7. Mega-projects and sustainability in the city
7.2. Sustainable city principles in mega-project development
7.2.1. Creation of a place with a vibrant culture, where socialising, education,
Ensure a city/ place is active, inclusive, safe and accessible
Maintain a sense of place and neighbourhood
Ensure social justice Contribute to intergenerational and
intragenerational equity
Ensure stewardship: long term regeneration vision
Ensure adequate community participation and democratic governance
Preservation of cultural and architectural heritage, distinctiveness
Promote diversity, vitality and choice Ensure integration Promote economic growth and employment
creation
Ensure economic viability Promote more sustainable and efficient
forms of transport
Minimise pollution and waste; and maximise energy efficiency
Maintain ecological integrity The reflection of principles for good “built environments”
These principles provide a normative framework pertaining to characteristics which cities should exhibit in order to become more sustainable. These may therefore be used to investigate mega- project development as an urban regeneration strategy, in order to fulfil the aim of this study;
which is to determine the relationship between urban regeneration and sustainability in Durban.
7.2 Sustainable city principles and mega-project development
The following section presents the core sustainability principles and the ways in which these are reflected in the three mega-projects.
7.2.1 Creation of a place with a vibrant culture, where socialising, education, politics and commerce can take place
This principle includes the provision of facilities and local amenities that create a vibrant culture, enhance social interactions, and make city environments more pleasant, safe and valued by inhabitants; such as sport, recreational and community facilities (Satterthwaite, 1999; Lehrer and Laidley, 2009; Scipioni et al, 2009). The introduction of green, open, public spaces that benefit the community, such as public parks and gardens is also important; and it is vital to ensure that every person has sufficient area and quality of space (Couch and Dennemann, 2000; Scipioni et
al, 2009; Scott, 22/04/20102). These open spaces increase environmental sustainability and contribute to the creation of a “green city”, as well as providing a recreation and meeting space for residents, facilitating social interactions, and thus contributing to social sustainability (KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Commission, 2010a).
Each of the projects incorporated the provision of facilities and amenities, such as those for recreation, including the sky car and big swing; sports; retail; education and culture at the stadium (Maennig and du Plessis, 2009; Savides and Attwood, 2009; Savides, 2010a3). Julie May Ellingson, former head of the city’s Strategic Projects Unit (SPU), stated that “we want activity here seven days a week” and “we want it to be used wider than the [2010] event” (Venter, 2009).
The incorporation of such measures is consistent with Smith’s (2010) assertion that stadia are able to consistently attract visitors through being imaginatively designed as attractions; or supplemented with more participatory facilities. Plate 7.1 provides a picture of the sky car which forms part of the stadium development.
Plate 7.1: The sky car at the Moses Mabhida Stadium (www.mmstadium.com).
The proposed mall included transport facilities, through the proposed taxi rank; retail; trading and social facilities (Correia, 2009; Kockott, 2009a; KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, 20094).
Plates 7.2 and 7.3 show an artist’s impression of the mall, and the combination of facilities which were proposed. The Point Development incorporated retail, through various shops; recreation;
education; culture and entertainment facilities and amenities (Iyer Rothaug Collaborative, 2003, cited in Gounden, 2010; Robbins, 2004b; Give uShaka, 20095).
2 Iyer, 03/08/2011.
3 www.cup2010.info; www.durban.gov.za; www.mmstadium.com; www.mosesmabhida.co.za.
4 Luthuli, 2009; Naran, 2009c; Sithole, 2009; Robbins, 22/04/2010; Saib, 2010c; Sim, 30/04/2010;
www.abahlali.org; www.durban.gov.za.
5Johnson, 2009; Gounden, 2010;eThekwini Municipality, 2011.
Plate 7.2: An artist’s impression Plate 7.3: An artist’s impression of the mall (www.skyscrapercity.com). (Kockott, 2009a; www.skyscrapercity.com).
Public, open spaces have also been included in the design of each development. Iyer (03/08/2011) stated that Iyer Urban Design Studio, the lead urban designers for the Moses Mabhida precinct and the Point Development, ensured the creation of a well-considered, generous, expansive and carefully made public environment for both projects. This was achieved through the People’s Park at the stadium, which is a landscaped central, green public area, with lawns, active spaces, promenades and cycle tracks; and through the inclusion of a range of public spaces and squares which add to the vibrancy of the area in the Point (Iyer Rothaug Collaborative, 2003, cited in Gounden, 2010; Iyer, 03/08/2011). Moses Mabhida Stadium won the President’s award from the Institute of Landscape Architects at the Corobrik-ILASA Awards of Excellence in 2011 for a variety of elements, which included the creation of an accessible, well-made and generous public space system (www.worldlandscapearchitect.com). Public space also formed an integral part of the proposed mall in the form of Masigiye Square, a public space which was planned for traders (KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, 2009; www.durban.gov.za).
All of the projects have thus achieved steps towards this principle. However, according to architect Don Albert (Albert, 2009), it has become evident that many of the proposed intentions have not been realised at the stadium, and it has therefore not fulfilled its potential of being a critical part of the day-to-day life of the city. It has also been noted that Warwick Junction plays an important social function in the city, as “the heartbeat of the informal trading in Durban”
(Kockott, 2009b), and is a convenient shopping precinct and transport node in its current state (KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, 2009; Dobson, n.d.; www.streetnet.org.za). It is thus uncertain whether the provision of facilities and open space by the mall would have improved what currently exists in that space. There have also been concerns that the development of a small craft harbour (SCH), and the associated eight to ten year construction period, will negatively affect a range of activities and facilities around Vetch’s Bight which is already a public space of
active engagement (Iyer Rothaug Collaborative, 2006; Scott et al, 2006; Albert, 20096). Plates 7.4 and 7.5 show the Point area, and Vetch’s Beach area where a number of facilities and activities currently exist.
Plate 7.4: The Point Plate 7.5: The Point area, and some of the
(Jasson da Costa, 2009). activities which occur there (Scott et al, 2006).
It is therefore evident that this principle has been incorporated into the development of these projects; however the extent to which it has been achieved in the stadium has not reached its full potential, while the provision of facilities, amenities and public spaces by the proposed mall and the Point may actually have a negative impact on the social spaces that already exist, as argued in the social assessment conducted for the Point area, and by several commentators surrounding the Warwick Mall (Scott et al, 2006; Robbins, 22/04/2010; Maharaj, 11/07/2011). The contribution to a sustainable city is therefore somewhat limited, but may be enhanced through measures which address these issues. It is consequently evident that elements of this principle are taken into account in the city’s planning and urban regeneration strategies, however the extent to which this is achieved is at times limited.