The Old Mushroom Farm DBAR on Portion 3 of the Farm Umgethu No.14830 (The Old Mushroom Farm), Karkloof, KZN

The Applicant, 11 on Karkloof (Pty) Ltd, wishes to obtain Environmental Authorisation for the proposed establishment of residential units and hospitality facilities, on Portion 3 of the Farm Umgethu No. 14830 (The Old Mushroom Farm), Karkloof, KwaZulu-Natal. The property is currently zoned as ‘Agriculture and Medium Intensity Tourism’. The site is located at GPS coordinates 29° 25’ 45.33” S and 30° 14’ 46.81” E and is approximately 21,43 hectares in extent.

The property is commonly referred to as The Old Mushroom Farm. The Old Mushroom Farm consists of a variety of shops, cafes, a bakery and a gym which are located inside pre-existing mushroom growing tunnels, which have been converted into a retail space that is open to the public. The Old Mushroom Farm also offers a variety of accommodation options that were once used as accommodation for staff.

The existing infrastructure being converted / upgraded comprises:
• 9 x commercial spaces (as built) (T1 – T9).
• Conference / events facility (existing) (CC1 – CC3).
• 5 x existing cottages (C1 – C5).
• Old workshop – to be converted into two (2) terrace houses (O6 & O7).
• 4 x mushroom tunnels to be converted into apartments (R1 – R4).
• Round house.
• Falls house.
• Boutique apartments (9 units x 4 beds = 36 sleeper) – under construction (B1 – B9 and associated garages).
• Storage facilities (S1 – S7).

New proposed infrastructure:
• 17 Free-standing Sectional Title Houses and associated services (P1 – P17).
• Security gatehouse.
• Farm shed and garages.
• Manager’s cottage to be demolished and 3 x cottages to be built (M1 – M3).

The proposed development incorporates the following floor areas:
• 17 proposed residential units with site size approximately 2 000 m² with units varying between 230 m2 and 350 m2.
• 2 812 m2 of existing buildings used for B&B, guest house, overnight accommodation, and multi-unit development units.
• 1 255 m2 existing buildings used for arts and crafts, workshop, home activity, agriculture industry, restaurant and home business.
• 529 m2 existing buildings used for conference facility, arts and crafts, workshop, agriculture industry, home business and overnight accommodation on upper floor.
• 1 012 m2 existing buildings used for storage, arts and crafts, workshop, agriculture industry, small scale tourism, home business and accommodation on upper floor.
• 356 m2 alterations to existing buildings.
• Infrastructure services for roads, parking, water, stormwater, sanitation and electricity.
• Security gatehouse.