Residents of Umhlanga are gearing up to appeal a decision by eThekwini Municipality to allow the installation of 150 electronic bingo terminals and 30 limited payout machines 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 problem gambling and its potential impacts.
Gambling Facility Approval Process
An application was made to eThekwini Municipality last year for Special Consent for a place of entertainment that would feature the bingo terminals and limited payout machines at an existing commercial office site. Members of the public were invited to lodge written objections, but the URRA said they were appalled by the approval of the gaming facility.
Terri MacLarty, chairperson of the URRA, 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.
Concerns Over Economic Implications
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. There is also growing alarm over the economic implications, with many owners and market participants believing that 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.
The following are some of the key concerns raised by residents:
- Potential increase in traffic congestion and parking problems
- Negative impact on local property values
- Increased risk of problem gambling and its associated social issues
- Lack of transparency in the approval process
Residents are now mobilising affected parties, including bodies corporate, neighbouring owners and resident groups, to lodge formal appeals against the decision. The URRA has 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.
