a conference centre; and a retail shopping centre
Makalima said: “Sports facilities tend to become white elephants with no income generation prospects.
“The world is changing, and to sustain these facilities a mixed-use approach has become necessary. This is the global trend.”
On November 10, the sports veterans’ association met the development agency about their concerns regarding the plans for the grounds, and also being sidelined as stakeholders.
Tom said: “We want development but not at the expense of sport. We want opportunities for the youth of this town.
“We have vast unused pieces of land, for example next to the golf course — developers and or investors are welcome.”