RICHARDS Bay residents living in close proximity to the town’s main sports facility say they have seen a slump in property prices owing to the persistent noise pollution from ‘rowdy’ all-night music concerts.
Irate ratepayers of the suburbs of Veldenvlei, Wildenweide and portions of Arboretum are now calling on the City of uMhlathuze to revaluate their properties in line with legislation.
The continued use of uMhlathuze Sport Complex for music events has come under fire during the past year as residents feel it is ‘unacceptable that loud music can be heard two kilometres away from the venue into the early hours of the morning’.
Veldenvlei resident Rob Cowan, who submitted a petition to the municipality earlier this year, said the inability of officials to control the events resulted in a ‘huge drop in property values and sales near the sports ground’.
‘The numerous complaints and reports to authorities as well as letters in the local newspapers regarding the levels of noise at the sports grounds have been ignored,’ said Cowan.
‘We will lodge objections for the municipality to re-consider applications for property revaluation. There must be a review of monthly rates for property owners, who are affected by noise pollution resulting from the utilisation of the sports grounds for events other than sport.’
Within a 200m radius of the sports ground, residents are calling for an 80% reduction in valuation, a 50% drop for residences within 500m from the sports ground and a 30% reduction for property within one kilometre from the venue.
Other suburbs and individuals who are affected by the extreme noise levels from the sports grounds say they will claim up to a 20% reduction.
‘Not possible’
However, uMhlathuze Deputy Municipal Manager: City Development, Lindani Khoza said the re-evaluation of properties was ‘not possible’.
‘The municipality cannot deal with objections for valuations now. That window has closed as per legislation. There will be an opportunity for people to object during the next valuation which takes place every four years. It has also not been scientifically proven that noise pollution has affected property prices. The value of a property is based on several scientific factors including the sale of other property in the area and economic developments.’
Being a multi-purpose outdoor centre, Khoza said it did not preclude the municipality from permitting other community gatherings.
Residents told the Zululand Observer they would be subject to another three days of noise pollution when the DolosFees took place at the sports complex this weekend.
‘A bad stigma is attached to our suburb and owners are struggling to sell their property. This is exceeding the levels of the original Environmental Impact Assessment, where events were to be restricted to daytime only when the general ambient noise levels were higher and the impact would be reduced.’
The is not only heard from the sportsground. The street behind Geranium Place an the greenbelt is Jacopever and the Indian music are totally unacceptable! If this tlis the “New Noisy S.A.) I wouln not want to stay here. The different noises Pops up like mushrooms and definitly are not welcome. Please stop that.
I stay down by the Afrikaans High School and it is terrible how the noises are especially late nights into the late Mornings 4:00! All these people that give the permission of all these events don’t stay here that is why they aren’t considerring us that stay in Richards bay! It just show when the Muncipalities and Goverment is run by incompatent and no dissipline people that have no laws of them own!
Ag please. The dollosfees can hardly be compared to the other music festivals that have een held there. I’m sure their music will not carry on until 07h00 in the morning and not as loud!!! And 1000’s of people will surely not be bussed in!!!
Well last year with the dolosfees the music was not so loud i stay next to the Lodge and dolosfees was fine but new year music was horrible
Annetjie, what “indian” music are u referring to?
@Perumal I think Annetjie was referring to the Indian music being played, when she made reference to Indian music being played at celebrations that she may have heard. As far as I know Indian music would encompass any melody that originated from the east particular in India itself and would take influence from not only it’s rich heritage and religious drum beats that originated 1500 years before Christ in the time of the oldest language known to man (sanskrit), as well as the Portuguese influence found in places like Goa. That would include genres similar but not limited to and not only film, ghazal,thumbri and of course movie soundtracks that are used predominantly in bollywood; which is the Indian movie industry.
Not sure why you are confused? This article does refer to noise and sounds right? So why are we worried about what or how these sounds are being described by people who are affected by it? Are you a local resident who has lodged a complaint as well? Please feel free to post more questions so we may all aim to enlighten and assist :)
I want to suggest that the noisy events be held at the ZCBF Community Park. It will bother nobody and they can make as much noise as they want to until any hour in the morning.