SMERO/CALUZA LOW-COST HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Sinohydro was appointed by Msunduzi Local Municipality through their developers Verern Builders to act as independent EAP’s, thus managing the EIA process for the proposed Smero/Caluza Low-Cost Housing Development.

The site is located 21km south-west of the Pietermaritzburg city centre and is accessed via two different points as the site is split by an in accessible cliff edge. Access to the upper portion of the site is via Moses Mabhida Road, proceeding onto Selby Msimang Rd and at about 2.84km from Edendale Mall robots turning right into Caluza Road proceeding onto Sweetwaters main road till about 7.62km, then turning left on an unnamed road for about 2.9km leading to the project’s northern boundary. Access to the lower portion of the project site is accessed through Moses Mabhida Road, proceeding into Selby Msimang Rd and at about 2.84km from Edendale Mall robots, turning right into Caluza Road and at about 0.77km turning, left into Mbanjwa road then proceeding for about 1.8km to the project’s southern boundary.

The Msunduzi Local Municipality is proposing a low-cost housing project, consisting of approximately 2000 houses on Remaining Extent of Erf 10 000 covering approximately103.49ha in Pietermaritzburg, Msunduzi Local Municipality. The proposed site is situated on Municipal land, covering portions of Smero and Caluza areas. Approximately 29ha (28%) of the proposed site is still covered in indigenous vegetation although in a poor condition due to the impact of anthropogenic activities, whereas the remainder is transformed / disturbed as a result of informal settlements, in some areas already serviced with bulk services.

In summary, the project is in urban edge in an already developed area with houses, and only 29% still covered by indigenous vegetation that was disturbed by anthropogenic activities, The project is already serviced in some areas by both tarred and gravel roads, sewer reticulation and potable and electricity which will be extended to the un-serviced areas.

It is proposed that the Low Cost Housing Development will have the following facilities:

 2000 houses structures (40m2 to 45m2)
 Taxi routes and residential streets (5.5m wide),
 Sewer reticulation (0.16m diameter)
 Potable water reticulation (0.375 to 0.9m diameter),
 Storm water drainage
 Electricity connections

The developmental site has the following corner coordinates
Item Description Longitudes Latitudes
1 Center 29°38'12.50"S 30°17'32.06"E
2 Point A 29°37'42.89"S 30°17'16.09"E
3 Point B 29°37'59.73"S 30°17'32.98"E
4 Point C 29°38'03.13"S 30°18'12.36"E
5 Point D 29°38'18.93"S 30°18'00.31"E
6 Point E 29°38'22.07"S 30°17'47.83"E
7 Point F 29°38'33.01"S 30°17'35.04"E
8 Point G 29°38'33.15"S 30°17'23.47"E
9 Point H 29°38'16.16"S 30°17'14.12"E