Have your say about proposed Menlyn Casino

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31-03-2014
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Whether Sun International is granted its wish to relocate its hotel and casino licence from Morula Sun in Mabopane to Menlyn Maine in Pretoria east will be determined after a series of public hearings, starting tomorrow.

The hotel and casino chain has applied to transfer its licence to the multibillion rand Menlyn Maine - a new large-scale mixed-use green city - located east of the city.

It is close to Menlyn Park shopping centre.

However, objectors claim the site is unsuitable for a casino because it is near schools, and argued that gambling was immoral as it did not uplift people but made them poorer, ruined marriages and could lead to bankruptcy.

The hearings, a Gauteng Gambling Act requirement - to ensure transparency in granting the public an opportunity to be fully informed about the project - will take place at the NG Kerk Moreleta Park from 11.30am.

The Gauteng Gambling Board has provisionally allocated four days for the hearing. Sun International will kick off proceedings with a presentation of the application on the first day.

Members of the public who are opposing the project will be able to seek clarity from Sun International on the application.

On Wednesday, church leaders, residents' associations, the Department of Education and ordinary citizens will try to justify why the application should not be approved.

Each presentation will be followed by a response from Sun International.

Michael Farr, spokesman for Sun International, said Morula Sun had experienced a significant decline in revenue due primarily to

Wits relatively inaccessible location and the growth of non-casino gambling activities such as electronic bingo machines in its catchment area.

Farr said: 'Menlyn was identified as a high-growth node, easily accessible to the key source markets of Tshwane east, north and central, and to the region generally through good highway access along the N1 and the Atterbury and Garsfontein off-ramps.

'The proposal is for a R3 billion urban entertainment destination. Time Square at Menlyn Maine will offer a five-star hotel and conference centre with 100 luxury rooms and 10 suites.

'It will also boast an indoor entertainment arena seating 8 000 people for international and local entertainment, concerts, sports events and provide a convention and exhibition facility for residents.'

Farr said the casino would start with 2 000 slot machines and 60 tables, possibly increasing to 3 000 slot machines and 100 tables, depending on demand.

Other attractions would include a diverse range of retail shops, bars and restaurants that would draw visitors from across the province, with parking for 2 785 cars.

The proposed Sun International entertainment component will act as a major catalyst for Menlyn Maine and bring to the area an urban entertainment facility on a scale that it warrants and deserves, Farr said.

'Our market research has shown that there is clear demand for the hotel and convention space in Tshwane as well as the proposed entertainment arena.

'Research into the gaming market indicates that for many customers from Tshwane west, north, central and east, the location of existing Gauteng casinos has made reaching them difficult.

'We expect that as many as 10 000 jobs will be created during construction.

'And when operations start, it is estimated that Time Square at Menlyn Maine will sustain about 2 200 jobs.

'When opened, it will also provide good opportunities for concessionaires and benefits to community projects that would be supported.

'Taking cognisance of the multiplier effect, the Sun International project expects to deliver cumulative contribution to GDP of as much as R19bn during construction and over the first five years of operations.'

Farr said the development would also generate considerably more revenue for the provincial and national government by way of taxes and gaming levies.

It was anticipated that about R1.7bn in gaming taxes and VAT would be generated in the first five years of operation at Menlyn Maine, he said, bringing the total estimated revenue to the government over a five-year period to almost R2.7bn.

About R32 million would be invested in social investment and enterprise development over the same period, he stated.

Farr said Sun International was 'very confident' that objections raised at the hearing would be handled effectively.