Mega Junction on the way

KwaDukuza municipality has given Ballito Junction the green light to expand, which means our coastal town will soon be home to a 65000 square metre mega mall.

The municipality approved the site development plan for the mall on March 4, which is headed by the Gauteng based Menlyn Maine and Flanagan and Gerard consortium.

“It is going to take the shopping, entertainment and leisure offering in the North Coast region to a whole new level,” said Menlyn Maine director, Carl Jankowitz.

“With developments like the Zimbali Resort and Simbithi Eco Estate, Ballito has now become a major regional node and caters for an expanding leisure and vacation market. It has also established itself as a key commuter town with a rapidly expanding permanent population,” said Flanagan and Gerard Property Development and Investment executive director, Patrick Flanagan.

Ilembe Chamber of Commerce CEO, Cobus Oelofse agreed that retail and tourism are the cornerstones of the Ballito economy and such a development will enhance the offering of both these industries.

“It is intended to be a regional shopping mall with many attractions that are currently only accessible out of town – not only would it keep some of the local buying power local but would also allow Ballito to attract consumers from a much wider market. The number of new, decent jobs created is also a significant upside,” said Oelofse.

One of the most exciting aspects of the mall will be the cinema, meaning Dolphin Coast folk no longer have to trek to Gateway to watch a movie.

According to Jankowitz, development rights exist on the site allowing the centre to be further expanded to 90,000 square metres.

Although all of this sounds exciting, ward 22 councillor Malcolm Hubner’s joy is reserved.

“I am concerned about the infrastructure in terms of water and electricity, these resources are under extreme pressure and a development of this size is going to place even more strain on the already stretched situation,” he said.

Jankowitz however believes they have already taken this into account.

“Load shedding is on the top of our minds so we will have generators to keep on working,” he said.

Access should also not be a problem, according to Jankowitz, as there will be two entrances, one through the existing access point from the M4 and another from the N2 south by taking the off ramp left at Wakenshaw Estate. SMEC SA general manager urban and social development, Dave Duke said the newly expanded P445 into Ballito was enlarged to maximum width to cater for new developments such as this, “to ensure that this road is a long term solution.”

The three storey mall with four levels of underground parking is anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2017.

Article by North Coast Courier: www.northcoastcourier.co.za

March 11, 2015