CHAPTER 3: BACKGROUND
3.4. The Case Studies
3.4.3. The Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World
The Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World (the Suncoast Casino) is a substantial development on the northern half of Durban‟s Beachfront. The development measures (27 hectares) and cost R1.4 billion (eThekwini Website, 2009). The development of the Suncoast Casino was informed by the findings of the Wiehahn Commission, which reported on gambling in the Republic (eThekwini Website, 2009). Gambling was illegal within the
44 administrative borders of the country in the apartheid era but several casinos operated in former Homeland states such as the Wild Coast Sun in Transkei, and Sun City in Bophuthatswana (eThekwini Website, 2009). The purpose of the Commission was to investigate alternatives for controlled gambling and gaming.
The Commission began in the late 1990s and decided that gambling would be best dealt with if the industry was regulated (eThekwini Website, 2009). The Commission also limited the number of casinos operating within the country to 40, with each province responsible for granting gambling licenses in their respective areas of jurisdiction (eThekwini Website, 2009). An important outcome of the Wiehahn Commission was a recommendation that establishments of new casinos are to be accompanied by investment in urban infrastructure, in particular, tourism related infrastructure (Andrews, pers. comm., 15/07/2008). With this in mind, the city began the process of locating the most appropriate sites in the city for casinos.
The area now occupied by the Suncoast Casino, had been zoned for residential land use as the city envisaged an accommodation-type development similar to that of the high-rise hotels on the Golden Mile (Andrews, pers. comm., 15/07/2008). Another major casino development within the eThekwini Municipality is the Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom located north of Durban in Umdloti.
Initially, the city was reluctant to approve the development of a casino at the proposed scale given that casinos are “generally very inward looking developments which tend to suck up public money” (Andrews, pers. comm., 15/07/2008). After deliberating on the matter, the main draw card for this development was the private investment in urban infrastructure that would be gained from such an initiative once the company was awarded the casino license from the KwaZulu-Natal government (Andrews, pers. comm., 15/07/2008). Tsogo Sun, the parent company of the Suncoast Casino, as well as other casino developments in the country, such as Monte Casino and Wild Coast, was awarded the license.
Defining the Public Space Location
The development consists of four separate components: the hotel (the Suncoast Towers); the main building; the promenade and amphitheatre area; and the grassed SUNdeck10 area (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). (Plate 3.3.). This thesis concerns the last two components which
10 This is the given name of the grassed area adjacent to the beach and plays on the word „sun‟
45 are outdoors but because of the link between the main building and the outdoors areas analysis of both will also be made.
The main building of the Suncoast Casino is a colourful, unmistakable landmark on the Durban Beachfront (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). It is adjoined to the parking lot that has a larger ground area than the building itself (see Plate 3.2. below). Making reference to the city‟s rich art deco heritage, the building also serves to invoke a Miami-style ambience in a sub-tropical setting (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). Housed within the building is a designated area where all the casino activities take place as well as a number of restaurants and „take- aways‟ restaurants, a cinema complex, a discotheque and conference facilities (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). The building has direct access to the promenade and amphitheatre area and patrons walk in and out of these areas (Observation 1, 25/07/2008).
The amphitheatre area (sitting area) leads out onto the promenade or walkway which links the beachfront development to the north and south, with a public recreation area and the Suncoast Casino Pirates Lifesaving Club respectively (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). At either end, the promenade is manned 24 hours a day by a security guard which marks the boundaries of the Suncoast Casino‟s agreed jurisdiction (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). Apart from being a place where patrons can sit on the benches provided, the purpose of the promenade is to provide a pathway for walkers, runners and a cyclists who cycle along the greater beach area (Observation 1, 25/07/2008).
The final component of the Suncoast Casino is the grassed SUNdeck area which forms part of the public beach (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). This was seen to be one of the big draw cards of the development at the early phase of the project where the developer wanted direct access to the beach. The SUNdeck area is nestled in a vegetated dune system and provides an area where sun worshippers can make use of the loungers provided for by the casino, provided that they pay a R5 fee (Observation 1, 25/07/2008). The SUNdeck area itself has direct access to the public beach which is now known as the Suncoast Beach. Here, lifeguards watch those who swim in the sea (Observation 1, 25/07/2008).
The Nature of the Partnership
From the city‟s point of view the development is premised on the condition that the private developer must provide urban infrastructure not just within the development but also in the surrounding areas of influence (Andrews, pers. comm., 15/07/2008). The land was purchased
46 freehold from the municipality for an amount of R100 million (Andrews, pers. comm., 15/07/2008). This freehold purchase entitles the developer all rights of admission to the casino as well as to alter the development subject to general town planning regulations.
Plate 3.3: The Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World, 2011.
The line that separates public and private property runs midway along the promenade where the land east of the dividing line belongs to the Municipality and the land west belongs to the casino (Dowsley, pers. comm., 25/07/2008). Therefore, legally, the entire sundeck area (which lies east of the cadastral boundary) is owned by the Municipality and is public space.
An arrangement has been made whereby the developer is allowed to use and manage and control that area. If the Municipality is unhappy with the way in which it is managed they reserve the right to evict the developer (Andrews, pers. comm., 15/07/2008).
The direct access from the casino and the promenade to the sundeck and onto the beach was facilitated by the removal of dune vegetation which initially blocked the direct access. The
47 Municipality agreed for the removal of the vegetation provided that the developer rehabilitates the dune such that there was a net gain in dune vegetation (Andrews, pers.
comm., 15/07/2008). This has since been achieved and the dune is continuously managed in collaboration with the city. Also, the promenade is planted with indigenous vegetation and is secured with security guards.