I am posting this thread so that South Africans can post pictures with brief description of the major property developments in Port Elizabeth including residential, hospitality/tourism, office and mix-use. Port Elizabeth is a booming city because of the motor city's auto sector which is producing at record levels not seen in SA before and has the reputation of being the cleanest and one of the safest cities in SA. It even puts Cape Town to shame in this area. Please do post the major property developments in this city as I know there must be alot right now.

Hey PE! Good luck with this thread. Even I, as a capetonian, dont know what PE looks like! Pathetic I know. But please do show us your city!!
East London as well.

capetown, introduce yourself to us in the introduction thread?

it would be nice to now somethings about pe...its terribly forgotten in every facet of SA life

New developments in PE include the following:

1. Coega Harbour Development - Port of Nququra
2. Nelson Mandela Freedom Monument
3. Madiba Bay Tourism Development including Game Park
4. New Convention Centre & Hotel

Please find out the following developments and post any articles and pictures. Thank you.

New developments in PE include the following:

1. Coega Harbour Development - Port of Nququra
2. Nelson Mandela Freedom Monument
3. Madiba Bay Tourism Development including Game Park
4. New Convention Centre & Hotel

Please find out the following developments and post any articles and pictures. Thank you.

dont forget the new stadium they will be building...

is there much in the way of residential dev other than townhouses and golf estates? making use of their beaches!

A conference centre maybe a way of getting some people in, but i fear that it wont be large enought to compete with the icc in durban, the CT convention centre and the sandton convention centre. Therefore it may not have a the space to attract large conferences and PE definitely could not support it on their own.

Coega is a basically a gov finded initiative that doesnt really nake too much commercial sense. The harbour is too far away from Gauteng to compete with Durban Richards Bay and Maputo, and the rail lines will need massive investment anyway! It is good in theory, but i fell that in practice it may not succeed. The lack of commitment by foreign investors in the related industries near the port is a sign that they might not have faith in its long term position. But then again PE has to try something to turn itself around! otherwise it will completely fall off the map!

I do think they need to think out the box tho. try new things and not merely copy what durbs, ct and jozi offer. same goes for pretoria

Dysan what do you think about East London/Buffalo City compared to PE?

Do you know of new hotel developments in PE, or East London?

Well, these cities do need injections like Coega to stimulate this impoverished region. These cities surely have the population hinterland to sustain it in the future. With increased growth and FDI, PE & EL might very well compete with the current big 3 cities in 15-20 years time. Things are starting to happen for Coega & PE's motor industry is ever expanding.

dont think any new hotels and stuff are going up there.

u never hear about pe or el in the paper, thats why i say that it feels like they dont exist!!!

i think that 15-20yrs is a bit soon...i'd go for a far longer term view. they do have a growing motor industry, which is a plus, but what is the attraction for people to invest there? yes they have this port, but i seriously doubt its usefullness. pe and el have their own ports, why would massive container ships want to dock in the middle of nowhere (in south african terms) and then have to freight their cargo further distances to gauteng, which lets face it, is where the majority of cargo that arrives in SA ports goes. The 2 kzn ports and Maputo make far more sense.

I just see the EC being propped up by gov initiatives, not always by commercial sense

I read somewhere that there are plans by the city to tear down the motorway which seperates the city from the sea, and implement conditions there which would give rise to development. I agree with 'erb that in 15-20 years, PE will be different. Not sure about EL, but PE has a chance, especially given the monstrous statue they're going to build. But we shalt see I guess...

That atrocious motorway.............maybe we'll see more up on Govan Mbeki...has fantastic potential. :)...Could become...the Commisioner Street of East Cape. I'd especially like to see offices go up there........save the resi towers for Humewood. Would be cool if Toyota, Chevrolet etc. had their offices in PE.


Of course...what happens if they do tear down the freeway?...Reroute the whole motorway?...Its kinda already established...I'd hate to see the traffic while construction is going on.

Well in the article I remember reading that this motorway is pretty pointless considering that even at rush hour, it's not full at all. I think they'll put a type of V&A Waterfront there that will entice tourists into the city and connect them to the statue.

One thing I must say about PE is that they're terribly PC. Govan Mbeki Road. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The Nelson Mandela Freedom Statue. Me thinks they spend more money on being PC than eliminating the fact that they're the most corrupt and one of the poorest provinces in SA...

I think that the elevated freeway is a monstrosity. It should be tore down to make way for the waterfront. This freeway is appropriate in a developed country, but apartheid engineers in the 1960's didn't care about the development needs of SA which are not first world. The freeway should be diverted behind the CBD and should be at ground level as an elevated one would cost ten times more just as the current one did in the 1960's. Terrible planning that has literally killed the CBD in PE, which I think is the ugliest in the country. The area around Humewood on the other hand looks nice and that is where most of the property development has occured on down to Walmer Gardens. Sad that PE doesn't have much of a CBD as most business has fled to established suburbs south of the CBD.

Yes well the "elevated" freewayas practically cut-off downtown PE from the rest of the city........it needs greater accsess. Not sure about the traffic.........I suppose people use the surface roads to avoid the views of the ugly CBD ;).......but really.....I would like to see PE get up, the area around Donkin Street is nice...and also near downtown.

But tearing it down?...that would be a massive undertaking!!! Not to mention the fact that they'd have to build SOMETHING new in its stead...so that the freeway flow isnt interupted!...perhaps PE just needs a beltway...so travelers can go AROUND the city, that way the CBD motorway can just be transformed into a wide, surface-level avenue.


And perhaps maybe Ibhayi is going somewhere......would be nice. :)

I agree. I think that the elevated expressway in Cape Town has got to go too!! It is obvious that the waterfront in CT can be extended to the Duncan Docks on the North Foreshore but this monstrosity is cutting it off from both the Foreshore and the V&A. Apartheid urban planners certainly didn't have good foresight. I think that both Cape Town and PE should have broad tree lined boulevards in place of these ugly freeways.

Here two pics of Port Elizabeth from Emporis:

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/02/182694.jpg

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/02/182695.jpg

Here are four pics of notable highrise buildings in the PE CBD also from Emporis:

Postnet Building, 19 Floors, Built in 1991, Located in CBD. Pic taken July 2003.

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/sixwm/2003/07/201697.jpg

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/sixwm/2003/07/201698.jpg

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/sixwm/2003/07/201699.jpg

The Beaches, 20 floors, Built in 1970's, Located in Humewood. This building looks like it is being remodeled inside the apartment units. Pic taken July 2003.

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/sixwm/2003/07/201696.jpg


capetown

God, didn't I take those pictures whilst on holiday in PE?

Here are the pics of the Nelson Mandela Statue of Freedom which will be taller than the Statue of Liberty in NYC. Pics are from the statue competition website. The statue is due to be completed by April 2009.

http://www.thefreedomstatue.com/images/home/winner.jpg


http://www.thefreedomstatue.com/images/winner/01.jpg


http://www.thefreedomstatue.com/images/winner/02.jpg


Winner announced by Judge Albie Sachs

18 July 2005

We have now reached the final stage of what has been a most extraordinary and rewarding competition, democratic and transparent all the way through. The interchanges were lively and frank - everybody spoke openly as equals, the two architects and the nine other members of the panel, mostly community representatives . Our only concern was to select the entry which best met the criteria of the competition brief.

CRITERIA

These were stated as follows:

- the Statue must reflect / embody / capture Umoya we Nkululeko ( the Spirit of Freedom )

- it must celebrate and symbolize the stature, life and work of Nelson Mandela and his comrades, and in particular their unwavering commitment to the future of SA

- provide an uncluttered space across which to journey towards the statue from all directions including symbolic references in that journey to “ The long walk to Freedom”

- be a place of reflection on the opportunities and responsibilities that follow from the achievement of freedom and the price that so many paid

- be a place and an image/symbol to revisit in person and in memory for inspiration and renewal – a spiritual place not just a place to be photographed

- act as an icon of sustainable regeneration for the Nelson Mandela Metro and the Eastern Cape and contribute directly to the redevelopment of the Port and CBD at Port Elizabeth

- act as a visitor attraction that would be a key part of any visit to South Africa from other countries of the world and a key reason for all South Africans to visit the Metro as least once in their lives.

PROCESS

The open and democratic way in which we worked had three consequences.

In the first place, we found a way in which technical expertise could be relied upon to ensure that projects were feasible, that they could be managed and carried out. But we were at pains not to allow technical considerations to dominate the ultimate choice. The final was to be based on the sense of the members of the panel as to the entry which best captured and responded to the criteria mentioned in the brief . The technical advisory panel indeed played an exceptionally important role in analyzing the different entries in terms of their feasibility, so that our choices could be meaningful. Towards the end they worked late into the night and we highly appreciate the enormous energy they invested and the sense of security that they gave us.

Thank you to members of the technical team - if you are awaiting with a certain measure of agonized expectation as to the outcome, the tension will not be prolonged. But we kept the information from you, in keeping with the general approach relating to the autonomy of the panel.
The decision is the decision of the panel with the back-up of the technical team - it is not the decision of the technical team.

The second feature of the process was that we had very open, free discussions and we documented the proceedings all the way through. We feel that this is a public project - the public has great interest in the outcome and the public has a right to know as much as is reasonable about the process. Here I would like to pay a tribute to Ashwin Daya who has been a faithful scribe sitting in on what were at times extensive debates, trying to capture as well as he could the character of the discussion, and the decisions that were taken. The result has been that we have documented in narrative form the proceedings from the beginning to the end. So thank you very much Ashwin - because you were there you do know the outcome and that is why you are sitting smiling right now and possibly feeling a bit smug in relation to others in the audience.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The third feature is that we have tried to involve the public as much as possible. This has meant that we have made the exhibition entries accessible to the public. The process was first to look at the 107 entries we received from all over the country. We made what we called a long short list of about 25 and we narrowed that down to 10 which became the short list. The ten were invited to Port Elizabeth to present their entries to the judging panel – one withdrew and that left nine. We then shortened the nine to three. One of the three finalists withdrew and so we were left with two. Meanwhile we invited the press to reproduce images of the three finalist entries, and there was quite an extensive public response. This was not simply a gathering behind closed doors taking a decision in a way that nobody understood. Public participation was encouraged and reached its climax at the final round, which was held in public at the Feather Market Centre. The panel listened to each of the finalists presenting for 45minutes, and then questions were posed to the finalists for over an hour each. The public present were able to follow the proceedings and get a sense of the nature of the dialogue, of what matters we considered to be of importance in an issue like this.

Again I mention that in each case every single member of the panel had questions to help make up his or her own mind as to the respective merits of the two entries. We also captured the proceedings of the last phase on video, which means that we will have extensive documentation of the process from start to finish. Our hope is that what I call the Mandela Bay competition process ( PE Process ) will be studied as adding to the models of how future competitions can be conducted in our evolving democracy. This efficiently organized competition, with a clear and well prepared brief, reflects and strengthens the contemporary spirit of discovery subject to accountability and transparency. Hopefully these materials will be converted into appropriate forms for widespread use and reference by interested parties.

Well done Nelson Mandela Metro and well done Mayor Faku!

THE FINALISTS

We will now turn to our reflections on the two finalists. Each could have been a winner. Each responded forcefully to the competition brief. Having such powerful entries made our task both easier and more difficult. Difficult because the choice was hard, easier because the panel was comparing one strong entry with another strong entry.

In the course of our discussions we labeled the entries Butterfly and Tower.

Butterfly
Butterfly was the name given by the consortium itself to its entry. It had immediately attractive qualities. The long journey of 27 years in prison was represented by 27 steps arriving at the statue of freedom of Mandela with arms triumphantly outstretched. This could be understood by any visitor. There were extensive areas for public participation and activities that went beyond simply going to look at the statue and walk up the stairs. There was a sense of openness, cheerfulness and welcome in the whole area. The symbolism of the butterfly was a bit controversial in as much as the butterfly is fragile and the quest for freedom had to be robust. A butterfly is seen as inconstant. Yet a butterfly is beautiful, active and imaginative. More important than the ambiguity of the symbol was a concern that while undoubtedly attractive as an ensemble, the entry lacked a clear, central and logical organizing principle. The structural and symbolical elements were too diverse to make a strong impact. Yet freedom has to be nurtured, it has to be looked after, freedom comes in varied forms…………………….the debate continues.

The statue of Mandela at the top did not seem to emerge from the building on which it stood but appeared as if plonked on top. Another query related to the very literal quality of the representation of the life of one individual, the physical representation of Nelson Mandela himself. It was asked whether this would not become dated in a monument that is meant to be enduring, and whether or not this did not downplay the fact that Mandela always operated as part of a collective. This literal representation would isolate the individual from the movement and the people in which he grew to exercise leadership. What in a way was a strength of the entry, risked becoming a weakness - the strength being its immediate accessibility, the weakness being that it had too much of a focus on an individual at a particular moment in time, and potentially losing its appeal as a lasting memorial.

Tower
The Tower of freedom on the other hand functioned in a far more abstract and symbolical way. It represented the spirit of the time, without being immediately recognizable in relation to an individual or particular historical moment. The structure is striking. Its emphasis is not on the use of columns, arches or frames, but based on layering great hollow blocks one upon the other. This gives a rather intriguing reference to ancient forms of building found in pyramids mostly in what is today called third world countries. Yet it has a distinctively modern character because it literally has a twist and an interesting angular spiraling shape. The spiral itself is a strong symbol of ever moving upwards, from heavier darker regions at the base towards lighter regions at the top. There is a possibility of then descending back to the safety and comfort of the earth in the second part of the journey.

Again the strength of the design could end up providing its weakness. The extensive use of concrete, unless skillfully handled with fluent transitions from one space to the other and interesting variation and changes of mood, could become repetitive and could represent the spirit of enclosure and prison rather than the spirit of freedom. Concrete can be a very malleable material but it can also be very depressing, so a lot would depend on how it would be used. The main objection or critique of this particular monument was that it could be too hard; the message of freedom could be too indistinct and it could be too unfriendly. There was also concern that it could be a monument anywhere in the world, and was not immediately identifiable with the struggle for freedom in SA.

POINTS IN COMMON

The two entries are very different but have much in common. Each involves a long walk, the one up the spine of the building, the other an even longer walk through the tubes to get to the summit and the walk down again. Each would have a lift, which would facilitate access for less hardy people, although the question of access would have to receive special attention.

Each proposal is based on the assumption that people from all parts of the city as well as visitors from outside would be lured and entranced by the extraordinary setting between beach, sea and harbour. Each would invite active participation, and not simply passive contemplation. In both cases, the success of the project would depend upon converting the approaches to the site from a despoiled industrial landscape into an inviting, scenic area made historically interesting through skilful use of some of the existing industrial structures.

Given in broad terms the commonalities, strengths and possible weaknesses of each of the two entries I now turn to the decision that we took, and the reasons for ultimately reaching a consensus as to the winner.

THE FINAL DECISION

The factors that ultimately proved to be decisive were the strength and compactness of the design, coupled with both the evident cohesive energy of the design team and the possibilities of producing an icon that could be seen from land, sea and air and remembered as a distinctive feature of Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth that could stand the test of time.

In our view the Tower envisaged by Equilibrium Studios has the potential to be a most remarkable monument, that will be admired and enjoyed for decades and centuries to come. It has a unique structure that would be simultaneously simple and striking when viewed from afar, and yet interesting and full of surprises when journeyed through within.

The possibilities are limitless for occupying the interior spaces with lively exhibits telling the story not only of Nelson Mandela but also of the people of Port Elizabeth, the Eastern Cape region ,the country as a whole, as well as stories about struggles in other parts of the world. The spaces invite the intervention of interior designers, artists, crafts people, sociologists, poets and freedom fighters to provide texture, colour and meaning. The views through the rectangular framed windows will change constantly from land to sea and land again, both as the visitor ascends and descends, and as the moving sea and changing sky express their variety.

A strong feature of the Tower is that it appears literally to grow out of its environment. It is both a distinctive feature in relation to the environment because it is so high, almost a 100m, giving wonderful possibilities to view from and be viewed. At the same time the materials from which it will be made will reflect the dolosse in the sea, a South African invention dealing with the tides , as well as the seawalls near by. It has a strong sense of natural connection with the marine environment and marks the point of intersection or confluence between the beach and sand dunes to the south, the sea to the east, the working harbour to the north and the city to the west.
It also has limitless possibilities for capturing and reflecting the sun during the day and being illuminated at night

The Equilibrium team manifested an inspirational sense of originality, spontaneity, thoughtfulness and energy. They are the kind of people that a competition is designed to discover, with intense creativity and the capacity to produce something memorable. Perhaps the most telling moment at the interview came when I asked one member of the team who happened to be older and the only one who both wore a tie and had said nothing, what he was doing there. He replied that he was a local engineer who had been working in the city for 40 years and had never from an engineering point of view seen a building as extraordinary as this one. He was convinced it would work and be astonishing.
After carefully weighing all the pros and cons of both the finalists, the panel unanimously agreed that it should be the winner.

On behalf of the panel, I congratulate Aloeides Clarki on being the runners up in this extraordinary competition, and pronounce that the winner is Equilibrium Studios.

Happy Birthday Madiba! The model will be on its way to you. We hope it will honour the noble struggle of the people of SA and the prominent role you played in it.

Albie Sachs
Chairperson - Judging Panel

Mamisa Chabula – judge
Glenton de Kock - judge
Sicelo Fayo - judge
Albrecht Herholdt – judge
Mandla Madwara - judge
Thembinkosi Matunda – judge
Kenny McDonald – judge
Irene Nomhle Moutlana – judge
Mphethi Morojele – judge
Nceba Moss – judge
Sipho Pityana – judge


cape town

i think it is pointless. in the wrong area as well. somewhere else in PE.

its vile...its like having a random piece of concrete. Its not artistically great. its like knocking down half a building and leaving the scraps as "art"

I have to agree - it is vile and a big dissappointment .. did Mfeketo have anything to do with choosing the winner ;) I still say that the statue of freedom should be built on Robben Island - faaar more symbolic.

How's this for comparison ...

NELSON MANDELA METROPOLE - 1.5 MILLION

The metro has a population of 1.5 million, making it South Africa's fifth largest city in terms of population and the second largest in terms of area, and is one of five metropolitan areas in SA.

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/02/182695.jpg


AUCKLAND - 1.35 MILLION

The metro has a population of 1.35 million, making it New Zealand's largest city in terms of population and the second largest in the world in terms of geographical area (LA is the largest) and is one of 5 metropolitan areas in NZ.

http://pic12.picturetrail.com/VOL433/1634828/8726478/119178580.jpg

Can you think of any other cities with the same population ?

yeh, but NZ is nothing without Auckland, South Africa doesnt even remember PE exists most of the time :)

But the Auckland skyline is impressive

yeh, but NZ is nothing without Auckland, South Africa doesnt even remember PE exists most of the time :)

But the Auckland skyline is impressive


LOL - it will be interesting to see what other World cities compare with PE .. the search begins but for now I am hitting the city streets and sedating my craveing for Starbucks ... cheers mate ! take care.

The statue is disgusting ...pointless to SOUTH AFRICAns...should have been on robben island and would have attracted far more tourists...one giant statue of nelson mandela holding possibly a cauldron with a flame would have been faaaar better....but mfeketo prob farted and those around her thought she said no...when i look at her i see a large fat DOF waste of space....we need someone bold imaginative and daring to use the potential that cape town has to the full

oh dear the grammar and spelling...its what happens at 01:10am

nobody even goes to PE last time there i was a little boi...stayed in a fab hotel though..even wrote them a letter to say thanks....hhahahaha

hmm.........I must be the only one who loves PE........but I hate the statue............it looks like it was never finished...........terrible........but love the city.

The statue is disgusting ...pointless to SOUTH AFRICAns...should have been on robben island and would have attracted far more tourists...one giant statue of nelson mandela holding possibly a cauldron with a flame would have been faaaar better....but mfeketo prob farted and those around her thought she said no...when i look at her i see a large fat DOF waste of space....we need someone bold imaginative and daring to use the potential that cape town has to the full

oh dear the grammar and spelling...its what happens at 01:10am

It sounds as if you hate that "waste" more than I do .. HA HA .. Thanks for the laugh ;) I couldn't have said it better.

Here's some pics of P.E

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2153/370238253cc49bba75yh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/5184/388364091a601b0de48yl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/778/6992097898fb4ec7632me.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Love the Donkin Street pic :)

whats donkin street?

Is the first pic not Donkin Street?......maybe I am confused hehehe.....blond ya know ;)

hehe....i dont know jack shit about pe... so i'll believe anything....hmmm....nicky ur quite the fountain of knowledge.... :)

I love Lizzy it's a nice area.

Hi All the first pic on this page is taken from the Donkin, shows the historic houses in Chapel Street, known commonly as the car wrecker, cos if you have an old car and you want to stuff it up, go up that road. And then obviously the 3rd pic is of the Donkin, strangely deserted, normally its full of people.

Coega is just a money making scheme by various political figures who are illegally associated with the companies that have been awarded the contracts, well in my opinion that is.
The statue is a monstrous waste of money that could be used by a million people in the city who could also tell you how to use that money, streets, lights, water, schools, food, creches, clinics, sewage collection, oh there are a hundred things that it could be used for, once again, corruption will win.

So where is that step by step instruction

PE Harbour in the evening
http://www.sa-transport.co.za/ships/harbours/pe_harbour_2.JPG
PE Harbour in the day, from another angle
http://www.sa-transport.co.za/ships/harbours/pe_harbour_long.jpg
PE Harbour in the mist
http://www.sa-transport.co.za/ships/harbours/pe_harbour_1.JPG
PE Harbour at night
http://www.sa-transport.co.za/ships/harbours/view_from_pe_harbour_night.JPG

More photos to follow as soon as I put them on my site

thanx man! Would i be right in saying that ur our first member from PE???

Yeah, it looks like I am, got a ton of photos which I have spent the day working on, kind of my perspective of PE.

Bay centre set to boost business and investment

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

THE Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is establishing a centre which will act as a single point of co-ordination, facilitation and provision for all business and investor services in the region.

The municipality’s economic development and tourism committee agreed to this at its meeting yesterday. The centre will be set up as a private company and a board of directors will be appointed.

“It will be known as the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Centre.

“It’s establishment is in line with the municipality’s economic growth and development strategy to position the region as a competitive world-class business and investment destination in Africa, by providing meaningful business support services and conducive environment to all sizes and types of businesses and investors,” said committee chairman Mike Kwenaite.

The municipality, with key local, provincial and national stakeholders, will set up the facility.

Kwenaite said the setting up of such a centre was integral to the strengthening of the local business and investment climate to realise the municipality’s Vision 2020.

A business plan for the centre has already been approved, with the municipality making available a budget of R2-million for this financial year.

Total funding proposals of R7-million are awaiting confirmation by, among other potential funders, the Development Bank of South Africa, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and the department of economic affairs and should be available by the end of this month.

The centre will comprise an investor service centre, a trade point for exporters, a small businesses centre and a black economic empowerment centre.

The committee recommended yesterday that the centre be registered as a private company to improve efficiency levels in service delivery for investors as well as enterprise development through the small businesses support centre, and offer tender advice and facilitate business linkages through the black economic empowerment centre.

Committee deputy chairman Mcebisi Msizi, who chaired the meeting yesterday in the absence of chairman Mike Kwenaite, said money had already been received from the national government and other sources to start the project.

“We are seeking advice from the national treasury on whether to set it up as a private limited company, or to second it to an already existing municipal entity,” said Msizi.

So as i said in the Pretoria thread, all cities now think they need an ICC, and that they will all succeed...but will they?? He's the issue surrounding the PE councils idea


Pollok 'wrong for conference centre'
15 Feb 2006

Inet Bridge -

Summerstrand residents say they were not against the concept of an international conference centre in PE, but did object to its being built at Pollok Beach

By Bianca Capazorio
Summerstrand residents said on Monday they were not against the concept of an international conference centre in Port Elizabeth, but did object to its being built at Pollok Beach.

They were speaking at a meeting with Coastal and Environmental Services director Ted Avis, in which he presented a breakdown of the draft scoping report.

The report is the first phase of the environmental impact assessment and gauges public opinion of the development. Coastal and Environmental Services is a private firm hired by the municipality to conduct the environmental impact assessment .

Avis said the three proposed sites, namely Kings Beach, Pollok Beach and Moreton Bay, had been chosen for their size, availability of land and marketability, among other things.

The three were then pitted against each other for suitability, and Kings Beach came out tops with an 86 % suitability rating.

Despite this, the Pollok Beach site, which had a 43% suitability rating, was "the preferred site of the metro", Avis said.

Residents at the meeting questioned why, in the face of lack of space to develop further and the availability of more suitable sites, Pollok Beach was chosen.

"What I can't understand is why all the other sites that were too small fell away, but Pollok, which is also too small, actually gets it," one resident said.

Dr Peter Swartz, of the Coastal Environmental Trust called the scoping study "flawed", as neither of the two sites were suitable.

"This is all part of the municipality's plan to fast-track this thing, and instead of waiting for other land to open up, they just went ahead".

He said the land of all three sites was also "free", as it already belonged to the municipality, thus speeding up the process.

In response, Avis said that the decision on which site was chosen ultimately lay with the provincial government; the environment department.

Avis said the Moreton Bay site was owned by the National Ports Authority, not the municipality.

Feather Market Centre director Keith Murcott said that while the Pollok site was not ideal, the ICC would mean a major injection into the city's economy.

He said he had been mandated to create a report on how much money the Feather Market Centre had contributed to the economy in the past five years, and had come up with a figure of R200-million.

He said that Nelson Mandela Bay "must move quickly", as South Africa already had three international conference venues, with East London, Bloemfontein and George also considering building such centres.

Eastern Cape Herald

surely it should be located close to the attractiopns of the casio, city centre and beaches so things are clustered , instead of away from them? I would have thought a convemntion centre woiuyld be an ideal anchor for the waterfront re-development

anyone know if there are ANY apartment developments in PE??? It seriously seems like nothing is happening there, but surely SOMETHING is???

Govan Mbeki Avenue face-lift begins

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

PRELIMINARY works have begun for the redevelopment of Govan Mbeki Avenue as a pedestrian mall.

The central business district and parts of Central have been turned into a trench town as workmen dig up the sides of the roads to put in new fibre-optic cables.

Some of the cables being laid are for the 28 security cameras to be installed in the CBD and Central, and which will be controlled from the main fire station in Humewood.

Residents have been inconvenienced by the digging, which in some cases has caused traffic jams, particularly along Military Road, between Baakens Street and the high court.

Electricity and energy business unit manager George Ferreira said yesterday municipal departments were involved in the project. These were the water, infrastructure and engineering department and electricity and energy.

“We are installing a cable from the Russell Road sub-station to the harbour. We are also putting in provision for fibre-optic cables for the security cameras to be installed in the CBD and Central,” said Ferreira.

Acting safety and security business unit manager Wimpie Kruger yesterday declined to reveal the exact positions where the cameras will be installed.

“That is confidential. We will destroy the whole purpose of installing the security cameras if we reveal their location,” said Kruger.

As Govan Mbeki Avenue will be upgraded, and the huge water pipe running underneath the street from Humerail is to be realigned as it is now heavily corroded, the municipality is putting in pipes to augment stormwater drainage.

About R12-million has been budgeted for the first phase of the upgrading of the street from the City Hall to Donkin Street.

Due to the increase in population in Mandela Bay, now about 1,3 million, the infrastructure has been stretched to the limit, resulting in services being affected.

The municipality has serious maintenance backlogs and lacks adequate funding to embark on the much-needed new developments.

The institution has to provide new infrastructure, but because of the huge maintenance costs and backlogs, this is impossible.

A report released last year said that to adequately handle stormwater, the municipality required R55-million to deal with the current maintenance backlog over the next five years.

E Cape auto plant gears up for Hummer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Eastern Cape plant operated by General Motors, and which currently assembles Opel products, is undergoing an extensive expansion to gear up for production of the Hummer H3 later this year.

Plant manager at Struandale, Peter Frost, says that since the commissioning of the plant in 1996, the facility has almost doubled in size to cover 75 625 square metres.

"We currently run production over two shifts in the body shop, three shifts in the paint shop and operate normal single day shifts for general assembly," he says. "However, as Hummer production increases, the plant will migrate to a two-shift shift operation in our general assembly areas."

Isuzu light commercial vehicles and trucks are currently assembled at the company's Kempston Road plant, while Opel Corsa passenger vehicles and utilities are assembled at Struandale.

By September, the total number of employees at GM South Africa would have increased from 3600 to 4100.

Guys i plead once again...some apartment dev's MUST be going on in PE!! Please inform us

not good news from PE...


Must PE go on pension?

02/06/2006 08:12 AM
By: Riana de Lange


Port Elizabeth - The "Friendly City" has to decide if it wants to be known as a retirement village or as a city that will draw thousands of tourists in the future.
"We need an infrastructure with restaurants, clubs, pubs, and other places of entertainment to offer tourists something to do when they visit our city.

"Too many of our residents are way out of fashion and very conservative.

"This city projects the image of an old age home," said Nceba Moss, chairperson of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT).

He participated in a discussion forum this week on preparations in the region for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and said visitors to Cape Town spent their nights in clubs and that's what visitors to Port Elizabeth also wanted to do.

Moss lashed out at constant criticism from certain residential areas over alleged noise when entertainment was presented on the beach front.

"We are now receiving complaints over the pedestrian mall being constructed at Pollock Beach.

"Some of the residents complain that it will draw burglars because it passes the front of their residential complex."

Should a restaurant keeper dare to place tables and chairs on the sidewalk in front of his establishment - as is the case in all major cities in the world - there will be someone to complain about the obstructions on the sidewalk, Moss said.

Moss said: "Tourism is becoming a vexing problem.

"Tourism does not belong to Summer Strand and it also does not belong to a specific political party."

It was the responsibility of the NMBT to create a lively city pulsating with rhythm that will draw visitors.

This aim of the NMBT is being thwarted by the lack of cultural activity and recreational options in the city.

"Just think of our Opera House - its doors were closed in December last year - and that while the streets were teeming with tourists dying to find something to do at night," Moss said.

maybe getting into 1st gear?

Port Elizabeth to host major property investors conference

(Eastern Cape) The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), tasked with revitalising the Port Elizabeth CBD and inner city, is to host a Property Investors Conference on 25 August in the city. Minster of Public Enterprises, Mr Alec Erwin, will deliver the keynote address. The Minister is expected to outline Government's plan to dispose of land identified as non-core assets.

“PE has many such tracts of land in and around its CBD that are not nature reserves and are currently deserted. This derelict land can easily be turned into profitable commercial and residential developments by property developers,” says MBDA Chairman, Sipho Pityana.

The MBDA CEO, Pierre Voges, will outline the MBDA’s master plan, and tourism and property specialists will discuss important trends in the region. The day-long conference will culminate in a brief tour of the area.

Pityana explains, “The MBDA has been tasked with facilitating the redevelopment of the existing PE harbour for non-industrial purposes such as leisure, retail, office space and residential – similar to the process undertaken at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town several years ago, but on a smaller scale. The harbour and surrounding land will fall into disuse once Ngqura Port at the Coega IDZ is up and running and it will become available for other kinds of development.

“We also have the task of revitalising the Port Elizabeth Central Business District, which has involved getting the basics right first. This entails introducing a permit system for informal traders, heightening security in the area by appointing a security firm to guard the area as well as to install security cameras. It also involves appointing a private company to clean the area, boosting the municipality’s efforts. This must all be done before we can go into a higher level of property development in the CBD,” he says.

“In order to boost private sector investment in the CBD, Government has introduced powerful tax incentives, which apply to investors and landlords who wish to erect or effect capital improvements to buildings in a designated area known as an Urban Development Zone.

“We need to attract opportunities for a wide range of sustainable businesses, building on and adding to the existing industrial, commercial, port/airport and finance activities in the region. As the largest city and fastest growing economy in the Eastern Cape, PE is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities available to it,” he says.

“We are already seeing a major boost in confidence in the area, people are already buying both residential and commercial property as an investment on the assumption that things will change. We are hoping the Investors’ Conference will further boost excitement and property investment in the mandate area, by providing interested investors with the right information,” Pityana says.

PE property developer and MD of Auspex Properties, Ben Nyaumwe says, “The Government's property charter is noteworthy – Government has R 400 billion worth of property nationally to dispose of over ten years.

“The challenge to investors and in the CBD is take into account the opportunities in the new markets. I share the MBDA’s vision at to what this area can be. I’ve seen other African cities that have their own African dynamic that works. For example, Kinshasa in Kenya is an African city that has embraced different cultures. In South Africa, Durban has incorporated African, Indian and European cultures Durban city is alive and has attracted world-class developments like Ushaka Marine World and the Point Development. This is what PE is aiming for.

“The MBDA has done a great job of cleaning up central PE and increasing security in the area. A lot of retail business is coming back and I know of a few exciting retail developments coming to the area in the near future. The retail space on Govan Mbeki is at 100% occupancy and to get space there is near impossible.

“Office to residential conversions are also going to be huge and a PE developer already has such developments in the pipeline.

“PE has the economic capacity to revitalise the CBD and sustain it. We need people who share the vision to invest. In ten years, those that make the investment now are going to be doing the Madiba shuffle because Mandela Bay will be shining alongside other dynamic African cities,” he adds.

more like getting out or reverse first?

Well first they have to mop the place up, my cuz is down from PE, its a mess most buisness's are closed due to the rain

R750m motorbike plant for PE

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

IN another boost to Mandela Bay‘s buoyant economy, a Thai firm announced yesterday that it was looking into setting up a R750-million motorcycle and car parts plant in the city.

A high-powered six-member delegation from Thai Summit Autoparts Industry Company arrived yesterday to finalise discussions with the municipality.

The visit follows one made to Thailand by an Eastern Cape delegation in June. It was led by Premier Nosimo Balindlela and joined by Mandela Bay mayor Nondumiso Maphazi.

Speaking at the city hall, where the proposed investment was announced, Maphazi said she had made proposals to the company and encouraged them to set up a motorcycle plant in the city.

She said the investment “holds positive spin-offs not only for us in particular, but for the province as a whole”.

“Bringing the production of motorcycles to this region could encourage the use of this mode of transport. It will also encourage recreation, with the various sporting events associated with motorcycling.

“The company also makes a variety of motor parts for General Motors, Volkswagen SA and Volvo.”

She emphasised the company was not only focusing on Mandela Bay, but looking at investing across the province.

The company‘s business development general manager, Sathien Jetanapong, said they had not initially been keen to invest in the city, but after talks with Maphazi and seeing the “excellent” infrastructure and the region‘s beauty, they had reconsidered.

“We are happy to invest here. We are one of the biggest motorcycle manufacturing companies in Asia and are pleased to bring our expertise here. This is a good investment environment.”

Mandela Bay tourism and economic development committee chairman Mike Kwenaite said: “This confirms our economy is going in the right direction. Investors are drawn here due to skills availability, a stable, growing economy, political stability and proper management of our economy.”

The Thai company has more than 30 subsidiaries in Asia and employs more than 13 000 people.

Mandela Bay has seen several major projects announced in the last month, including:

? The signing of a deal between the Coega Development Corporation and Russia‘s Renova Investments for a R7-billion manganese smelter.

? A R511-million, five-year municipal rehabilitation plan for Soweto-on-Sea.

? A proposal for a R307-million water treatment plant at Coega.

Also, Alcan has announced it will make a final decision on its R14-billion smelter by the end of this month and Eskom announced recently it is planning three multi-billion-rand investments at Coega as well as “other exciting developments”.

mmatavire@johnnicec.co.za

Demolition clears land for stadium
03 Oct 2006 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
Construction crews has begun demolition work on the site

By Duncan Reyneke
As Nelson Mandela Bay finally began work on the site of its 2010 World Cup stadium last week, officials announced the city no longer feared any accommodation shortage during the tournament.

Municipal spokesman Roland Williams said construction crews had begun demolition work on the site, including the demolition of the Park Rugby Club, to make way for the R1,1-billion stadium.

"All the demolition work has been completed, and the R86-million that has been received from national government has already been allocated to various components of construction.

"It's really full steam ahead now," said Williams.

Councillor Mike Kwenaite said the World Cup local organising committee (LOC) had advised the city not to start construction of any new guesthouses if it did not need them and could not sustain them after 2010.

"We're not actually calling for any new hotels or guesthouses for the World Cup - we have enough space.

"Obviously anybody who already had plans to set up is more than welcome, but it's all a question of sustainability," said Kwenaite.

"We feel we're well on track for accommodation, but what we need to concentrate on now are the levels of service on offer to tourists."

Peter Myles, director of the Centre for Tourism Studies at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, agreed with Kwenaite.

"At this stage, if you take into account the existing beds, as well as accommodation from outlying areas and private accommodation, I feel we?re pretty safe for 2010. Private accommodation definitely needs to be closely monitored, though, but I would definitely say we seem to have enough room for the projected figure (around 29 000 beds)."

Myles said: "There are obviously other factors that need to be monitored in order to ensure we have enough room.

"We look ready for it, but which teams and which matches we host all play a big part, and they are all being monitored at the moment.

"Other plans will have to be made if we host a team such as Brazil or Germany, but then again if we host some less followed teams we could end up having extra space."

Although the municipality is satisfied it has enough beds for the tournament, it has helped launch a number of tourism businesses in the metro recently.

Friday saw the launch of the three-star, seven-room Rainbow Guest House and Tours, a black-owned participative development initiative (PDI) project in Strelitzia Park, Uitenhage.

The guest house is owned by Nonzwanga Thisani.

"This is one of quite a number of SMMEs for tourism we've helped set up this year, all of whose staff received six months of aggressive training in all aspects of tourism," Kwenaite said at the launch.

"Mrs Thisani's establishment received a three-star grading from our grading council just recently."

Kwenaite said it was "lovely to be able to tie this in with tourism and heritage month".

Eastern Province Herald

PE se hart wil vlamvat
09/10/2006 19:25 - (SA) Druk artikel E-pos storie aan 'n vriend






Elma Kloppers

Fase een van die opgradering van Govan Mbeki-rylaan in die middestad van Port Elizabeth, die brood*nodige inspuiting om nuwe lewe in die stad en omgewing te blaas, het in alle erns begin.

Dié projek, deel van ’n strategiese plan van die Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), gaan die Nelson Mandela Bay-munisipaliteit sowat R25 miljoen kos en sal die weg baan vir verdere ontwikkeling, volgens mnr. Mike Kwenaite, raadslid belas met ekonomiese ontwikkeling.

Mnr. Pierre Voges, uitvoerende hoof van die MBDA, beskryf die projek as die grootste stedelike vernuwingsprojek nóg in die middestad van Port Elizabeth nadat daar die afgelope 15 jaar niks gebeur het nie.

Hy sê fase een van die Govan Mbeki-rylaan-opgradering, wat die gebied van markplein tot Donkinstraat insluit, behels die skep van ’n wandellaan met winkels aan weerskante, waar die straat deels vir voertuie gesluit word met ruimte vir eenrigtingverkeer en beperkte parkering.

“Ons wil die idee skep van ’n opelug-winkelsentrum met ruimte vir voetgangers en straatkafees en koffiewinkels, asook winkels gerig op toeriste. Dit gaan spesifiek daaroor om die voertuie uit die middestad te haal en die mense terug te bring,” sê hy.

Kleinhandelaars op die grondvlak van geboue in Govan Mbeki-rylaan vaar baie goed, sê hy, maar van die eerste verdieping op boontoe staan die geboue leeg. Dit laat ruimte vir residensiële omskakelings, asook akkommodasie vir kleiner ondernemings.

Informele handelaars sal in spesiale kiosks geakkommodeer word en daar word gehoop dat van die handelaars sal wegbeweeg van die verkoop van vrugte en groente en meer begin fokus op kunsvlytprodukte.

Dié fase sal sowat tien maande neem om te voltooi, waarna die tweede fase sal begin. Hy sê die volgende fase sal die opgradering van Parlement- en Strandstraat wees, asook die ou Tramways-gebou, die voormalige ysskaatsbaan. Planne vir die gebou behels onder meer ’n kleinhandel-, kantoor- en ontspanningsontwikkeling, waarby die private sektor betrek sal word. Die gebou behoort aan die munisipaliteit en daar word beoog om dit op lang termyn te verhuur.

Voges sê die onlangse eiendomsbeleggerskonferensie in Port Elizabeth het belangstelling in die middestad aangewakker en hopelik sal beleggersvertroue uit die private sektor die katalisator en ’n hupstoot vir die vernuwingsproses wees.

English Please.

^^I noticed that you have posted this article in the "Other Cities" thread earlier.
I'm overly excited about what's happening in PE. Can't wait to see the Waterfront development there. Any latest construction pictures in PE, and or of Port Nqura?

Will repost.

Heard that its construction will resume in 2009. PE is is very slow and they are gonna loose out. These should be ready by the time Confederation Cup starts


Statue of Freedom
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2487/winnerbigfw2.jpg

^^ is that thing actually going up?

Looks like the design's been tweaked quite a bit. Looking much better but still I don't really get it.

^^ is that thing actually going up?

i doubt it

^^ true getting PE council to make a decision is nigh impossible.

Hope not. Give us a simple real life statue of Mandela giving the 'amandla'. Tourists won't know what this crap is & will prob mistake it for a stranded shipwreck!

I didn't like it at first but after reading the story behind the desing, then I thought that's brilliant. The corrupt Eastern Cape governemtn doesn't bother at all. Nothing is really happening that side.

Heard that its construction will resume in 2009. PE is is very slow and they are gonna loose out. These should be ready by the time Confederation Cup starts


Statue of Freedom
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2487/winnerbigfw2.jpg
No!!! It's hideous. Hopefully they get some sense or can't raise the money for it. It's on the flight path into the airport so all visitors flying in sitting on the right hand side of the plane looking out the window will see it.It is a great site, with views south over the main beaches and coastline but the statue itself is just horrible, I'm sorry. I don't know what Albie Sachs and his team were thinking when they selected this design as the winner. It might have symbolic meaning but that won't do it any good if everyone is avoiding it like the plague because it's so ugly!

I don't think its too bad, having spent a few years in PE i think such a statue will be great

its just too abstract imo. I think that it will be a good addition to PE if it is the start of a massive upgrade of tourism facilities.

World class city coastline revamp plan takes shape
31 Oct 2006 - Inet Bridge -

By Max Matavire

A coastal development project which forms part of a R116-million facelift planned for Port Elizabeth's coast is on track.

The project, which includes the construction of a walkway and cycle path stretching from St George's Strand in the east to Flat Rock in the west, is among the few priority Vision 2020 projects. It is even expected to extend to Sardinia Bay.

During a presentation to the recreation and cultural services committee yesterday, Donald McGillivray of consultants Afri-Coast Engineers, described the project as "massive", adding that it could be completed by 2020.

"It has a major and significant impact to Nelson Mandela Bay. It's an exciting project," said McGillivray. He said its major priorities were the provision of a clean environment - clean water and clean beaches - easy access to the beaches for all communities and, in a safe and secure environment.

The project has been divided into four zones for developmental purposes as it cannot be tackled all in one go.

Zone One is the St Georges Strand where work has already started in upgrading and improving facilities at Wells Estate which already boasts Blue Flag status. Blue Flag status is an international award given to a beach with clean water and adequate facilities for bathers and swimmers.

Development of the walkway and the cycle path has already started. It will pass through the Swartkops River Mouth to New Brighton Beach, pass through the Deal Party coastline and then to Kings Beach, Hobie Beach, Pollok Beach and Flat Rock.

McGillivray said Wells Estate beach had great potential, adding it would serve about 300 000 people from Motherwell and new settlements which the council had developed recently in that area.

"We want to make it safe for recreational purposes. The cycle path can also be used for sporting, recreational and even for the Ironman event. We are improving the beaches and uplifting the environment."

He said the most demanding aspect would be the New Brighton Beach to the Deal Party coastline, the area around Algorax and the Fishwater Flats water treatment works.

McGillivray said the coastline in this area was degraded, and needed massive upgrading. This will involve discussions with stakeholders to deal with the stench coming from the water treatment works and the coal emissions from Algorax.

He said this development would also be linked to the 2010 World Cup stadium, adding that companies like Transnet and National Ports Authority would have to be brought on board.

Dune restoration is already taking place at King's and Pollock beaches. There is funding in the municipal budget for the next three years to implement the project.

"It is a high priority project, but will have to be taken in stages. It can go up to 2020 as it is likely to extend to Sardinia Bay," said McGillivray.

He said the aesthetics would be greatly improved, with extra lighting. Close circuit cameras would be installed and operated from a central control room at the South End Fire Station.

About 15 projects have been identified in the municipality's integrated beachfront development plan.

Eastern Province Herald

^^
Interesting article Dysan1. But yes, the coastline from Swartkops River Mouth to Kings Beach (where the proposed Statue of Freedom site is) is very industrial and, well, smelly. The N2 road also passes very close to the coast in that area, though theres is a small strip of land between the road and the "Dolloses" (sp?) that protect the coastline. Also, the harbour is in the way, so the paths will have to go through or around it. The scale of the project is huge. The distance along the coast from Wells Estate to Sardinia Bay (PE areas best beach - a bit like Noordhoek in CT) is well over 50km, maybe close to 100km, most of which is undeveloped. A large portion is in the Cape Receif Nature Reserve.

On the Statue of Freedom site. It is close to open, unused and ETREMELY valueable land near the main Beach/Entertainment area of PE. I think the plan is to develop the area once the manganese ore dumps are moved to Coega. The area just inland from Kings Beach (the beach starting from the harbour wall/statue site) is sometimes flooded by sea water and is a bit marshy, but I suppose that means it's ideal for some sort of marina development.

Has anyone read this?
http://www.privateproperty.co.za/news/newsarticle.asp?articleid=38

In a recent article for the Private Property magazine, I put my head on the proverbial block by picking KZN as the star performer of the three major provinces over the rest of the decade. Although I have not changed my mind since then, for similar reasons that I selected KZN as the star, I believe that we need to take a look at the far smaller metro of Nelson Mandela Bay, which could in many ways replicate Durban on a smaller scale, perhaps with a bit of a lag. There are many drivers of property markets - economic growth, interest rates, or even a neighbouring province's holidaymakers. "Displaced economic activity" from neighbouring provinces will perhaps be a key driver of Mandela Bay's market.

When pondering the future of property markets in and around Mandela Bay, one must consider economic events unfolding in other major regions of South Africa. This is because there are linkages with certain other regions of the country, and because a lack of "expansion capacity" in some other property markets could imply that a portion of new economic activity searches for a "viable alternative".

Property markets are about far more than just interest rates. "It's the economy, stupid", was the war cry of the Clinton era Democrats during their electioneering, and this applies to property too, which is strongly driven by the economic growth of a region.

Gauteng is firmly establishing itself as the "engine of growth" not only of SA but of Southern Africa too. It has acquired a momentum of its own despite the reason for its initial existence, i.e. gold, having all but disappeared. Mining is still important to Gauteng, as it is in the heart of the still mineral-rich former Transvaal region, and is the region's services hub. SA's capital lies in the province, as do the bulk of the country's corporate head offices. It is the place where Africa comes to shop, and much of the country's manufacturing activity takes place here.

And the relevance for Madiba Bay? On a smaller scale compared with KZN and the eThewkwini metro, there exist economic linkages between Mandela Bay and Gauteng, and there is a reasonable correlation between the economic growth of the two regions. The correlation is partly because both regions are affected by the same global economic forces as well as interest rate cycles. However, it also has much to do with manufacturing being estimated to account for 31% of Mandela Bay's economy. Many of these manufactures, motor vehicles being a good example, end up in Gauteng, SA's biggest consumer market.

------------------------------------

article continues in link

interesting. makes some good points. but to be frank, for PE to succeed they need forward thinking leaders that will actually drive real change. change that is not politically motivated, but economically

New battle looming over design of freedom statue
Herald 19/102006

By Max Matavire, Metro Editor

A BATTLE is brewing over the controversial freedom statue planned for Port Elizabeth's harbour, with negotiations under way to change the design so it incorporates Nelson Mandela's image.

Freedom Enterprises, a private group that initiated the statue project, began talks with the statue's architects to change the design but did not inform the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, prompting outrage from the local authority.

Both organisations are claiming authority over the design. Freedom Enterprises says that because it initiated the project it has the right to change the design, while the Mandela Bay Development Agency, which falls under the municipality's jurisdiction, claims it is the driving force in the implementation of the project.

Freedom Enterprises spokesman Mandla Madwara said yesterday that the organisation felt the winning design, which was chosen more than a year ago and is commonly referred to as The Tower, did not incorporate "the man himself" and so should be "re-modified".

"We are now discussing with Equilibrium Studio Architects, the winners of the design contest, to see how the winning design can be reworked.

"We are looking at various options which include a statue of Mandela with (Raymond) Mhlaba on top of the tower, or Mandela casting his vote during the first democratic elections in 1994, or that photograph of the long queue of South Africans lining up to vote in the 1994 elections.

"The other options are poses of Mandela on different occasions. We want something which represents actual freedom," said Madwara.

Furious MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges said yesterday he was "utterly surprised" at the move to change the design and that it "does not make any sense".

Voges said neither the municipality nor the MBDA had held any discussions with Freedom Enterprises regarding the matter.

"What Freedom Enterprises is proposing is practically impossible. A call for proposals was made and was adjudicated professionally and democratically. How can somebody now want to re-start the process?"

However, Madwara said possible changes to the winning design had been written into the clause before the winner was chosen, in case the chosen design "did not work".

Equilibrium Studio Architects was announced as the winner in July last year in a competition which 107 contestants entered.

The winning design is a 122-metre tower of giant spiralling blocks representing the long journey to freedom. The R50-million structure will be 22 metres higher than New York's Statue of Liberty. A panel of 11 people, chaired by Judge Albie Sachs, decided on the winning design.

Statue erection is due to start once the tank farm and manganese ore dump have moved to Coega.

LOL...so they win with a design and without telling anyone decided they going to change it even though they had to compete to win? sounds like a farce!

Oh an Moby...oh sole in PE respondent welcome back...it has been a long time!!

Any news for us regarding development there? much going on?

rumble in the jungle. Shoot that thing down! yeah...

Moby, when is the final decision gonna be made in regards to the statue of freedom.

R900m for soccer stadium officially now on the way

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

NELSON Mandela Bay has now received its allocation of close to R900-million of the R14,9-billion which the national treasury announced two weeks ago for the construction and upgrading of 2010 World Cup stadiums and related aspects by the nine host cities.

The municipality received an official letter from the national treasury this week confirming the allocation. Municipal manager Graham Richards said yesterday that the money would be released in batches over a threeyear period.

“We have been allocated close to what we asked for as the local organising committee. It comes as a conditional grant – conditional because it has to be used solely for stadium construction, and not for other uses.”

Cape Town announced this week that it had received R1,9-billion. Construction of the new stadiums should start by January next year and Richards says they are on schedule.

The 40 000-seater multi-purpose Nelson Mandela Bay stadium will be built in North End at an estimated cost of R711-million and should be completed by 2008. Its structural fitness will be tested in 2009 when it hosts the Confederations Cup which will feature teams from Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Among the five venues to host the Confederations Cup – Loftus, Ellis Park, Mangaung and Royal Bafokeng – Nelson Mandela Bay is the only venue to be getting a new stadium.

Afro-pessimism is a major challenge identified since South Africa was selected to be the host of the 2010 World Cup. However, Fifa has on numerous occasions reiterated that the country will host the “best World Cup”, even better than this year‘s event.

Five road-construction tenders have already been awarded, with many more in the process of being awarded in preparation for the event. The five are the upgrading of Diaz and Pearl roads and the linking of Avenue A and Matomela and Seyisi roads in New Brighton and KwaZakhele.

“The three will form one of the feeder roads for buses and taxis,” said municipal assistant transport manager Greg Pryce-Lewis, adding that these contracts were valued at about R50-million.

Last week, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal committee tasked with preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup vowed to resign if Port Elizabeth‘s soccer stadium was not complete by the end of 2008. Tenders for the construction of the stadium close at the end of this month.

Prospective tenderers were taken on a site inspection tour last week.

R1.9 bil for cape town
R1.9 bil for durban
R0.9 bill for PE

R0.8 bil for the other new stadia?shame

^^
Ha. Imagine that. Looks like sleepy old PE will be the first city getting a mjor new stadium to complete it. It's good that the three main cities with new stadiums have got the money "in the bank" because they need to start moving! You don't want to finish the stadiums just a month or two before the Cup starts. And when the physical infrastructure starts appearing it will silence the Afro-pessimists who think SA will not be ready.... Nahh, on second thought it won't, they just like being negative for its own sake.

Bay to get 1 000 metro cops by 2010, plan says

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

THE establishment of a municipal police department in Nelson Mandela Bay edged closer to realisation yesterday with the unveiling of a draft business plan proposing the employment of 1 000 officers by 2010/11.

A special meeting of the safety and security committee discussed the draft plan and agreed an on “in-principle” decision be made in February for the creation of a metro police force.

The plan is to phase in the employment of the police officers from this financial year until 2010/11. From 2006 to 2009, 200 police officers will be employed each year. Then in 2009/10, 150 will be employed and the last 43 in 2010/11. The remaining 207 places will be filled by existing traffic and security officers.

The organisational structure will have a chief of police and five deputy chief commissioners.

Other ranks will include director, senior superintendent, superintendent, captain, inspector, sergeant, constable, and student or recruit.

For the first year, a budget provision of about R86-million is required. Some R33-million will be for staffing, R15- million for infrastructure, R18-million for operational purposes, R12-million for transport allowances, R6-million for sundries, and R2-million for an oversight committee to link the community and the department.

“A full business plan will be presented to the municipal manager in January, after which it will be tabled before the mayoral committee and then to the full council for final approval,” said municipal official Lourens Schoeman.

Safety and security acting business unit manager Wimpie Kruger tabled the findings of a six-month investigation into the feasibility of such a municipal police department. He said one of the main objectives of the department would be to minimise crime and road safety threats to residents and visitors.

“Other objectives include the protection of municipal assets and having highly visible crime preventative police patrols,” said Kruger.

“Special attention will be given to human rights violations and municipal bylaws will be enforced. The metro police must also ensure a safe and secure 2010 World Cup,” he said.

First five-star hotel on the cards for PE

06 Dec 2006 - Inet Bridge -


By Lauren Cohen
A five-star sectional title beachfront hotel managed by an international group is on the cards for Nelson Mandela Bay, brainchild of a local developer.

The Reef on Marine is Auspex Property's Ben Nyaumwe's latest project, after the success of his residential developments, Brookes View and The Pearls.

The Reef will be the first five-star hotel in Port Elizabeth since the Elizabeth Hotel became a Holiday Inn in the early 1990s. It will be built on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Marine Drive in Summerstrand.

The rate per suite, which will run into thousands per night, will mean only the well-heeled will be able to afford to check in.

Although there are five-star rated guesthouses in Nelson Mandela Bay, The Reef will be the first full-service, deluxe hotel. The decision about which operator to appoint will be finalised by next April, but the Hilton Hotel Group is the leading contender to manage the 128-roomed establishment. Nyaumwe said 32 investors had already reserved units, which cost from R2-million for a luxury suite up to R2,85 million for the presidential suite. For this, owners will earn "on average 13 percent of their purchase price every quarter", pay no levies, rates or refurbishing costs and receive 28 days? free holiday each year at any affiliated hotel in the world.

Construction will begin in March, and the doors are scheduled to open on October 1, 2008.

The hotel will bring the Bay into line with World Cup Soccer specifications. "Fifa lays down that each host city must have a five-star hotel, which we do not have in Nelson Mandela Bay as yet," said Nyaumwe.

"So, Auspex Properties is building it, helping to keep the profits with local investors, and also boosting the benefits of tourism here."

Weekend Post

Spruce up or hand over

08 Dec 2006 - Inet Bridge -


By Ian Fife
Port Elizabeth's "slumlord", Irish developer Ken Denton, could lose his 175 properties if the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) succeeds in a bid to expropriate the buildings.

Denton refuses to repair his properties, which include office buildings, blocks of flats, shopping centres, land and even a school he bought in central Port Elizabeth in the 1990s. Consequently, some of his buildings have slid into what some municipal officials describe as slum conditions.

MBDA CEO Pierre Voges had not considered expropriation until he spoke to the FM. He has now instructed his lawyers to advise him on expropriating Denton's properties and prosecuting him for fire and health law infringements.

Denton did not respond to messages the FM left in his Dublin offices and on his cellphones. Voges says he received an SMS from Denton saying there was no legislation in SA to force him to do anything with his properties.

Many PE residents were impressed when Denton bought the properties, thinking the buying spree signalled a regeneration process. But Denton just bought and held, fixing up only when he could directly enhance his income.

When the MBDA was formed in 2003 to revitalise the CBD and the adjacent harbour area, it soon became clear that Denton was not an enthusiastic participant in its plans.

Phase one of the MBDA's R25 million upgrade plan for Govan Mbeki Avenue, which is in the heart of PE's CBD, includes the historic Market Square and Donkin Street. The only property not renovated on Market Square is Denton's 19th-century post office building, which is standing empty. "He has appointed an architect to make recommendations, but we see no sign of him actually doing something to the building," says Voges.

Using the municipality's eminent domain - the power to take private property against the will of its owner that is fundamental to all states - the MBDA can expropriate Denton's properties in the "public interest" as allowed by section 25 of the constitution's bill of rights. The section requires Denton to get "just and equitable" compensation (in effect, market value). The MBDA can then sell the properties or enter partnerships with developers who will upgrade them.

Some critics say expropriation should be limited to "public use" such as building roads or the Gautrain, not to sell to other private owners. But public use has been stretched in most countries to "public good", which includes selling to private developers if their projects are for wider benefit.

For instance, the British government is expropriating land for urban regeneration around the new Wembley soccer stadium in London and the 2012 Olympic Games site. Much of it will end up in private hands.

Financial Mail

So much for FDI. Take off the properties and ban him from the country for good! We can certainly do without another slumlord.

It seems like they are moving now, here are more good news for PE.


:banana: :banana: :banana:



Massive housing project for Bay

By Max Matavire, Metro Editor

PLANS have been approved for a R1-billion housing and recreation development near Bluewater Bay in Port Elizabeth which, if built, will be one of the biggest developments in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Black empowerment consortium Embizweni has been given the go- ahead by the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality to build a tourism-orientated development consisting of five cultural villages, a residential component with 500 sites for freehold and leasehold title, community recreation facilities, a caravan park, commercial development, enhanced public facilities and offices.

It will be built on 150ha of land now owned by the municipality on the sea side of the N2 between Bluewater Bay and St George‘s Strand.

At a full council meeting yesterday, it was agreed to sell the land to Southern Spirit Properties (Pty) Ltd, trading as Embizweni.

It was agreed that the land would be sold “at a fair market value as determined by a registered valuer”.

A delighted Keith Wattrus, a director of Embizweni and previous head of Port Elizabeth Tourism, said after the council meeting that the consortium had initially been granted the rights to develop the area in 2004, but because of bureaucracy they could not go ahead.

“There has been a long legal process. It is a complex arrangement. I cannot believe it took about 2½ years to reach where we are today.

“The development will be a meeting place of cultures as the name Embizweni implies. It embodies a tourism enterprise village made up of five cultural heritage villages and a lodge.

“There is also a residential component as well as office and commercial development. It‘s the creation of a totally new suburb.

“Within each of the five villages will be a theatre, arts facilities, restaurants for different cuisines and accommodation. We hope it will be seen as a symbol of coming together.”

The agreement states that the consortium must also fund public infrastructure developments at Wells Estate, including the construction of a memorial for the Cradock Four, who were murdered in that area.

Wattrus said the three-year development should be completed in the second quarter of 2010. An environmental impact assessment is under way and the selling of the about 500 residential erven will be launched early next year.

Among Embizweni‘s directors are auctioneer and estate agent Andile Ben-Mazwi, popular lawyer Mpumelelo “Bond” Nyoka and quantity surveyor Thembi Matunda.

Wattrus said the concept was a historic one which celebrated the coming together of five cultures in Algoa Bay. “We want to portray the heritage of each of these cultures and show how they have come together into a one South Africa.”

He said the project would complement and dovetail with other new developments such as the Coega IDZ and the Greater Addo Elephant Park.

He said all the technical information, including the price of the land and the source of funding, would be made available during a presentation at the signing of the final agreement with the municipality next week.

All other agreements – the land availability and services agreements – which delayed the project for about two years have now been concluded.

The only place that is of a concern is Rusternburg for 2010. We never heard anything from that side of the country regarding 2010 SWC.

i think they are perhaps too comfortable knowing that the stadium pretty much met most FIFA requirements except for the touch ups there and there. I know Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed with the lighting on the stadium. But i agree it is worrying that we havent heard anything at least regarding roads, hotels and other crucial infrastructure requirements for 2010.

The only place that is of a concern is Rusternburg for 2010. We never heard anything from that side of the country regarding 2010 SWC.

In terms of accommodation they will rely on the proximity to Johannesburg.
Also, things seemed to work fine during the tri-nations clash and the orlando pirates vs chiefs matches of the Man U tour. So they have had experience and coped well. I would like to see road and transport infrastructure improve though. The stadium also needs much work to polish things off. Will try and find information.

In terms of accommodation they will rely on the proximity to Johannesburg.
Also, things seemed to work fine during the tri-nations clash and the orlando pirates vs chiefs matches of the Man U tour. So they have had experience and coped well. I would like to see road and transport infrastructure improve though. The stadium also needs much work to polish things off. Will try and find information.


But FIFA wants fans to enjoy closer to the stadium, where are the public spaces and all. Only SunCity is there.

I suspect that Sun City will be the base for the fans in that area. I heard something about a fan village being built at sun city to supplement the existing accommodation.

I suspect that Sun City will be the base for the fans in that area. I heard something about a fan village being built at sun city to supplement the existing accommodation.

It would be an excellent base and it needs to be fully umm...exploited? used to the maximum to cater for fans/entertainment etc.

This will limit the benefit that the area must get. Remeber that SWC its an avert to the world to come to our shores after 2010 and what will people who will be located in Rusternburg say? I went to Suncity and ???

anybody heard of this development in P.E?
Nielsen Way based in Lorraine
the agents are world homes

surely Sun city is rather far away from rustenberg? silly base

surely Sun city is rather far away from rustenberg? silly base

yeah a 30 min drive.

anybody heard of this development in P.E?
Nielsen Way based in Lorraine
the agents are world homes

Hi Durbsboi

Haven't heard about the development but Lorraine is a middle income suburb with a reasonable amount of open land for development. Not really close to the beach or anything tremendously exciting, but it's a good area for mid-income developments.

Are you thinking of investing, or are you involved with the company?

It seems like they are moving now, here are more good news for PE.


:banana: :banana: :banana:



Massive housing project for Bay

By Max Matavire, Metro Editor

PLANS have been approved for a R1-billion housing and recreation development near Bluewater Bay in Port Elizabeth which, if built, will be one of the biggest developments in Nelson Mandela Bay.

.....

This will be a great development for Coega employees. Bluewater Bay is the northern most mid/high income area of the city, and Coega is just a bit further North. It's near the sea (obviously) so has good for recreation possibilities. R1 Billion is a lot of money though. Hopefully they can raise the finance and start building!

http://www.afripics.com/images/stockart/GGW/Z2_1.jpg
http://www.afripics.com/images/stockart/WWK/Z2_428.jpg
http://www.afripics.com/images/stockart/GLO/Z2_17.jpg
http://www.afripics.com/images/stockart/ANA/Z2_38.jpg
http://www.afripics.com/images/stockart/WWK/Z2_1155.jpg

http://www.afripics.com/images/stockart/GGW/Z2_1.jpg


Grew up in PE, use to go down to what we use to call back then "play land" on the hill where the city lodge is now built. Opposite to that road house, casbar or something. Those were the days. PE is great this time of year. What ever happened to "opening of the season" is that still celebrated? Use to be great!!! Lots of people everywhere, huge fireworks displays.

Those were the days.... This pic makes me miss the place...

I hope to see more skyscrapers coming up by that PE coast as Coega gains momentum.

http://www.afripics.com/images/stockart/WWK/Z2_272.jpg

http://img1.travelblog.org/Photos/1161/16224/t/71765-Port-Elizabeth-1.jpg
http://www.cricketump.com/images/sthaf..0105/King's%20Beach,%20Port%20Elizabeth...28022005.JPG
http://www.kapstadt.org/images/images-15/addo/port-elizabeth/port-elizabeth-5g.jpg

To those who know PE, in which part of PE is this located?
http://www.kapstadt.org/images/images-15/addo/port-elizabeth/port-elizabeth-2g.jpg

Redevelopment hopes at Bayworld
08 Jan 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
Top Port Elizabeth attraction is hopeful that its long- awaited redevelopment will get under way next year

By Nicky Willemse
Top Port Elizabeth attraction Bayworld is hopeful that its long- awaited redevelopment ? estimated at R500-million ? will get under way next year, with necessary government documentation set to be in place by the end of January.

Although the renovations, initially expected to start in July 2004, have been lagging, the museum remains a hive of activity, with 23 new staff members, a busy holiday programme in place and a number of never-before-displayed exhibits.

Bayworld curator Sylvia van Zyl said many residents mistakenly believed that Bayworld had already closed in anticipation of the renovations, resulting in fewer visitors, but that "nothing could be further from the truth".

Van Zyl said the delay in renovations was because the two levels of government involved ? the museum's landlord Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, and the Eastern Cape sport, recreation, arts and culture department ? had "different agendas in the transformation of the established institution (Bayworld), and was proving to be complex".

High-level meetings were held this week between province and metro, to set the ball rolling for final documentation early next year. "It is hoped that by February, all the issues will be ironed out and that the real work on the funding plans and final designs will begin."

While it is unlikely that the entire redevelopment programme will be completed in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Van Zyl said: "There is still an aspiration that a significant part of the redevelopment will be completed by 2010 in order that visitors to the Fifa World Cup games in Port Elizabeth will leave with a memorable experience."

The future of the dolphin display at Bayworld is also being investigated and debated. Last year a marine mammal scientist was contracted to reposition Bayworld's research programme after the post had been vacant for more than eight years.

Discussions are under way with Seaworld at Durban's uShaka Marine World for the possible housing of the PE dolphins during the construction phase.

New exhibits are on display, in commemoration of the museum's 150th anniversary this year. These include the Boskop fossil, South Africa's first fossilised hominid found in Potchefstroom in 1913.

Weekend Post

^^^

Hi Pule

The pics you were asking about are in the seaside suburb of Humewood. Actually it is the main city beachfront area for PE. Like North Beach Durban I guess.

Top pic is the intersection of La Roche Drive and Marine Drive. The airport is only a couple of kilometres back along La Roche Drive. Flightpath aproach is over the beach in the pic. PE airport is really close to everything - CBD, beachfront, principal decentralised suburbs etc. The swimming pool is Mc Arthur Baths which where renovated as part of the arms deal kickback, but are nonetheless very nice. Expensive to get in though. The beach in the background is Kings Beach which is popular with kitesurfers. Not visible, but close to the far end of the beach are manganese ore dumps which are supposed to be moved to Coega soon freeing up EXTREMELY valueable development land.

Middle pic is of PE's main casino complex. God, I've forgotten it's name (must have been away far too long), but it is very blah. Starts with a "B" I think. It's a little ridiculous too since they created a fake lake despite the complex being maybe two minutes walk to the beach!

The bottom pic is also in Humewood, taken from Marine Drive next to Bayworld Museum and Marine complex looking up at some new developments (obviously). I guess they like that hill since it is North facing (sort of) and has great views of Kings Beach and the ocean.

Not sure about your wish for skyscrapers being granted anytime soon. PE is just not the city for them. You'll likely just see a lot of 3/4 storey developments mushrooming all over the place instead. Sorry!

Thanx bro, but even with those 3 or 4 floors PE can be one of the beutiful SA city. I think thet need to also emphasize on making sure that the city centre is clean and safe. I'm worried about its state in 2010.

the bayworld revamp seems WAYYYYY overdue. hopefully something will be done. R500m is a sizable amount tho...will they recoup the money? cos even ushaka is taking a long time to

Port Elizabeth to restore 100-yr-old building
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of Port Elizabeth city centre's historical landmarks, the Old Tramways building, will become one of the first municipal-owned properties released by the city for private sector development, when the planned redevelopment project kicks in.

The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), the development arm of Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMMM), said in a newspaper advertisement that the city planned to redevelop the Old Tramways building and lease it to the preferred developer, which bears all costs incidental to the planning and redevelopment of the property.

MBDA said recently in a newsletter that the NMMM would transfer a number of properties to the agency for private sector development.

“Many of these properties, such as the Tramways building, are in total disrepair and our intention is to offer them on a long-term lease basis to private sector developers,” it said.

MBDA stipulated that these developments contain a mixture of retail, residential, office development and tourism, leisure and entertainment facilities.

The building is well over a hundred years old and also the former home to Port Elizabeth's ice rink

US firm to build massive hotel in Bay for 2010 Cup

By Dineo Matomela

AN American real estate developer is due to brief provincial officials today on a five-star, 500-room hotel resort planned for Port Elizabeth.

While details of the proposal are sketchy, a statement released on behalf of the Virginia-based JayCo Real Estate Investment yesterday, claims that the development, called Madiba Bay, will also include airport upgrades in Port Elizabeth and other investments in tourism, undertaken in co-operation with the South African government.

It said the hotel would host the tournament referees of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The company‘s chief executive officer, Jay Cohen, is due to make a speech to the legislature in Bhisho today.

JayCo SA president Thabang Lesaoana, who hails from Welkom, was appointed on Monday and will lead the company‘s development in the country, based in Port Elizabeth.

Despite issuing a press release from its head office in the US yesterday, the company refused to divulge any further information on the development.

“We have partnered with Madiba Bay Holdings, but I cannot release any more information on the development yet because it is still premature,” said Lesaona.

Madiba Bay Holdings has a 50-year contract to lease 5 000 hectares of land along the Marine Drive for a proposed leisure park development.

However, Madiba Bay Holdings chief operations officer Johan Dreyer declined to comment last night.

“I don‘t know anything about JayCo SA and I will not comment,” said Dreyer.

Lesoana declined to give information on the exact location of the hotel complex.

“I cannot give the time frames and exact location of the hotel until next week. My colleagues in the US have issued a press release for all media,” he said.

He said a JayCo SA delegation had met with executive mayor Nondumiso Maphazi earlier this month.

Municipal spokesman Lourens Schoeman said an international company had shown interest in building a five-star hotel last year.

dmatomela@johnnicec.co.za

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9mRhBhXnf4

I hope everyone watches this video. It makes me cry every time (the first 6 minutes that is).

He has some nice views of the rest of PE in his other videos, but DO NOT WATCH THOSE VIDEOS if you are easikly offended. He criticises BEE a lot.

I initially watched because I liked the imagery of PE that he provided, after that, I LOVED his last video because it was so great about South Africa (minus the lsst 1 minute)

You may find people criticizing BEE because it is often taken advantage of as a means to get rich quick, RDP houses falling apart due to unqualified builders who got the job because they were BEE, tc etc etc, the list is endless, its initial aim was to promote equality, its done the opposite, the poor are poorer, the rich are richer, and those in power are just lining their pockets and the gap is getting wider and wider. But I digress, this is actually what I wanted to post.

http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n18_12032007.htm

R30m community centre will be boost for Zwide
12-02-2007

By Nwabisa Nofemele

PORT Elizabeth-based NGO Ubuntu Education Fund is to establish a new

R30-million state-of-the-art, multipurpose community centre in Zwide

township.

The building is the brainchild of Port Elizabeth-born architect Stan

Field who is practising in San Francisco in the United States.

The NGO is receiving a R27-million investment from its fundraising

office in New York, while R3-million will be raised from businesses and

donors in South Africa.

The fund, which started in 1998, caters to about 40 000 vulnerable

children and their families by providing HIV support services and other

educational resources.

The multipurpose community centre, to be built in Qeqe Street, will

include a clinic, a courtyard, a hall with a kitchen, meeting rooms, a

computer centre and offices on its upper floor.

Field, who designed the building, said the concept was inspired by the

way people in the township lived.

“People here use pathways to move around and that makes the community

easily accessible from all directions.

“I wanted to capture the connectivity of the area in designing the

building,” he said.

Field said it would be made mostly from concrete, to give it strength,

with some walls in polycarbonate – a translucent, glasslike material –

while other walls will be made from wooden poles stacked horizontally

to give the building an “earthy feeling”.

Co-founder of Ubuntu, Banks Gwaxula, said the current offices of the

organisation were too small to accommodate people who came every day

for different services.

“We use old doctor‘s offices and we have different programmes running

from those offices. It can get so packed that it‘s sometimes difficult

to move around,” he said.

“The building will help us expand our services, like having a community

garden. The clinic will provide HIV voluntary counseling and testing

services and can also provide more advanced information technology

skills from our computer centre.”

The sod turning will be held on April 9, with the building set to open

in March 2009.

Goven Mbeki centre

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/183334346_e45cdc6fab_b.jpg

down town

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/18/91092500_4bc0fa477a_o.jpg

University of Port Elizabeth

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/358393745_33a813caa1_o.jpg

You probably heard about the eight luxury hotels planned for SA by the ArabellaStarwood group based in Germany, which also owns the ArabellaSheraton (which will soon be upgraded to a Westin) in Cape Town and the Western Cape Hotel & Spa in Hermanus.

Would you by chance know if ArabellaStarwood has plans to open an hotel at the Madiba Bay Convention Centre that will be built in Port Elizabeth for the 2010 World Cup.

^^ Who says it will be built?? They have been talking about a convention centre for nearly 10 years and still not progress has been made. 2010 is not a deadline or need for a convention centre so even if they agree to it, i cant see it being ready in 2010. these things require a lot of planning.

regard the 5 star 500 room hotel. I dont see a need for a 500 room 5 star hotel. A 5 star hotel is probably needed in PE but one with 500 rooms would most definately not be sustainable.

Nice building...what is it used for and where in PE is it. at the University??

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/183334346_e45cdc6fab_b.jpg

Some pics of the building of the 2010 Soccer Stadium, taken on the 30th March 2007.
First pic is an attempt of an overall view of the stadium area.

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium.JPG

Next 3 are the same, but in sections, from the North End Lake moving around to the end of the stadium area.
http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium_01a.JPG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium_01b.JPG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium_01c.JPG

The next 4 are close ups of the work, the photos were taken from a hill overlooking the stadium area, [Adcockvale - G & S Theatre - to those of you who know PE].

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium_03.JPG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium_02.JPG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium_04.JPG

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/pe/pe_2010_stadium_05.JPG

Thanx mate, you are great with the pics. work is coming on, which is good to see. Those pics give an idea of the area around the stadium. it does look very industrial tho.

Please add these images to the Nelson Mandela Bay thread. If they are there already don't worry if not, simply add them. thanks

Thanks again for the great pics

Hi Guys

Yeah the area is a bit industrial, its actually a total mix, will try and label a pic and put it here, and added the pics to the NMB thread, hopefully it was the right thread, I tend to mix them all up.

Please add these images to the Nelson Mandela Bay thread. If they are there already don't worry if not, simply add them. thanks

Thanks again for the great pics

Post the link to the thread here and I will pop them on, can't find a Nelson Mandela Bay Thread.

Thanks
Moby

mixed area? who would want to live in industrial land? take it then that they are low income housing or something?

Hope for Port Elizabeth

02 May 2007 - Business Day - Business day

Port Elizabeth may be able to achieve a turnaround like Johannesburg’s, and more rapidly as it is smaller, says inner-city revitalisation consultant Neil Fraser.

But Fraser, who runs consultancy Urban Inc, says a structured strategy has to be in place.

Fraser, who is also a nonexecutive director of the City of Johannesburg development arm, the Johannesburg Development Agency, visited Port Elizabeth recently to offer urban renewal advice to the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), which has been charged with turning the Friendly City’s central business district around.

He says the upgrading of Port Elizabeth’s main street, Govan Mbeki Avenue, is a good example of how the agency is moving in the right direction.

Fraser says revitalising inner cities takes a long time. “I always use New York as an example. New York has a massive infrastructure, and it’s a first-world city and it took 20 years.”

He has been closely involved in private-public sector regeneration efforts in Johannesburg’s inner city since they began in the early 1990s. These efforts are starting to bear fruit with a major surge in demand for office space and residential units in parts of the Johannesburg city centre once considered no-go areas.

“We’ve got results, and we still have a long way to go. Port Elizabeth is smaller. It is more manageable from that point of view. It’s more compact, and with the MBDA you have the vehicle that will do the implementation on the public sector side.”

Fraser says that in Johannesburg he found that physically upgrading the public environment acted as a catalyst, attracting new investment and changing behaviour patterns.

After spending time in Port Elizabeth, he noticed that the “sinkholes that stood out as major problems” in the city centre were dilapidated buildings and social problems such as vagrants, drugs, and prostitution, he says. Such problems were difficult to control.

“This is a huge problem, and we haven’t cracked it in Jo’burg yet. We have managed to move them out of areas, but they move into other areas that are already seedy. The only answer is through tough and continuous enforcement so that they are constantly under pressure.”

Glad they are seeing the potential of the place. PE has an amazing CBD with beautiful buildings and awesome architectural history. Pity bout the damn raised highway...

I totally agree, originally I thought it was a totally stupid idea to even think of getting rid of the freeways, but on closer inspection, its the only solution, although the plan to put in canals is still a joke, it would just be a public bath, loo, washing area, etc etc etc, can you imagine the hygiene problems, the stench, yuch.

On another note, Coega is once again in the headlines........

Herald 08-05-2007

New setback for Coega smelter project

By Patrick Cull Political Editor

PLANS for a R21-billion aluminium smelter at Coega took a knock yesterday when a US company announced a hostile takeover bid for Canadian rival company Alcan.

While stakeholders moved to allay fears that the takeover could put the Alcan smelter in jeopardy, the $33-billion (R231-billion) bid by American aluminium giant Alcoa raises questions about the time frames for the construction of the Coega smelter.

Coega Development Corporation chief executive officer Pepi Silinga said last night he was “more than optimistic” that the project would continue as planned and that he did “not see them not going ahead. Alcan have now gone too far down the line”.

With Alcan having signed a number of agreements at the end of last year, including one with electricity parastatal Eskom for the supply of electricity at a special tariff and others with the National Ports Authority and CDC, there would also be “massive penalties” should the project not proceed. The CDC said it was in “no position to comment on the Alcoa bid for Alcan, except to say that our talks with Alcan are most definitely continuing.

“The CDC and Alcan negotiation teams are still meeting for discussions on technical issues for the location and operation of the Coega aluminium smelter.

“The business case for the smelter in the Coega IDZ has been proven beyond reasonable doubt as sound, and still remains solid.

“It was on this basis that in 2003 Alcan continued the negotiations with the CDC for the Coega IDZ as the ideal location for the new smelter after they had taken over Pechiney.”

Alcoa spokesman Kevin Lowery said the takeover was in the interest of both companies. “The combined company will have increased financial resources to fund innovative research and development projects. “We believe the opportunities are very strong, including the Coega project.”

Alcan said its board of directors would “consider the proposal”.

isnt this the second time the smelter has been affected by a take over bid? lol seems destined to never take off

mixed area? who would want to live in industrial land? take it then that they are low income housing or something?

Well yes and no. it is traditionally a lower middle class area, then went a bit downhill and then due to the indiscriminate way our municipal officials dish out business permits, it became a bit of an industrial nightmare. Note that money in the back pocket helps a long way to acquiring a permit to put a business in a previously residential area.

Also interesting, in the Herald in Feb, which I have only just seen:-

Stadium construction drains North End Lake

By Guy Rogers Environment & Tourism Editor

CONCERNS have been raised that the level of Port Elizabeth‘s North End Lake is dropping because of construction work on the adjacent new soccer stadium site.

The authorities have confirmed that this is indeed the case and has been deliberately done to allow for work to be done on submerged pipes. Once this work is finished, they say, the old level will be restored.

The amount of water that has been drained seems to exceed what has been agreed on, however.

A keen bird-watcher, walker and fisherman, Kensington resident Francois Swanepoel, 63, said he had often visited the lake before the development started and still drove past it every day on the way to work.

“It has dropped about 1,5m over the past three to four weeks and each day it seems to get lower. You can see the wet patch that it leaves behind.

“The water used to go into the reeds, but this area is like a beach nowadays. There is nowhere for the smaller fish to shelter. Surely natural organisms are being killed?”

Flocks of cormorants used to forage like “packs of wolves”, paddling in lines across the water, the reeds were full of weavers, and kingfishers and migrant water birds used to congregate in great numbers at the lake, he said.

“You do not see this life any more and it is obviously linked to the drop in the water level. I don‘t know what they are doing that the water is disappearing, but there is definitely something wrong.”

Kamma Ridge resident André Bolton, 53, said his observation was that the water had dropped by about 2m. He said: “I go past there every day and I‘m very concerned that it is being drained by the development.

“Besides the skiing and fishing that take place here, we need to take care of all our water resources. If it carries on like this they will run the lake dry.”

Greg Smith, the chairman of the new community organisation Nelson Mandela Bay Local Environmentalists (Nimble) said yesterday that, from their observations, by the end of the first week this month, the water in the lake had dropped a metre, and it seemed to be down now by at least 2m.

“If this is the development, surely . . . the approach should have been communicated to the community that uses the lake?

“In line with the ‘fair play‘ motto that has become part of the World Cup, we believe that the construction of our stadium requires fair play to be practised across every spectrum – from job creation and capacity building to environmental protection. The approach we choose could be critical in achieving the victory we hope and pray for.”

Nelson Mandela Bay municipality spokesman Lourens Schoeman said the water had been deliberately drained by 1m to allow stormwater piping to be re-routed.

“The system was running directly under the stadium site which was unacceptable in engineering terms so now it is being re-routed around the side. When they are finished, the lake will be allowed to replenish itself.”

Citing the tight timeframe before 2010 and “national interest”, the municipality applied in October, 2005, for an exemption from the provincial environment department to enable it to proceed with the stadium project without doing a full environmental impact assessment.

Provincial environment department regional deputy-director Leon Els said yesterday that a number of conditions were attached to the exemption.

An environmental control officer was appointed and the department was kept abreast of all aspects of the construction – including the methodology for the necessary re-routing of the stormwater pipes.

He said the job would take three to six months, after which the lake would return to its old level.

Asked about the ecological restoration of the reedbeds, Els said he believed this would happen naturally with the return of the water, but either the department or the municipality would call for rehabilitation to be done, if this was required.

HI,

I know this is not PE but it is not far away. I just wondered if anyone knew about this estate and the developments going on there. Does anyone have any opinions on whether it would be a good place to invest mid term?

I've heard the golf course is good, the game reserve is close by and the development has gone some way to improving the local community. Just wondered if anyone knows more or has further thoughts on this.

Thanks.

Plan to replace region's mud structure schools
30 May 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
The Eastern Cape education portfolio committee has supported the education department's plan to eradicate all mud structure schools

By Dineo Matomela
The Eastern Cape education portfolio committee has supported the education department's plan to eradicate all mud structure schools by 2010.

The chairman of the education portfolio committee, Mahlubandile Qwase, on Monday backed promises by MEC Johnny Makgato replace mud schools by the end of the 2008/9 financial year as a possible feat with the proper planning.

Qwase, who conceded the department had failed to do away with mud schools because of poor planning in recent years, said on Monday the department was now geared up to tackle the backlog of 854 mud schools and hundreds of others which had been declared disaster schools.

"It is possible to see mud schools put aside by the end of 2009 only if the department prioritises the schools, and beefs up its procurement policies and gets all the partners on board to build the schools by 2010," said Qwase.

Early this year, newly appointed MEC Makgato said in his induction speech that mud schools would be eradicated, despite the backlog of 854 schools.

Provincial education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department was pressing ahead with replacing the schools, but R11-billion was needed from the national treasury and partners to make the vision a reality.

He said of the R625-million allocated for infrastructure revamp in the Eastern Cape this year, R90-million had been dedicated to the rehabilitation of mud schools.

Three schools in every district would be rehabilitated.

Pulumani said: "The MEC has indicated he has a radical approach that will result in eradication of mud schools by the end of the 2008/2009 financial year."

"His starting premise is to ensure that he harnesses all social partners who have indicated their willingness to build schools so that the project is a success."

Makgato's approach includes roping in the national treasury and State entities, including the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Telkom, and PetroSA.

Makgato said mud schools would be a forgotten relic by the end of 2009.

The rehabilitation of these schools would entail construction of between three and five classrooms, and combining smaller schools. "We are looking at combining adjacent schools in areas where there are dwindling numbers," Makgato said.

Eastern Province Herald

1. Garden Court Kings Beach - *** - 285 rooms - built 1971,1995
2. Summerstrand Hotel - *** - 241 rooms - built 1971
3. Radisson Port Elizabeth - ***** - 173 rooms - opening 2008
4. City Lodge Port Elizabeth - *** - 148 rooms - built 1989
5. Protea Hotel Edward - *** - 106 rooms - built 1903

R131m boost for Bay transport

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

THE Nelson Mandela Bay municipality will receive R131,2-million from the national treasury in the coming financial year (2007/2008) for 2010 Soccer World Cup transport-related infrastructure.

During this municipal financial year, 2006/2007, which ends next month, the municipality received R68,8-million.

The total the municipality will receive up to 2008/2009 is R518,45-million from the national public transport infrastructure fund.

There are nine transport projects to be implemented by 2010.

These include road construction, pedestrian bridges, public transport modal interchanges, public transport lanes and stops, sidewalks and cycle tracks, transport demand management, purchase of new disabled-friendly low- floor buses, a bus rapid transit system and transport operational plan.

The roads targeted for upgrading are Diaz (Kensington), Peri (South End), Sheya Kulati (New Brighton), Matomela, Seyisi (both KwaZakhele), Heugh Road from First Avenue to Third Avenue (Walmer), Forest Hill Drive Extension and John Tallant (Deal Party).

Speaking during a media briefing yesterday, mayor Nondumiso Maphazi said the road construction programme involved the reconstruction of key roads that were public transport routes, or roads providing access to the 2010 soccer stadium or the airport.

Public transport lanes, stops and shelters will be in Govan Mbeki Avenue, Harrower Road, Kempston Road, Koyana Road and Tyinira Street.

This will involve the construction of dedicated bus lanes on major routes leading to the stadium and the central business district. This is the first phase of the construction of a rapid bus transit system. Public transport modal interchanges will be at Korsten, Njoli Square, Motherwell, the Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth central business districts, Cleary Park and Red Location Museum.

Pedestrian bridges are to be constructed at Addo Road, Sheya Kulati culvert crossing, Commercial Road, Uitenhage Road via Vista and Standford Road at Cleary Park.

Sidewalks and cycle tracks will link the stadium to the central business district and the beachfront. Transport demand management includes upgrading traffic signals on public transport routes and installing CCTV cameras at public transport modal interchanges.

The transport operational plan involves drawing up and implementing a plan for parking, public transport and traffic control, providing for special arrangements for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, including transport arrangements for the Fifa family.

Maphazi said these preparations showed the city‘s commitment to hosting a successful World Cup.

The use of buses and taxis as the preferred mode of transport would be promoted, she said.

Pe's Inner City Outgrows Suburbs - 2007/05/30


Driven by high demand for inner city accommodation and the international trend to live and work within close proximity, rental rates in Port Elizabeth's inner city suburb of Central have outstripped the growth experienced in the more expensive suburban areas.

According to residential letting and management group Trafalgar, rentals in the suburb of Central have grown up to 20% in the past year, against the 8 to 10% growth experienced in Summerstrand.

A year ago two-bedroom flats in Central commanded monthly rentals between R1185 and R1860, while the current demand has pushed the upper level to R2200. Although coming off a larger base, comparative accommodation in Summerstrand currently command rentals between R2420 and R3250.

"This illustrates the degree to which rentals in the inner city have escalated at rates higher than the more expensive, established suburban areas. Rentals are also being pushed by the high demand for accommodation, especially given the lack of vacancies in the inner city," says Andrew Schaefer MD of Trafalgar.

The current portfolio covers 50 000 residential units in 1200 buildings nationally and more than 1m sq m of commercial and industrial premises in the country's major metropolitan centres. As the largest specialised property insurance broker in South Africa, Trafalgar Financial Services also has an insurance book touching R20bn.

Schaefer says Port Elizabeth rentals were "riding the crest of South Africa's burgeoning property market wave" with savvy investors having experienced nearly 30% growth in the past three years.

The Trafalgar rental index released in December reflected how the city was offering sound returns for investors, rising 11 percentage points last year. That came as South African residential rentals notched their largest rise in three years in line with the property market boom.

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Fan parks ‘can have long-term benefits for communities‘

By Guy Rogers Environment & Tourism Editor

VISITING international responsible tourism expert Dr Harold Goodwin says the correct installation of fan parks for the 2010 Soccer World Cup could add huge value to the event for locals.

Goodwin, who is professor of responsible tourism management and director of the International Centre for Responsible Travel at Leeds Metropolitan University in England, is in South Africa at the invitation of South Africa‘s Heritage Environmental Rating Programme.

Speaking to The Herald in Pretoria, Goodwin said the relatively few stadium tickets that would be available to locals and their cost would leave many soccer lovers in South Africa‘s poor communities unable to access the various matches. The fan parks, which will have screens beaming in the action from stadiums around the country, would solve this problem, he said.

“But there is a wonderful opportunity for metros like Nelson Mandela Bay to make them more than that – to make them part of a positive legacy that will be left behind after 2010.”

There were various social and environmental approaches with the fan parks and stadiums which could help to achieve this legacy, he said.

“Maybe there should not be porta-loos that will be taken away afterwards. Maybe this is an opportunity to install proper sewerage and running water that will benefit the community long after the event,” Goodwin said.

“Maybe the lighting that is installed should be used to establish the area in the long term for recreation or games.”

Instead of taking power off the grid, another positive initiative could be to establish a satellite plant with renewable energy like solar.

“After 2010, this option could then be integrated into servicing the community. The same model could be used for waste disposal and for supplying water and reducing unnecessary use.

“Besides this, environmentally friendly materials that have been recycled or manufactured with minimum energy expenditure should be used for any construction.”

He said it was also key to put the fan parks where they were accessible to the biggest supporters of soccer. “In South Africa, that‘s in the townships.”

The head of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality‘s 2010 organising team, Errol Heynes, said he did not agree completely with Goodwin‘s argument on the right venue for the fan parks.

“The logistics for residents in one township to get to another might be worse than to get to the beachfront. Furthermore, this is a World Cup for all South Africans. We have to look at all criteria and that‘s what our proposed study will do.”

Heynes and his team will be meeting other 2010 municipal stakeholders today to propose the launch of a feasibility study to ascertain how many official Fifa fan parks and unofficial public viewing areas there should be in the metro and where they should be situated.

He said that while the concept of legacy was key to 2010, his team was not yet clear how they would apply this to fan parks or public viewing areas.

Municipal environment unit head Dr Paul Martin will be focusing on the environmental legacy, however, with the aim of conforming with Fifa‘s strict “green goal” criteria.

He said he agreed with Goodwin that these areas should be used to spark business, arts and culture opportunities for the community.

Police patrollling Humewood beach
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R174m facelift for PE airport

By Derrick Spies

IN a major boost for the region, the Port Elizabeth Airport is to receive a R174-million upgrade which will include lengthening the runway and building a double-storey parking arcade.

The Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) has announced the upgrade as part of its plans to improve the airport‘s infrastructure ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The move has been praised as a sign of economic growth and investor confidence in the region.

The improvements – which come after a R40-million investment in infrastructure in 2004 – entail the long-debated lengthening of the main runway from 1,8km to 3km to accommodate long-distance, wide-load aircraft.

The other main development is the construction of a R66-million double-level parking facility in front of the main terminal to provide an additional 300 parking bays.

Airport manager Lucas Letsholonyane said although both projects were scheduled for completion by 2010, they were not to be seen as prompted by the Soccer World Cup.

Acsa spokesman Colin Naidoo said the regulator had approved the R108-million capital expenditure on the runway, which included a R5-million preliminary evaluation of the proposal.

This evaluation, which was scheduled to be complete by next year, would include an environmental impact assessment as well as initial design.

“The design will also look at the required turning capacity, the length and width of the runway, and what aircraft it could then accommodate.

“We are planning to have the construction of the runway completed by March 2010.”

Letsholonyane said the 300 new parking bays would be created by converting the current shaded parking and part of the open parking in front of the main terminal into a double-level facility.

“We do currently have sufficient parking with the remote facility adding up to 885 bays.

“We have realised, however, that the remote parking is seen as an inconvenience so we are looking at providing more bays closer by.”

Naidoo said the number of passengers making use of the Port Elizabeth Airport had grown by an unprecedented 11% a year and was sitting at about 1,4-million passengers a year.

“There is no question about the airport‘s capacity and readiness for the World Cup, but it is important to see that these infrastructure developments go far beyond this one event,” he said.

Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce (Percci) chief executive Odwa Mtati said any infrastructure development was welcomed in the city as it showed economic growth and investor confidence.

He was also happy that the Acsa investment had been confirmed, as Percci had been calling for Acsa to invest in the airport.

“This means that bigger planes will be able to land which will benefit the economy of the city, especially tourism,” he said. – Additional reporting By Tabelo Timse spiesd@johncom.co.za

Courtesy of Pule

Private partner being sought in Bayworld‘s plans for development

By Ivor Markman

BAYWORLD in Port Elizabeth announced yesterday that it was looking at a private partner to join in the redevelopment of the famous beachfront complex.

Bayworld director Sylvia van Zyl said a decision had been reached between Bayworld, the Eastern Cape sport, recreation, arts and culture department and Nelson Mandela Bay to support the plans.

Current estimates indicated a construction cost of more than R500-million.

“Given that viability, value for money and satisfactory risk transfer is illustrated, a call for private sector investment will be made,” Van Zyl said.

“In the late 1990s arts and culture, which administers Bayworld, investigated a public-private partnership (PPP), but this was interrupted in the new millennium when the then mayor, Nceba Faku, announced that the city had a grand scheme for redeveloping the Bayworld precinct in Humewood.

“The exciting concept plans were welcomed and applauded from all sectors and significant progress was made in 2005 and ‘06.

“However, pressing social needs and community priorities for both provincial and local government prevented the implementation of the project,” she said.

A decision had now been reached between the department and the municipality to once again proceed with a PPP initiative to fund this project.

“The department has made this decision and will, through due process predetermined by the national Treasury, find whether it is a good one.

“Lots have been learned about PPPs in recent years and we stand to benefit from this. This decision does not say that the government will not provide any funding, but rather that it cannot do it alone.

“Some PPPs require shared investment – I predict this will be the case for Bayworld,” Van Zyl said.

“A great deal has been learned by the government about using PPPs over the past five years as mechanism for funding infrastructure development.

“This time, however, it is envisaged that the scope of the proposed Bayworld PPP will likely be much bigger than that of the 2002 project,” she said.

In the light of expected increased tourism demand for the approaching 2010 Soccer World Cup, short-term arrangements for the continued operation of Bayworld will have to be made.

A long-term strategy to expand the Oceanarium's dolphin programme is being implemented. The two remaining dolphins will temporarily leave the city at some stage in the future, as part of a breeding programme.

Temporary aquarium displays are to be constructed and a new facility built for displaying Cape fur seals and African penguins.

The former Tropical House will be renovated to provide additional space for educational programmes, special events, temporary exhibitions and functions for local business activities.

“We are hatching a minimalist plan for a few new, different and exciting attractions to be created over the next 18 months that will feed into the proposed redevelopment three or four years down the line,” Van Zyl said.

Interested parties are invited to attend an imbizo at Bayworld on Tuesday at 4pm and to take part in the discussions.

EC 2010 stadium in cash crisis
25/06/2007 08:45 - (SA)

Johannesburg - The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has decided to downgrade the city's 2010 Soccer World Cup stadium because the Eastern Cape government has not paid the R212m it previously committed to the project, the Herald Online reported on Monday.

However, the government said it remained committed to the development and would release the funds if the municipality could explain why the budget had shot to more than R1.2bn.

Provincial government spokesperson Phapama Mfenyana said the municipality did not have the authority to make changes to the original design, as the stadium also belonged to provincial government.

"Our contribution is not in question, but Bhisho first wants the municipality to provide a detailed breakdown of what has caused the budget to overshoot to R1.2bn."

It was initially estimated that the Port Elizabeth stadium would cost R250m, but the figure increased to R711m in 2006, and finally to R1.2bn.

This left the municipality with a shortfall of R262m, with the national treasury saying it would not allocate more funds.

Municipal manager Graham Richards said 2010 executive director Errol Heynes had expressed concern at the lack of response by Bhisho to the municipality's request for a guarantee on the provincial government's contribution to the shortfall.

"The matter has become quite urgent and therefore instruction has been given to the technical team to reduce certain areas within the stadium to incur further savings until other sources of revenue are secured," said Richards.

He said the cutbacks would reduce the sustainability of the stadium, but that it would remain Fifa compliant.

The municipality has indicated that one of the elements of the stadium which could be done away with was the roof.

Richards has in the past said that some of the reasons for the increase in the construction budget were increases in the cost of equipment, the high level of construction activity, possible shortages of building materials, possible shortage of skilled labour and the nature of the project, which is considered high risk.

I grew up in the PE region, and really, sometimes I wish those people would wake up. I was down there this weekend, and the weather was AWESOME. They could do SO much more to have a steady flow of tourists all year round...

I was in Port Elizabeth two weekends ago (16 June) and I was again mighty impressed. The streets are so clean, the lawns at the beach front so well maintained. There is hardly any traffic! Plus I took a drive through the city centre (or Central, at least - Western Road, Sahara Oval, etc.), and it is looking great. It is so pretty with all the parks and the many many historic churches. And the apartment buildings are so nice and old-wordly. If ever I had to move to PE, I would definitely prefer Central to any of the garden suburbs.

Bay of decay
28 Jun 2007 - Financial Mail -

Intro
Irish property investor Ken Denton appears to have resorted to some crafty measures to resist the pressure on him to maintain the more than 160 properties he owns in Port Elizabeth

Denton is looking to Steve Biko, the late Eastern Cape struggle hero and black consciousness leader, to save him from municipal officials who want to force him to repair his buildings.

He tells the FM that he is planning to turn part of his 19th-century post office building - described by an official as derelict - into a Biko museum for the 30th anniversary of Biko's death at the hands of apartheid security police. And he will create a shrine in the Sanlam office building where Biko was tortured.

Excited locals thought Denton was a typical foreign investor who would pour millions into turning the city around. Many of his properties have historical significance, such as the post office and some of Port Elizabeth's first houses, in Donkin Street.

But officials have been trying for years, without much success, to get him to fix up the post office building. Heritage activists and Mandela Bay metro officials have accused Denton of being a slumlord for allowing his properties to decay.

But he feels that the media, the FM included, and the city management are being unfair to him. "I'm not a slumlord and your story (FM Fox December 8 2006 ) was not objective," he complains. He says he has tried upgrading his properties. "But I was too far ahead of my time."

To get his Biko project off the ground he has roped in Nyameka Madikizela, former Portnet property manager, a cousin of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and president of the SA Institute of Black Property Professionals. She is also his fiancée.

"People will be able to visit the museum, then stroll down the newly renovated Govan Mbeki Avenue to visit the Sanlam centre," says Denton. "They can also spend time at one of the restaurants I intend placing around the post office. We are working on this plan with the Biko family."

While he is wooing politicians, municipal officials are closing in on him. The FM has learnt that Mandela Bay city manager Graham Richards is about to act against him after spending months analysing the condition of his properties and researching the legal steps to take.

"I don't believe the politicians will be taken in by him," says a senior official who asked to remain anonymous.

"In any case, the post office is in such bad condition it's practically caving in," another adds. "It will take major capital outlay to fix and he has no hope of having it ready by September [the Biko anniversary]. He's just playing for time but it won't work."

PE set to join worldwide mega-concert

By Guy Rogers

PORT Elizabeth is set to join the world this week in celebrating Live Earth, a multi-continent mega-concert aimed at triggering a global movement to solve the climate crisis.

The local event will be staged in St George‘s Park on Saturday to coincide with 24-hour concerts in New York, London, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Hamburg and Johannesburg.

Greg Smith, founder of the Nelson Mandela Bay Local Environmentalists (Nimble), the group organising the concert, said yesterday that a number of bands, dancers and even two praise singers would be performing.

“I‘m flabbergasted at the synergy, in many cases, between our environmental and sustainable livelihoods message and the social change and environmental message that is part of their lyrics and their identity.”

No headline acts have so far committed themselves, but those that have signed on range from rock to jazz, rap, hip-hop and dance. Most had agreed to perform free, while others from poorer communities would be paid a fee, Smith said.

Nimble has no funding but is planning to pay the bill for the stage and equipment hire through donations linked to ticket sales. Donations will be entirely voluntary and people can get in free, or by buying just two or three tickets, for instance, for a family. “The idea is you should contribute how much you can afford and in line with how committed you feel about the issues. Folk should bring a blanket and a picnic basket. The more people who come, the more we can make our voices heard.”

Surplus money will be used to fund future Nimble projects like bolstering the work of the vegetable garden initiative in Missionvale.

Tristen Tayler from the Johannesburg headquarters of Earthlife Africa has agreed to MC the event and will be using the time between acts to address the crowd on various sustainable livelihood issues, Smith said.

“The topical things for us I think are energy, the toxic mega-projects that look like they could be going into Coega – and what our options are around all this.”

Smith said he was hoping to add another dimension to the Port Elizabeth concert with a giant screen which will allow for a link-up with the other concerts around the world.

“It‘s too expensive for us, but we‘re hoping someone out there might read this and come forward.”

read the funniest thing..spice girls are re-united and cape town is part of their world tour...i think its actually for real lol

New York, London, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Hamburg and Johannesburg deffinatly the cities one would assosiate with PE.
Lol

^^HAHA,

& to Mo's post, yeh its true *with an even louder* HAHA! :rofl:

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cool pics were they taken comming into the airport on a commericial flight?

I think my company hired a helicopter and took the pics if i remember correctly.

there was a great article in tomorrows edition of Financial Mail on PE. (subscribers got today) its not on the net yet, but it speaks at great deapth of the need to do imaginative work quick to realise its potential or face never catching the 3 main metros. They do say it is very possible for PE to catch them, but action cant wait any longer.

great image of the world cup stadium site, pity the image is a bit old.

Showjumping legend graces Bay for World Cup qualifying event

By Shaanaaz de Jager

FORMER international showjumping champion Gonda Beatrix is in Port Elizabeth for the World Cup qualifier international competition which started yesterday at the PE Riding Club in Lorraine.

She has eight riders from Cape Town and five from Johannesburg competing in the event which ends on Sunday.

The Port Elizabeth event is the third in a six-leg competition which started in Pietermaritzburg before moving on to Johannesburg. Pretoria hosts the fourth leg, Kimberley the fifth and the final competition takes place in Cape Town.

Event spokesman Jennifer Hooke said the 1,6m World Cup qualifier jumps are a major drawcard for spectators. “Other exciting classes include the Grand Prix with 1,5m jumps and the Mini Prix with 1,4m jumps.”

There are 140 horses jumping in the Port Elizabeth event. This is fewer than usual as some riders are competing in the All Africa Games in Algiers.

The overall winner of this leg will compete in the Federation of Equestrians International (FEI) World Cup final next year in Sweden.

Beatrix, here to motivate her riders with last- minute coaching tips, has many international titles under her belt.

The legendary 63-year-old made her international debut at just 14 years old. Beatrix said her mother Joyce Butters put her on a horse when she was four years old and she never looked back.

At the age of 14 she dropped out of Grade 9 (then Standard Seven) to pursue showjumping.

In the same year, 1958, she won the South of England Championship and was a runner-up in the British National Championship.

She won the South African national showjumping championship 10 times, a record she believes is still standing. The last three years (from 1989 until 1991) that she won this championship she was riding her horse Flaunt. She was also a runner-up on her other horse Watchfire. Both were thoroughbred ex-race horses she trained herself.

She obtained junior Springbok colours in 1958 and senior colours in 1962, and received the sport merit awards three times and the State President‘s award once.

Her last major win was in 1994 when she won the Swiss Ladies‘ International Championship which was an indoor show held in Geneva, Switzerland.

She was inducted into South Africa‘s hall of fame in December last year. One of the highlights of her induction was meeting former rugby Springbok captain Francois Pienaar. “I always wanted to meet him,” she said.

Passionate about fast cars, she admits she‘s a Formula One fanatic and simply loves new sensation Lewis Hamilton. “I think he‘s amazing and mind boggling.” She‘s also crazy about Michael Schumacher who was “in a class of his own”.

Beatrix retired from showjumping in 1995, and started taking coaching seriously seven years ago, and now meets a busy schedule shuttling between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban sharing decades of experience. With her hectic timetable she has been unable to ride for two years.

Beatrix also loves Jack Russell dogs and says her 13-year-old Badja is a frequent companion on coaching trips to Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Beatrix, who has riders taking part in Algiers, was due to attend the competition but has not fully recovered from a back operation earlier this year. She has had back problems since she was a teenager.

Club set to tee off on R250m project
05 Jul 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
The Walmer Country Club unveiled plans for a R250-million development on Wednesday after finally taking ownership of its land last week

By Alvin Reeves
The Walmer Country Club unveiled plans for a R250-million development on Wednesday after finally taking ownership of its land last week.

After protracted negotiations, spread over 10 years, the ownership of the land has now been transferred from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality to the Walmer Country Club.

President Winston Sagar confirmed the move on Wednesday, saying: "After four years of my involvement I can finally get a good night's sleep. Walmer Country Club belongs to its members."

The club will now proceed with a multi-million-rand project and the development is expected to begin within the next few weeks.

"It's a tremendous boost for the area as far as tourism goes. This development will be a future attraction for generations to come," said Sagar.

"Port Elizabeth needs top-quality golf courses to compete with the area between Plett and Mossel Bay."

The development, which Sagar says will create numerous job opportunities for the Walmer township, will include a new R8-million clubhouse, new greens and tees and re-grassed fairways, and a R3,5-million irrigation system. There will be a 2,4m-high, 4km-long electrified boundary wall and a guardhouse, with a new entrance to the club on Buffelsfontein Road. There will also be 40ha of housing.

The members are hoping to move into their new clubhouse by early 2008, after which upgrading of the golf course will begin. The course will not close during the revamping process.

A total of R36-million will be spent on the clubhouse, course, machinery and practice facilities. The clubhouse will also include a restaurant, a pro shop and conference facilities.

The club has approached a design company to advise it on slight changes that should be made to the existing course. The next step is for the developers to request a rezoning of the land earmarked for housing development.

Once the rezoning is approved, construction of the houses will begin and the developers are hoping to have the project completed within two years.

Sagar was unable to confirm how many units would be built and what the pricing would be.

As part of its social awareness programme, the club will place R1-million in a trust fund for the development of disadvantaged golfers.

Eastern Province Herald

The Portfolio Committee on Transport (National Assembly), having undertaken an oversight visits to the national department of Transport and nine host cities.

Main highlights:

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

*Decision to opt for a BRT system as its flagship 2010 public transport legacy project. Route planning complete and low floor, left-door buses to be used on the system.
*Adequate funding has been secured.
*Challenges:
- Operational, business, financial and regulatory models.

*Plan to break the Algoa Bus Company contract into five and combining the Algoa Bus Company and taxi operators into consortia.
*Potential risks identified:
-lack of in-house capacity relating to operational, business, regulatory and financial capacity of BRT
-Slow place in obtaining EIA approvals.
-Lack of clarity around ACSA's plans for Port Elizabeth airport since around 5,000 passengers per day are expected at the airport compared to the current 1,200

06 July 2007

PORT ELIZABETH

Wading through treacle

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By Ian Fife

Port Elizabeth's great property potential faces vast challenges


"It's the next big city, well on its way to achieving the extreme makeover it needs to give the three SA megacities a run for their money," says Gillian Saunders, consultancy Grant Thornton's head of tourism, hospitality and leisure.

It could become a megacity itself, she adds. Mandela Bay, the smallest of SA's six metro cities, incorporating Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch, has other boosters as well. Pam Golding Properties CEO Andrew Golding predicts its property market is the one to watch in 2007. Consultant and researcher Erwin Rode says commercial and industrial property in PE is a good investment. Old Mutual says it is underinvested in the city.

All the big local and international property developers the FM has spoken to have an eye on possible deals there, from call centres to leisure resorts.

WHAT IT MEANS
Developers are keen to develop PE properties
One landlord, owning 160 buildings, is resisting change

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What excites them is the 1 039 ha of property in and around Port Elizabeth's central business district. This encompasses probably the most complete assembly of historic and heritage buildings in SA, straddling the city's hilly, northern inner suburbs and close to 200 ha of development land stretching between the CBD's southern edge and the seafront 100 m away.

Commercial activity in the city is growing, the vast new Ngqura port and adjacent Coega industrial development zone are at last taking off, and the city's airport is about to get an upgrade. Add a relatively stable population of 1,1m and you have a metro on the threshold of a great leap forward.

Two men must engineer that leap: city manager Graham Richards and Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) CEO Pierre Voges. They have a lot hanging on their plans. Key Mandela Bay economic indicators lag behind the other five cities, Johannesburg, Tshwane, eThekwini, Cape Town and Ekurhuleni. PE has the highest unemployment, the slowest employment growth rate, the highest percentage of households in the five most deprived social categories, the lowest use of public transport and the lowest human development index (see graphs on page 66).

Manufacturing is its biggest economic contributor, but services - mainly tourism - are its only real hope of catching up. The city's waterfront and heritage suburbs are the key to that growth.

There are obstacles. The waterfront land belongs to Transnet's ports division, which will move only when the Ngqura port is completed in 2008. It must also take a petrol tank farm and a manganese ore dump with it at a cost of billions that it is reluctant to spend.

But those are minor problems compared with the enormous overhead highway, similar to Cape Town's, which divides the city from the sea and its main arterial.

Voges estimates it could cost R3bn to convert part of the highway into a tunnel but Mandela Bay's total capital budget for the next five years is about R7bn. He worries that private capital may not be found for this project. A few years ago he would have been right. SA property developers were licking their wounds from 30 difficult years.

But developers have new confidence, encouraged by recent development successes and large international investors like Australia's Macquarie, Kuwait's IFA and the UK's London & Regional investing billions in SA. They are prepared to take a longer view and invest more money. Developers say the R3bn is small change for the 3m m² more leisure and resort opportunity PE's waterfront offers, worth at least R45bn.

Some of the land next to leafy suburbs Summerstrand, Humewood and Walmer, and the main beachfront, leisure and residential area could be developed before the road is transformed. Moreton Bay and Humepark, belonging to Transnet, and a military base are all non core government assets. "But getting these to development is like wading through treacle," says Richards.

Voges is concentrating on some smaller and easier victories; Govan Mbeki Ave, the CBD's main street, will be redeveloped into a pedestrian-friendly mall by September, boosting trade, employment and tourism opportunities; the Tramways building in the Baakens Valley, next to the CBD, will be awarded to a developer in the next few weeks, and proposals to build an international convention centre are being invited.

While this is going on, Richards has turned his attention to the city's biggest and most immediate problem: Irish property investor Ken Denton. Denton began buying up CBD properties about eight years ago and has built up a portfolio of more than 160 buildings. Most of these are in the historic central area. They include the city's most famous townhouses in Donkin Street and the mid-19th century post office and make up a precinct of heritage institutional buildings, including Feathermarket Hall, the City Hall and the Opera.

Denton is no stranger to accusations of slumlordism in his native Ireland, according to Noseweek magazine. Many of his properties are neglected and in decay.

Attempts to get him to clean up his buildings have failed. Heritage activists complain that the Eastern Cape's heritage board could force him to fix his buildings, but is dysfunctional.

Now it's alleged that Denton is calling on political connections to block moves against him.

A task team appointed by Richards has spent four months researching legal options and making common cause with organisations affected by Denton, including the heritage board, which has the right to inspect and take over buildings. "It is no good dealing with the problem building by building," says Richards. "We must take general action. Expropriation offers limited possibilities because of the narrow application of current ordinances and because we will need to fund forced purchases."

Developers say Richards could fund expropriation by putting the properties on proposal call to them before expropriating them, and then selling to the winning proposers.

Richards says he will make it clear to Denton that the city is in a strong bargaining position to force his hand.

06 July 2007

Port Elizabeth

At home alone

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By Ian Fife

Loners like Ken Denton are not unusual in property. The biggest property owner in central Port Elizabeth finds the pressure on him (see main story) intrusive and unfair. Clearly he would prefer to be left alone with his 160 properties.

The unfairness comes, says Denton, because PE's modernisation can't progress as fast as Cape Town's or Durban's and he wants to improve his buildings at what he sees as an appropriate pace. It is poorer, has less new money coming into it and the overhead highway is "a huge challenge ". Upgrading buildings and, most important, providing parking would be a prohibitive cost with little chance of profit, Denton says.

He has tried upgrading his properties, for instance a 15-flat unit for student accommodation. "But I was too far ahead of my time," he adds. "We have to move more slowly. People with a European background complain about the deterioration of the city, but they don't understand that most residents are students who can't afford high rents. These Victorian buildings don't have gardens or parking. I can't make the city competitive with other cities on my own."

Denton neither talks with the enthusiasm nor displays the vision of a property developer.

He agrees: "I'm not a developer or a visionary. I'm an investor."

He insists he has spent money upgrading his properties. The FM puts it to him that these were commercial properties in which investment would immediately enhance his cash flow and he concedes this.

Why doesn't he put his properties into partnerships with developers, who would almost certainly find profitable conversion of many of his properties? He could put in the land and they could provide the money and development expertise. They would also help him make a contribution to upgrading the city.

"As an investor, I am my own customer and answerable to myself," he responds. "I am reasonably confident I can solve the problems the city has with my properties and don't see the necessity to go into partnerships."

Despite his protestations it seems clear that Denton will resist any pressure on him to improve his properties beyond what he considers necessary. Denton is trying to woo PE politicians by announcing plans to turn part of the post office into a Steve Biko museum in time for the 30th anniversary of Biko's death and build a shrine in the Sanlam building, where Biko was tortured.

It's difficult to see how PE will successfully upgrade its historic urban fabric, a key to the city's growth, while he remains a property owner.

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This would make for a great banner for P.E, just need to resize it abit, maybe some how include the stadium & Coega too.

Spoornet to invest R1,6bn in Coega line
12 Jul 2007 - Business Day -

Intro
Rail utility Spoornet would spend an extra R1,6bn in the next four years to build new railway lines linking Coega and Lephalale (Waterberg) coal mines to its national rail network

The aim is to create capacity before demand rises and bring bulk freight back to rail.

The new investment is not part of the R35,8bn Spoornet will use to buy new locomotives and wagons and install signals systems in the next five years.

Spoornet finance executive Johan Bouwer said yesterday that the state-owned group would spend R817m on constructing a railway line connecting the port of Ngqura to the existing track in Port Elizabeth. The other portion of the budget would be used to electrify parts of the existing rail line between Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.

Capacity of the rail link between Northern Cape and Port Elizabeth would be improved.

Of Spoornet’s 20047km national rail network, only 8441km was electrified. The plan was to electrify all the major rail corridors .

Bouwer said a further R800m would be used to construct a rail link between the Lephalale coal mines and Richards Bay Coal Terminal. Although the power utility would use most of the coal from the Limpopo-based mines, substantial volumes would be exported to Europe and China.

Customers have blamed Spoornet for chronic capacity constraints and inefficiencies. Derailments added to Spoornet’s challenges.

These problems led to the parastatal losing most of its customers to road freighters.

Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said last year that the failure of Spoornet to cope with the increasing demands of the growing economy for rail freighting had reduced the country’s economic growth.

He said rail traffic grew only 0,3% between 1993 and 2004, while road traffic rose 5%. In addition, the number of new trucks on South Africa’s roads had risen 16,5% in the past three years whereas the number of locomotives and wagons had decreased 33% and 28% respectively in the same period.

Despite these challenges, Spoornet managed to increase its revenue 4% to R14,6bn in the 2006-07 financial year.

Spoornet CEO Siyabonga Gama said in May that the rail company now had a market share of about 10%. The plan was to claw back lost business opportunities, and have a market share of at least 30% in the next five years.

To achieve this objective, the company had placed an order for 110 new locomotives, and a tender for a further 212 new locomotives would be issued soon.

The majority of the new trains would be used to boost the capacity of the ailing General Freight Business (GFB) unit.

Last year, the GFB division transported 80-million tons of freight, and the plan was to double the volume by 2011.

Spoornet said the new acquisitions and improved operational efficiencies would enable it to move about 226-million tons of freight from 2012.

This would be achieved by increasing to 300 (from 200) the number of wagons each locomotive was able to pull.

Gama said the capacity of the dedicated coal export railway line between Ermelo and the Richards Bay Coal Terminal would be increased to 84-million tons a year from 78-million tons a year by 2009.

About R5bn had been budgeted for this project, and a further R4bn would be spent on the dedicated iron-ore export line between Sishen and Saldanha Bay.

Spoornet said it would use its competitive advantage of being able to transport huge quantities of freight at cheaper rates to reclaim its market share on the Durban-Johannesburg corridor.

Volumes enjoyed by Spoornet on this route peaked at 76 000 tons a day in the 1989-90 financial year, but have dropped to about 50 000 tons a day because of competition from road transport.

About 514 old wagons would be repaired this year, while those that had reached the end of the lifespan would be decommissioned.

“The plan is to have a smaller but more capable fleet. We want to be able to do more with less,” Spoornet said.

Waterfront on track with IDZ rail upgrade announcement

By Patrick Cull Political Editor

PORT Elizabeth‘s waterfront may finally become a reality with the way officially cleared to remove the manganese facility and oil farm to create a modern harbour for the city.

Public Enterprise Minister Alec Erwin announced in Parliament yesterday the railway line between the Coega industrial development zone and the Northern Cape would be significantly upgraded “for the export of minerals”.

Announcement of the upgrade signals the first step towards clearing the existing harbour before creating a waterfront that will link with the development envisaged for North End once the tank farm has been relocated.

Irwin said the railway line between the Northern Cape and the Coega IDZ was to be upgraded to “facilitate the minerals export ramp-up”.

Replying to a written question from Eddie Trent (DA), the minister said the upgrading was linked to the expansion of the Port of Ngqura.

Erwin said the upgrade programme included electrification of the second line between Kimberley and De Aar, increase of energy supply to the Spoornet network between Hotazel and Ngqura and the extension of crossing loops between Hotazel and the port.

He said it was anticipated the work would be completed by the second half of 2009. Work on the rail terminal for containers had started in January, while the marshalling yards and the electrification programme would start in January and July respectively next year.

The line will be used to transport iron ore and manganese from the Northern Cape and it is therefore likely the manganese facility in the Port Elizabeth harbour could be relocated to Ngqura once the railway line and port are operational.

The ore is likely to be shipped to China and will offer a significant saving for the mining companies as the new port is 2½ days closer to the East than Saldanha, far offsetting the additional rail time.

Last September the CDC signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian investment firm Renova, which is undertaking a feasibility study for the development of a value chain comprising a mine and sinter plant in the Northern Cape, a ferro-alloy smelter at Coega and the export of bulk manganese ore through Ngqura.

Erwin spelt out his plan for the Port Elizabeth harbour when addressing a property conference last year, noting that urban development in the harbour was currently “constrained” by the location of the manganese ore and oil terminals on prime real estate close to the CBD.

lets see if this works

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It doesn't work Mo and the reason is that for one to post images, there must be a file extension like jpg etc.

Port Elizabeth has an airport, though it is not an international one. In preparation for the 2010 World Cup, the runway will be extended with a view to accommodate international passengers.

Reopened Bay office beats all expectations

30 Jul 2007 - Inet Bridge -

By Bob Kernohan

Reopening a specialist property division to serve what was thought at Johannesburg head office to be a dormant market in the Eastern Cape has paid big dividends, says its regional manager.

"More has happened on the Nelson Mandela Bay and Eastern Cape property market in just the past three years than had taken place in the last 10 years," Standard Bank property finance regional manager Charl de Coning told a meeting of the SA Property Owners' Association last week.

"Standard's head office decided to close down the property branch in Port Elizabeth several years ago because of a lack of business. But they decided to reopen again at the beginning of 2005 when they saw the local boom starting.

"This has meant that from being a one-man operation when I opened the office at that time, we now have a staff of four, and business is good."

De Coning said in an interview after the Sapoa meeting that from a zero base, the regional office now had a list of 60 clients and had completed in the region of 70 deals, ranging between R1,5-million to R50-million, in commercial and industrial properties.

"We have exceeded all head office expectations and are already at 120% of our target for the year after only seven months. It looks like we could end up at 150%."

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The four-star 58-room Beach Hotel in Port Elizabeth will become apartments if the city approves a 19-storey mixed-use tower that will be built on the site of the hotel. The tower will comprise apartments, restaurants and conference facilities. The Port Elizabeth Hotel Group owns the hotel in Humewood and it will likely be run on a sectional-title basis with a hotel rental pool instead of the traditional full-service hotel operation that exists today.

I just created a new thread on it in the Projects section with more info on it.

still amazed at the South African stadiums requiring so many cranes, 6 in PE nogal

Revitalisation of PE CBD starting to take shape

By Max Matavire Metro Editor

PORT ELIZABETH‘S central business district will be the ideal place for people to live, work and play when the Mandela Bay Development Agency completes all its projects aimed at revitalising the area.

The projects being undertaken or at feasibility stages are the R25-million second-phase upgrading of Govan Mbeki Avenue, the R21-million upgrading of Parliament Street from Rink Street to Lawrence Street, the multi-million-rand redevelopment of the old tramways building on the corner of Valley Road and Baakens Street and the redevelopment of the taxi rank on the corner of Govan Mbeki Avenue and Russell Road into a transport interchange.

The MBDA, working closely with municipal departments, is now calling for the environmental upgrading of the second phase of the Govan Mbeki Avenue project – the area between Donkin Street and Russell Road.

Design teams for this project and the Parliament Street project have already been appointed.

“Tenders for both projects will go out by October, with contractors being appointed in December. Construction starts in the middle of January,” said MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges.

“The first phase of the Govan Mbeki Avenue upgrade, which was to be completed by this month, is extended for another two months since contractors encountered unforeseen problems when relining the huge sewer pipes running underneath the street.”

He said the beautification process had already started with the planting of trees and the lighting of the side streets which lead to Strand Street.

“It is beginning to take shape. After completion, the CBD will never be the same again. People will see that the inconvenience caused during the works was worthwhile,” said Voges. The staircase between Shoprite and the Old Mutual will be replaced with an electric escalator which will link Chapel Street to Govan Mbeki Avenue. Voges said this project would be completed towards the end of next year.

For the Govan Mbeki Avenue second phase, he said, a consulting team would undertake the planning, preparation of concept plans, working drawings and contract documentation during the latter half of this year.

“As part of the planning process, interested and affected parties are invited to attend a series of public meetings regarding this environmental upgrading work,” he said. A first round of meetings has been scheduled for tomorrow at the MBDA offices on the 7th floor of Kwantu Towers.

The meetings will outline and introduce the project, and develop a list of issues that need to be resolved and then jointly prioritise them.

Voges also revealed that a “preferred” developer for the old tramways building has been chosen. “We will now take this to the housing and land committee for approval. The redevelopment starts in January.

“It is an expensive redevelopment project and will serve as a catalyst for all developments in the Baakens River valley.”

Voges said consultants for the redevelopment of the taxi rank at the corner of Russell Road and Govan Mbeki Avenue had been appointed. The idea is to develop the taxi rank into a modern facility, with a retail component on top and with strong anchor tenants.

“It will be a transport interchange, with construction starting at the end of next year.

“The city is really moving forward. Our mantra is to make sure our mandate area is the ideal place for people to live, work and play in, and it is starting to happen,” said a confident Voges.

just what we were talking about

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Eh, a few random pictures :banana:

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sadly they are only spending R10m on an upgrade... not the redevelopment of R500m like initially touted. sad

Goodbye to dolphins as Bayworld upgrades
13 Aug 2007 - Inet Bridge -

By Derrick Spies

The icons of Port Elizabeth – its two remaining dolphins – are to be relocated elsewhere as part of a multi-million rand upgrade to the Bayworld Oceanarium.

The move places doubt as to whether the city will ever boast a dolphin family again. It is dependent on funding being secured for full redevelopment of the complex‘s facilities.

Bayworld is being upgraded ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, which will see dolphins Domino and Dumisa relocated to another institution sometime next year, with the result that they will not feature as a tourism drawcard during the event.

Bayworld director Sylvia van Zyl said the series of upgrades, to cost in excess of R10-million, had already begun at the Tropical House and would include the revamping of the snake park and penguin and seal facilities.

Van Zyl said the main task next year would be to relocate Domino and Dumisa to another institution where a larger population of dolphins would allow for greater social interaction as well as breeding opportunities for brother and sister.

“We have already examined some of the options available to us and have started negotiations with an institution where the existing composition of their dolphin population is receptive,” she said.

Although Van Zyl would not say which institution was involved in negotiations as nothing had been finalised.

The two dolphins would not be returned to Bayworld until the dolphin pool had been significantly upgraded as originally planned.

“We are looking at converting the current pool once Domino and Dumisa have been moved to accommodate the fur seals and penguins. It is disappointing that we will not have our main attraction here during the Soccer World Cup, but we want to ensure that visitors can come here and enjoy other presentations, like such as the fur seals,” she said.

The front section of the pool, near the grandstands, would house an exhibition area for the seals to entertain visitors, while the shallow end at the back, would be modified and a breeding island built to house the penguins, Van Zyl said.

The project would also include demolishing an area behind the snake park to convert into a garden and replacing the current tropical fish aquarium with three smaller, more modern fish tanks.

“These are not the R500-million upgrades proposed a few years ago by previous mayor Nceba Faku, but rather a series of smaller upgrades to improve the facilities ahead of 2010.”

Van Zyl said work on the Tropical House had already begun and included sealing the dome and replacing sections of the flat roof to make the building watertight.

She said the inside structures would also be demolished and replaced with a flat floor surface to create a conference facility and display rooms.

“We are also looking at demolishing a section at the back of the snake park to convert into a garden area which we could use for setting up a marquee tent for special events, or simply as a recreational space.”

In the late 1990s, the department of sports, recreation, arts and culture, which administers Bayworld, investigated a public private partnership (PPP) to redevelop the fading attraction into the world-class tourism destination that it had been in the past.

Then, in 2002, those plans were shelved when Faku proposed the full-scale redevelopment of Bayworld as part of the vision 20/20 project.

After the initial announcement, however, there was very little in terms of actual development as the project was bounced around between pillar and post and eventually handed over to the Mandela Bay Development Agency.

Funding for the redevelopment, which was originally estimated at R200-million and has since grown to R500-million, was going to be sourced from overseas.

However, this fundraising plan was put aside by the new executive mayor, Nondumiso Maphazi.

At the end of 2006, Van Zyl said the delay in renovations was because the department and the municipality had “different agendas in the transformation of the established institution (Bayworld), and was proving to be complex”.

A decision has now been reached between the two to once again proceed with a PPP initiative to fund the project.

“Should the funding be secured to go ahead with the major redevelopment, all the animals will be moved offsite,” she said.

The full redevelopment of the facilities includes a significant upgrade to the dolphin pool which will include configurations for a veterinary pool and maternity pool, allowing staff to separate dolphins as necessary.

“Given that viability, value for money and satisfactory risk transfer is illustrated, a call for private sector investment will be made,” Van Zyl said.

Macozoma pushing to move tanks to Coega

By Patrick Cull Political Editor

BUSINESS heavyweight and former Transnet managing director Saki Macozoma has emerged at the forefront of the bid to relocate the oil tanks and manganese ore dump from the Port Elizabeth harbour to Coega.

Macozoma, the new chairman of the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), says he is “confident” that the government can be persuaded to relocate the oil tanks and the manganese facility, but warns that it “will not be easy” and that there are significant costs involved.

The challenge would be to “convince the government that it would be beneficial to move the manganese and oil tanks. It is do-able but I would not like to put time frames to it”.

The two facilities need to be relocated to allow the existing harbour to be developed as a waterfront. Their continued existence has already cost the city the possibility of the liner QE2 being moored there permanently.

Speaking after chairing his first board meeting yesterday, Macozoma said the issue of the relocation had been discussed at length and that with the MBDA having done all it could to reach agreement with Transnet, which owns the land, it had been decided that “the board must take it further”.

Macozoma said he was “familiar with the details” of the planned relocation. There were two issues that made relocation extremely complex.

The first was the costs involved. These were “pretty high”, with about R200-million needed just for the rehabilitation of the site because of the seepage that had taken place over time. Transnet would not carry that cost because “it did not see value added” in doing so.

“The only recourse we have is to the Transnet shareholder – the State – to convince them that it must be done.”

The second issue was that the company using the manganese facility in the Port Elizabeth harbour would, if given a choice, use Saldanha “and we might get a solution that we do not want if it does not go to Coega”.

Macozoma said the creation of a ferro-alloys cluster at Coega was critical. If the manganese ore was shipped through Saldanha, upgrading the railway line between the IDZ and the Northern Cape would “not be worthwhile”.

The solution, he said, lay in creating a situation where the parties involved – Transnet and the departments of trade and industry, public enterprises, minerals and energy and the national Treasury, as well as the office of the President – would “share the pain”, each bearing a portion of the costs.

Macozoma said it was important for the metro and the province to join in raising the issue. If the relocation did not take place “the regeneration of the city will not be complete”.

Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 soccer World Cup transport-related infrastructure projects

By: Sheila Barradas
Published: 6 Jul 07 - 0:00

Name and location
Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 soccer World Cup transport-related infrastructure projects.

Project description
According to the Eastern Cape Business News, there are nine transport projects to be implemented by 2010, in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.

These include road construction, pedestrian bridges, public transport modal interchanges, public transport lanes and stops, sidewalks and cycle tracks, transport-demand management facilities, the purchase of new disabled-friendly low-floor buses, a rapid-bus transit system, and a transport operational plan.

The road construction project involves the reconstruction of key roads that are public transport routes, or roads providing access to the 2010 soccer stadium or the airport. The roads targeted for upgrading are Diaz (Kensington), Peri (South End), Sheya Kulati (New Brighton), Matomela, Seyisi (both KwaZakhele), Heugh road from First avenue to Third avenue (Walmer), Forest Hill drive Extensio, and John Tallant (Deal Party).

The public transport lanes, stops and shelters will be in Govan Mbeki avenue, Harrower road, Kempston road, Koyana road and Tyinira street.

This will involve the construction of dedicated bus lanes on major routes leading to the stadium and the central business district (CBD). This is the first phase of the construction of a rapid-bus transit system.
Public transport modal interchanges will be at Korsten, Njoli Square, Motherwell, the Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth CBDs, Cleary Park, and Red Location Museum.

Pedestrian bridges are to be built at Addo road, Sheya Kulati culvert crossing, Commercial road, Uitenhage road through Vista and Standford road at Cleary Park.

Sidewalks and cycle tracks will link the stadium to the CBD and the beachfront.

Transport demand management will include the upgrading of traffic signals on public transport routes and installing CCTV cameras at public transport modal interchanges.

The transport operational plan will involve drawing up and implementing a plan for park-ing, public transport and traffic control, and providing for special arrangements for the 2010 soccer World Cup.

Value
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro will receive R131,2-million from the National Treasury in the coming financial year (2007/8) for 2010 soccer World Cup transport-related infrastructure.

Duration
The projects are expected to be implemented by 2010.

Breakdown of main contracts
Not stated.

Client
Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.

Latest developments
None stated.

Participants
None stated.

Construction materials
Not stated.

On budget and on time?
Too early to state.

Top Story : Dining, no drugs with PE upgrade
2007/08/23

By the end of 2008, al fresco dining and shopping will have replaced drug dealing and the other criminal activities that currently occur in Parliament Street in Port Elizabeth.

That's the hope of Port Elizabeth councilor Jeremy Davis, who was commenting after last week's public meeting regarding the R10m upgrade of the thoroughfare. "This was the first public meeting in this regard, it hopefully heralds the start of the long-awaited revitalisation of the area," he says.

He adds the proposed upgrade will not only enhance the aesthetics of the area, but should also address its crime problem while simultaneously pushing up property values and rentals.

His sentiments are endorsed by Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) chief executive Pierre Voges, who says the project forms a small but important part of the Nelson Mandela Bay urban renewal plan. Essentially, the upgrade will see the creation of a Eurocentric street café environment where people have access to a variety of restaurants, shops and entertainment facilities in a safe, cosmopolitan urban area.

Authorised and funded by the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, the project should be well underway by February 2008, says Jonathan Mercer, Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) town planning consultant and project manager. Emphasising the importance of community input, he says feedback from regular public meetings going forward will allow the Agency's consultants to finalise plans regarding the widening of sidewalks and the implementation of additional security measures and hopefully even a community forum.

"The business community in particular has a major and direct role to play in terms of managing the street and its events while at the same time helping to eradicate crime and grime," he says.

Mercer says the intention is to kick-start the undertaking with an inspection of services, upgrading them where necessary. Once this has been done, the project will enter the second phase in which the kerb lines will be widened to encourage restaurants to spread out on to the sidewalks.

Traffic calming measures and additional safe parking are integral parts of the project. The final phase will encompass tree planting, the installation of additional lighting, closed circuit television (CCTV) and street furniture, as well as new paving and sculptures.

The project has received a positive response from local landlords and residents, and Davis hopes the upgrade will encourage residential and commercial property owners to take a new look at their existing tenants.

"Considering that property values are set to increase as the area improves, they can finally afford to get rid of poor tenants who are part of the iniquitous and criminal activity in the area and replace them with a better calibre person."

According to Clyde Young, principal of Realty Wize, residential and commercial property values in and around Parliament Street have already started rising. He says this is partly because of the proposed upgrade, and also because of strong local and foreign investor interest, the desirable location of the area and the tax incentives on offer.

According to Young, entry level purchasing starts at around R220k for a bachelor flat, while two-bedroom apartments are now selling for R350k or more. – Ingrid Smit

I hate to read about this kind of news, but again its Eastern Cape. what will these province provide to tourists in 2010 if projects like these do not proceed. It was the signature bridge, the Statue of Freedom and now this one? I hope the Autorities realise the fact that 2010 is a marketing opportunity for the country.

Bay project in jeopardy

By Tabelo Timse

NELSON Mandela Bay‘s most ambitious development proposal, the R4,5-billion Madiba Bay Leisure Park along Marine Drive which has been in the pipeline for six years, will be canned if developers don‘t speed up the project.

At a full council meeting yesterday, the municipality threatened to pull the plug on the project unless developers finished phase two within the next two months.

During a heated council meeting, municipal manager Graham Richards said if the development did not proceed, the lease would lapse

However, the DA objected, saying the project could not go ahead because it was awaiting a Record of Decision from provincial government. They said the delay was out of the developer‘s hands.

The project was launched in 2001 and the lease of nearly 6 000ha of municipal-owned coastal land was signed the following year. The land runs for 32km along Marine Drive through Schoenmakerskop to Sardinia Bay and up to 6km inland, part of it abutting the Port Elizabeth Airport and Driftsands Drive.

Plans include an eco-precinct, a coastal leisure area and a game area. There are also plans for an agri-precinct close to the airport, an adventure precinct, and a golf precinct on the coast. The park will include an area where tourists can view the Big Five and other animals.

Accommodation – including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and self-catering units – are also on the cards, as is a retail area. All would have an African architectural theme. There are also plans for a huge London Eye-type ferris wheel in the park.

A recommendation to the council, tabled yesterday, said the developers, Eastcape Showcase, formerly Madiba Bay Holdings, needed to “bring phase two to a conclusion”. It did not explain what phase two entailed.

It also said the lessee (developer) should be advised that a reasonable period had now elapsed and that it was put on notice to comply with the phase two requirements within the next two months, failing which the lease would lapse. The two months was effective from August 23, when Eastcape Showcase was sent an official letter by the council.

The recommendation was part of a report on the progress of the Madiba Bay project submitted to Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi.

However, Madiba Bay Leisure Park director Johann Dreyer told The Herald last night he had complied with the terms and conditions of the lease and that he would be meeting Richards soon to discuss the issue. He declined to comment further.

In March, Dreyer said total investment by the time the project was completed was expected to be more than R4,5-billion. He also said international funders were interested in getting involved with the project.

He said 400 jobs would be created in the initial stages.

Once that was complete, work would begin on building roads and developing a number of nodes.

At yesterday‘s meeting, DA councillor Stanford Slabbert defended the development, saying Richards had based his findings on a report that had not been made public. Only the mayor had seen the report.

He was unhappy about the recommendation and felt it was unreasonable because the developer had struggled for many years to get an environmental impact assessment.

He said Dreyer had spent more than R30-million on reports to show exactly what the project would entail.

Slabbert said Dreyer had waited three years for an EIA and that he still had not received a Record of Decision from the provincial department of environment affairs.

He warned that the municipality should be careful how it dealt with investors, especially after they had spent so much trying to develop the region.

However, Richards said the developer had an option of speaking to the municipality to discuss the terms of the contract. He insisted there was nothing wrong with the resolution which was asking the developer to perform.

Councillor Lesley Lowe asked Richards if he had met with Dreyer to discuss his concerns.

Richards replied that he had met with Dreyer on several occasions.

The report had been commissioned because the developer was not complying.

timset@johncom.co.za

The Herald

September 11, 2007

By Bianca Capazorio Business Correspondent

PORT Elizabeth is to get a 300- room hotel alongside the airport as part of the Airports Company of SA‘s plans to build three hotels in the country before the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

Acsa yesterday appealed to interested parties to submit proposals for building the hotels.

Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth were the three centres named as sites for airport hotels.

The hotels for both Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein are expected to have around 300 rooms, while the new hotel at O R Tambo International is expected to have 1 000 rooms.

“The hotels are expected to be ready before March 31, 2010, for the Fifa Soccer World Cup,” Acsa‘s advertisement read.

The hotels will be funded and owned by Acsa. The hotel operator will lease the building from the company for 30 years. Developers could submit proposals for any of the hotels, the advert said.

“The developer should (already) have developed hotels in excess of 250 rooms, or commercial properties up to the value of R300-million and at least one single commercial development of R100-million,” Acsa said.

The hotel operator should have a minimum of five years‘ relevant experience as an independent entity, or in the case of new companies, at least three executive directors or senior management members with five years‘ experience each in the relevant disciplines.

The Port Elizabeth airport hotel, earmarked for a 6 000m² site, according to Acsa‘s website, will be one of a number of hotels being developed with the World Cup in mind.

Already hotels are planned for Marine Drive and Bluewater Bay, and the city‘s Beach Hotel is also earmarked for a massive expansion and upgrade.

Nelson Mandela Bay has a shortage of 21 193 beds for the 2010 event, according to tourist projections by Match, the event services company mandated by Fifa to be responsible for accommodation. The city requires 27 400 beds for the event, and in June this year had only 6 207.

Acsa has over the past few years been pursuing an aggressive strategy of property development.

The company already owns the InterContinental Airport Sun Hotel at O R Tambo, as well as the property on which the Road Lodge Hotel stands at Cape Town International.

These hotels are in line with Acsa‘s vision to create what it calls “aerocities” on its website.

The company is also looking to logistics as a key area of property development. Land alongside Port Elizabeth‘s airport has already been advertised for potential lease by commercial or industrial developers.

An Acsa spokesman yesterday confirmed the project but did not respond to queries regarding the hotel.

capazoriob@johncom.co.za

Comment from a friend who went to PE for holidays last week

"
right now i'm in PE CBD, all I can say, CT watch out, PE is coming with full force, the place is being renovated, I'm in Goven Mbeki Str. As u said, just like Main Street in Jozi, they are busy baba, there are nice hanging places already.
very clean i must say. When u decide to go for holiday next time,try PE baba...
The Beach is very clean, Summerstrand is the place. Its next to University(u know what i mean) and Airport.

Pity i have to go now, phela i'm using taxis, this place is more nicer at night. Security is all over the place, I'm using my phone without worries, like in Jozi, Gangsters paradise eish maar, living in fear every where u go."

Stadium must be ready even if costs going up, says Heyns

By Bianca Capazorio Business Correspondent

NELSON Mandela Bay‘s World Cup stadium may be slightly behind schedule due to rising costs, but the city has to be ready as the date of the tournament is set in stone.

This was the word from Nelson Mandela Bay 2010 director Errol Heyns, speaking at a breakfast focusing on the World Cup in the Eastern Cape.

Heyns said the stadium, which would cost between R1,3-billion and R1,5-billion, “might be a little bit behind schedule”, mostly because of rising costs.

Heyns said costs were bound to rise in a market where there were fewer competitors vying for the work.

He gave as an example the Korsten modal interchange tender which forms part of the municipality‘s 2010 transport plans, which was initially advertised at a cost of R30-million.

“In the first round, no one in South Africa tendered, but when we advertised it a second time, the tenders were coming in at around R60-million,” he said.

Despite the delays, however, Heyns said Nelson Mandela Bay had no choice but to be ready as the tournament was a “fixed date in the future that cannot be shifted”.

In addition to major infrastructure developments, the city was also creating a state-of-the-art geographical information system (GIS), modelled along similar lines to the Google Earth programme that would allow users to find registered accommodation anywhere in the city.

In addition to being able to pinpoint accommodation information, users of the web-based system would also be able to determine distances between various points in the city, as well as locate a host of other services such as pharmacies.

This would be ready within “three or four months”, Heyns said.

The city was also structuring its volunteer programme. A national decision taken about the programme was that sign-up would be entirely internet-based.

“This is a world-class event and we want to raise our people up to a worldclass standard, so we are going to have to think of getting internet access to those in the rural areas at libraries and in community centres, so they can be a part of this,” Heyns said.

A lot of effort and money needed to be put in now, in order to reap the benefits after 2010. “Almost 65 per cent of World Cup tourists are males between the ages of 18 and 45. They come here to party and we have to provide them with a party. But we must also ensure that they want to come back again with their families,” he said.

Also speaking at the breakfast were Eastern Cape Tourism Board head Naledi Burwana-Bisiwe, who highlighted the importance of making the Eastern Cape visible to international tourists through branding.

She said the board was working on general branding, but would be able to focus branding once the preliminary team draws had taken place on November 25.

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism head Fezekile Tshiwula said attention needed to be given to the fact that of the 32 teams taking part in the World Cup, eight were from South America and most spoke Spanish, or in the case of Brazil, Portuguese.

“A lot of these people have no idea where South Africa is, let alone Nelson Mandela Bay, and we need to bear in mind that marketing in English is not going to bring them here. We need to develop marketing material in those languages,” he said.

Comment from a friend who went to PE for holidays last week

"
right now i'm in PE CBD, all I can say, CT watch out, PE is coming with full force, the place is being renovated, I'm in Goven Mbeki Str. As u said, just like Main Street in Jozi, they are busy baba, there are nice hanging places already.
very clean i must say. When u decide to go for holiday next time,try PE baba...
The Beach is very clean, Summerstrand is the place. Its next to University(u know what i mean) and Airport.

Pity i have to go now, phela i'm using taxis, this place is more nicer at night. Security is all over the place, I'm using my phone without worries, like in Jozi, Gangsters paradise eish maar, living in fear every where u go."


CT watch out..thats funny. im glad the PE cbd is doing well, makes up for the rest of our major cbd's.

Major investment in all Bay‘s transport modes
Bianca Capazorio Business Correspondent
FOR the first time in the history of Nelson Mandela Bay, major investment across all forms of transport infrastructure will take place in preparation for 2010.
“At no other time has government invested so much in the infrastructure of our city,” deputy mayor Bicks Ndoni said during the transport summit held in the city on Friday.
Ndoni said investments were being made in airports, rail and roads, as well as Mandela Bay‘s planned rapid bus transit system, which should start operating by the end of 2008.
To highlight this point, Roads and Transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo highlighted the projects under way and those still in the planning stage.
Among these is the Kei Rail project, undergoing line testing, which should be operational by the end of the year.
Mhlahlo said 20 coaches had been leased from Shosholoza Meyl and 33 diesel locomotives acquired.
A further R10-million has been allocated for upgrading the narrow-gauge line between Port Elizabeth and Avontuur. Mhlahlo said this should be operational by 2008. It would go a long way to promoting tourism.
The upgrade to the Bhisho airport was almost complete, with R68-million of the R100-million budget already spent. The upgrade is expected to be completed by March 2008.
Mhlahlo highlighted the need for the capacity at East London airport to be extended. It is now only able to process 700 000 passengers a year.
“East London airport grew by 16,7% on average, reaching a total passenger volume of 698 000 for the year,” he said. Port Elizabeth airport, he said, grew by 10,8% to 1,4 million passengers last year. The airport has a capacity of two million passengers.
Mhlahlo said his transmec committee, made up of various officials, would convene its first meeting on October 23. The rapid bus transit system and the 2010 transport operational plan would be discussed.
“Our main intention is to ensure that by January 2008, we start the implementation of the provincial 2010 public transport operational plan which links air, road, rail, maritime, taxi and bus operations”.
Giving an update on Mandela Bay‘s bus system, official Greg Pryce-Lewis said a delegation had recently been sent to Colombia, where operational systems similar to that planned for the city had been observed.
A smaller system with single lanes and smaller stations seen in the town of Pereira had been identified as suitable for Mandela Bay, Pryce-Lewis said. Designs were being refocused to create a similar system.
It was reported that funding had not yet been approved for roads such as the one to Alicedale, the R72 from East London to Port Elizabeth, the Addo-Kirkwood and Addo-Paterson roads, and the N2 to Coffee Bay.

Central set to become SA‘s next investment ‘hotspot‘

TABELO TIMSE and TIISETSO MOTSOENENG

THE bid to revitalise Port Elizabeth‘s inner city has won high praise in a national research report, which claims the Central area is set to become one of South Africa‘s property investment hot spots.

The Trafalgar Inner City Report 2007, released yesterday, says the positive projections for the area are due largely to commitment from local authorities to renew the inner city.

And it says the strategy being followed by the Mandela Bay Development Agency in revitalising the inner city will help revitalise the entire metropolitan area.

The report, which provides insight into trends and dynamics in South Africa‘s inner cities, cited investments that include upgrades to CBD pedestrian malls and Parliament Street and the 2010 World Cup stadium as important factors to convince investors to return to the city.

It said Port Elizabeth property developers were realising the tax incentives for capital improvements on existing premises or erecting new buildings for business purposes in the urban development zone.

“This is an attractive coastal city with a traditional industrial blue-collar base, but until now it has not seen the development levels of other coastal cities,” the report said.

“With a properly structured strategy, there is no reason why Port Elizabeth cannot achieve the same turnaround in terms of urban renewal that Johannesburg has achieved.”

The report predicted that it could take about 15 years for the city to be renewed and revitalised.

MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges said the report was a reflection of the agency‘s hard work. “For the past two years we have worked hard to make sure we had the basics and the foundation right and it is now paying off.”

Although much still needed to be done, Voges said he was glad that the rest of the country and investors were catching on. “Three years ago, if someone had said they would invest in Port Elizabeth, they probably would have been laughed at.

“But now Port Elizabeth‘s inner city is regarded as one of the hot spots in property investment.”

Voges said that when the agency had been given the responsibility to implement the renewal of the city centre, their first step had been to hire security guards and cleaners.

“Urban renewal is more about psychology than construction. The way people looked at the CBD a few years ago is different from now – they are now more positive.”

The Govan Mbeki Avenue upgrade was almost finished. “On November 30, we are going to have a big street carnival with lots of entertainment when we re-open the road. We have budgeted R31-million for the event.”

With regards to the Parliament Street upgrade, he said public meetings had been held successfully and construction would start in January.

Construction on the old Tramways building would commence in the first quarter of next year.

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said the municipality was already seeing the positive spin-offs of the inner city rejuvenation as businesses were returning to the area, especially to Govan Mbeki Avenue. It was working closely with local businesses to monitor investor needs. – Additional reporting by I-Net Bridge

i do like the statement "Urban renewal is more about psychology than construction". very fitting and apt

Big developments expected to fire up Port Elizabeth
11 Oct 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
The massive Madiba Bay Leisure Park development and Coega project in Port Elizabeth are likely to have a catalytic effect on property development in the city

By Nick Wilson

The massive Madiba Bay Leisure Park development and Coega project in Port Elizabeth are likely to have a catalytic effect on property development in the city, says Gauteng developer Flanagan & Gerard.

The development is also expected to boost the city’s economy and help retain consumer spending in Port Elizabeth.

Flanagan & Gerard, which is developing the commercial component of the R5 billion Madiba Bay Leisure Park development, says natural and manmade constraints such as the coastline and salt flats could encourage residential densification in the city.

Madiba Bay Leisure Park’s commercial property component, which includes two retail centres, ranks among the biggest commercial properties in Port Elizabeth. Flanagan & Gerard will also own 20% of the commercial property component of the development on a 50-year lease.

Madiba Bay Leisure Park will be rolled out over five to seven years and will include an integrated leisure and lifestyle park on the 6000ha site. A R1,3 billion links golf course and related residential units will be developed.

Flanagan & Gerard principal Pat Flanagan says: “If you look at Port Elizabeth, it’s got a number of manmade and natural elements. You have the constraint of the coastline. Port Elizabeth is almost on a peninsula. It has a coastline on two sides and its development can only go to the north and the west.”

He says the Baakens River acts as another divide.

“You also have the salt flats, which separate metro PE from the Uitenhage area.”

Port Elizabeth’s CBD has the constraint of the coastline and the north-south highway, as well as a steep topography. “It is very constrained in terms of physical development and the city will continue to function profitably and viably, with people who frequent it being those who use public transport, because all public transport routes focus on the city.”

Flanagan says policy at all spheres of government is to “densify to the most efficiently used existing infrastructure. That’s a countrywide policy. There is likely to be a lot of housing densification within the existing urban edge of Port Elizabeth. The corollary to that is that growth outside the urban edge is likely to take a long time and is some years off, because to get new infrastructure into these areas is hugely costly and relatively inefficient.”

He says existing infrastructure next to Madiba Bay Leisure Park will support the development.

Strong macroeconomic conditions, together with the Coega project, will encourage further urbanisation in Port Elizabeth, as in the rest of SA, he says. “With that broader economic base there has been a drop in unemployment, a broadening of the earnings base and a higher demand for consumer goods and services.

“The benefits of the Madiba Bay Leisure Park development would mean a broader consumer base. It’s going to see the retention of a lot of consumer spending that is going out of PE to places like Cape Town.”

He says institutional demand for property in Port Elizabeth is strong as the fundamentals support the property market. Five years ago it was regarded as a “negative place to invest but that has turned. I think you’ll see solid, steady appreciation.”

There is little in the way of office supply in Port Elizabeth because there is “very little land zoned” for office development.

“Consequently, offices are being set up in older residences such as Cape Road, Newton Park and 6th Avenue Walmer.”

This shortage of office space, together with the Coega project and Madiba Bay Leisure Park, will bring about more demand for offices. “It could be we see further applications for town-planning rights for offices.”

Research conducted independently by Urban-Econ shows that over the next 10 years, Port Elizabeth will need about 50000m² of additional office space. In the hotel industry, the same research indicates there is demand for 1-million bed nights a year. “That is expected to grow to 1,14-million by 2010 and 1,8-million by 2020.”

Flanagan says there is potential to develop a new 180-room four- to five-star hotel.

“There is a shortage of residential property in Port Elizabeth. Developments like Coega and Madiba Bay Leisure Park will bring about job creation and demand for further residential accommodation and broaden the economic base of PE. ”

This will boost demand for hotels, offices and housing.

Business Day

Posted to the web on: 12 October 2007
Friendly city offers golf-based living

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One of the retirement village units at the Wedgewood Golf and Country Estate.



The R25m upgraded Wedgewood golf course will boast five new lakes to enhance residential living.



CONVENIENCE, comfort and peace of mind defines living at Port Elizabeth’s Wedgewood Golf and Country Estate in the Eastern Cape.

And such a prospect has prompted overwhelming sales, according to the estate developers, Pinnacle Point Holdings (PPH). Phase one of this residential and retirement golf estate was sold out within weeks of launch and phase two is also enjoying rapid sales at the present time.

In 2006 PPH bought the historic Wedgewood Golf Club to develop 485 residential plots alongside the 18-hole golf course.

The development’s focus is on suburban community living where children can play in the streets and neighbours can interact with one another. The estate, with stands ranging from R565000 to R1,4m, will include 24-hour state-of-the-art security and a village of boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Residents can have their milk and bread delivered daily if they wish.

PPH CEO Ashley Stone says: “We’re taking owners back to a departed era where they can live and shop within the same neighbourhood and enjoy the convenience of home deliveries.

“Tennis courts, a gymnasium and a swimming pool will also delight the active resident.

“Investors have already seen on average a 30% increase in the value of their properties over the original purchase price. The first sod was turned in May this year and completion of services is scheduled for the beginning of next year, after which owners can start building their homes.”

The development of an adjacent retirement village is also on the cards and will be made up of 307 freehold retirement homes. Elderly retirees will have an excellent medical and health care facility at their disposal; a daily bus service can take them into town.


The golf course will see a R25m upgrade. Top golfers like Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Ernie Els and Seve Ballesteros have all teed off on this golf course. Golf Data has been commissioned to revamp the existing Bob Grimsdell course to bring it on par with some of SA’s finest golfing venues.

PPH is following up on its environmental commitment. Alien vegetation is being removed to make way for the planting of 3000 indigenous trees to inter alia protect underground water resources.

The five constructed lakes will enhance the overall ambiance of the residential development in addition to helping maintain the water table levels, drainage and storm water storage. Stone says: “Treated effluent water will be used to irrigate the tees, greens and fairways and a return drainage system will allow the golf course to re-use much of the runoff and seepage water that comes from the course.”

Designer Sean Quinn of Golf Data says: “My team is also cutting a swathe through the existing bluegum forest to release more water. The whole course design is being handled with maximum attention to environmental care and we are naturally complying fully with the Record of Decision which states that existing underground water courses must be protected.”

The estate is close to the Greenacres shopping centre, and to churches, schools, hospitals, beaches and a small airport.

Wedgewood, valued at R1,2bn, is the second-largest development in Port Elizabeth after the Coega industrial development zone.

The city’s growing economy stands to benefit from a R116m improvement to the beachfront, and from a new five-star hotel. THUMESHNI MUDELIAR




PRICE: Stands from R565000 to R1,4m

CONTACT: Wedgewood Golf and Country Estate
David Miller 082 820 6166
Office: 041 373 1610

Coega IDZ may reach for the sky

BOB KERNOHAN Business Editor

FURTHER indication that Coega could be the site of a R400-million plant to produce high-tech material for the international aerospace industry has been given by the science and technology department.

Director-general Phil Mjarwa said in Cape Town yesterday that the government was looking into the possibility of developing an industry that will enable South Africa to produce titanium powder from ore mined in the Eastern Cape, and eventually to cast titanium parts for the aerospace industry.

One possible source of titanium is the Wild Coast, according to previous reports, although plans for this are still mired in controversy.

Meanwhile, senior Coega industrial development zone executives said earlier this year that a titanium processing plant there is on the cards.

Mjarwa told a press conference at Parliament that the department was in talks with the Boeing aircraft manufacturing company about the possibility of providing them with titanium powder.

The government was looking into the possibility of investing in a R400-million plant to produce it. State-owned foundries have already begun producing samples of titanium aerospace parts.

Mjarwa said the powder could be produced commercially here in two to four years.The aerospace parts would take longer – probably until 2014 – because of the need to have the parts certified.

The powder, a precursor to the actual titanium metal that resists corrosion and is as strong as steel but 45 per cent lighter, is produced from ilmenite mined in the Eastern Cape. – I-Net Bridge

Bayworld Oceanarium, the new design of its revamp.

http://www.noharchitects.co.za/modules/PagEd/pictures/bayworld_1.jpg

PE CBD renewal becomes a priority
2007/10/25

Mandated to rejuvenate the beleaguered Port Elizabeth CBD, the Mandela Bay Development Agency together with various municipal departments are currently upgrading the Port Elizabeth CBD.

The construction of upmarket residential developments will be facilitated, major roads will be upgraded and various existing historical structures like the Tramways building will be redesigned.

The overriding goal of this partnership is to drive commercial and retail concerns back into the centre of PE and position the area as a further option for those seeking the inner-city living experience.

Jonathan van Jaarsveldt of Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty Port Elizabeth says Tulla Wharf, a premium property development in central Richmond Hills, signals the accelerated investment into the region.

"Tulla Wharf is a coup for the renewal plans for PE and is already stimulating interest for further residential development in the area. Luxury developments like these appreciate in value quickly and elevate the overall value of property in the area," says van Jaarsveldt.

Tulla Wharf is a 14-story residential structure offering 24 luxury apartments and penthouse living with exquisite sea views, private lifts, spa facilities and superb finishes. Sixty percent of the development has already been sold, mostly to locals, according to the managing director of Tulla Wharf Pty Ltd, Kamran Khan.

"According to property experts PE has the highest growth potential in South Africa. Local experts and property media are specifically naming Central Richmond Hill as a new hotspot. By Tulla Wharf's completion in mid-2009 and with the approaching 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, we expect to see values increase dramatically over the next three years," Khan says.

Based on the successful rejuvenation of the Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg CBD's, Khan has identified the development potential in central PE and will soon begin work on a second upmarket residential development in the Richmond Hill area.

Other major developments in the region include the R400m International Convention Centre as well as the Coega Harbour. Property strategists all agree that increased pressure on the infrastructure, property availability and harbours of other major South African CBDs will play out well for PE over the next several years.

"We are currently working on four upmarket residential developments in the PE region, with another four pending," says van Jaarsveldt.

Mandela Bay Development Agency - much more talk than action over the last 5 years. talking about economic development doesnt result in real change

Bay will lease land for house development

Max Matavire Metro Editor

IN an effort to make a dent in its massive housing backlog of close to 100 000, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is leasing land to private developers for the development of social housing.

The municipality is also calling for proposals on social housing development from developers and a lease agreement is entered into with the developers. Funding is provided by the government, the private developer administers the project and the municipality acts as the facilitator.

The procedure on social housing development is that the municipality enters into a 15-year lease agreement with the developer. After this expires, the developer takes over the property. Social housing is low-cost rental accommodation.

As a pilot project, the municipality‘s housing and land committee has taken a resolution to lease seven erven, all in John Street, Uitenhage, for the possible development of flats or housing units, and two erven in Central, close to the notorious Victoria Hotel.

The costs of servicing the erven are incurred by the developer. Councillor Andrew Gibbon said: “If we are to make a dent in housing delivery, we must go for social housing. We must make it work.”

Besides providing the much-needed accommodation, social housing is also viewed as one way of integrating communities which, for historical and political reasons, remain separated.

The other advantage of the concept aim of social housing is that apart from integrating communities, it brings people, especially the formerly disadvantaged, closer to their places of employment, closer to social amenities, entertainment and other facilities.

The government has emphasised that municipalities should identify all pockets of land, especially those close to people‘s workplaces, and build houses.

This concept has not gone down well with other sections of the affluent community, who feel the building of low-cost houses close to their mansions will lower the value of their properties.

Housing and land committee chairman Eldridge Jerry has argued: “We do not want to create Oranias in Nelson Mandela Bay. Our societies must live together and learn to accommodate each other.”

(This was a reference to the Afrikaner-only settlement of Orania, near the Van der Kloof Dam.)

“This helps people to walk to work, not having to worry about transport costs,” Gibbon said.

matavirem@johncom.co.za

26 Oct 2007 - Business Day -

Intro
On the face of it, the R39bn oil refinery that state corporation PetroSA plans to build at the Coega industrial development zone outside Port Elizabeth will bring much-needed additional refining capacity to an industry straining to provide growing demand for liquid fuel

However, as with real estate, the key word is “location”. And, questioning Eastern Cape as the location, industry commentators suspect the project may come at a huge cost to the taxpayer, while proving to be economically unviable.

With planned refining capacity of 200000 barrels a day, the plant will increase existing refining capacity a hefty 25%. Yet with by far the bulk of liquid fuel demand concentrated in the Gauteng market, the new refinery will leave significant new volumes of refined product decidedly remote from the primary market.

This presents a formidable logistical hurdle — getting product to the primary market. If anyone should know about the country’s strategic liquid fuel requirements, it is the industry body, the South African Petroleum Industry Association. Sapia executive director Connel Ngcu- kana, for one, is perplexed.

“My big concern is location. The decision could be linked to employment and the automotive industry in the region but the planned volumes are too big and the demand is inland. If there is one thing PetroSA should maybe explain, it is the choice of location,” says Ngcukana.

Other industry insiders concur. “Port Elizabeth is simply not a sensible location,” says one source . “My gut instinct is that this is a decision aimed to swing political sentiment in the Eastern Cape.”

PetroSA considered a number of locations for the multibillion-rand project, including Richards Bay, Durban and Secunda. But these were dismissed, mainly because of infrastructure constraints and port congestion at Durban.

PetroSA chief financial officer Nkosemntu Nika says the choice of Coega as the location for the refinery would be better for the geographical spread of SA’s refining capacity. “We will have our refinery clusters in a radius of 1500km, which means it is not all concentrated in one place,” he says.

Historic state sentiment also favours Coega, though. If Coega plays host to the refinery, this could just be the catalyst for the state’s longstanding dream of creating a petrochemicals hub at the coast. This means liquid fuel would not be the only production target. The refinery could provide inputs into a petrochemicals industry, and that means jobs.

Employment is a critical issue in Eastern Cape. The state’s decision to set up the industrial development zones — the biggest is at Coega — was primarily motivated by the desire to inject impetus into economically marginal areas and so grow jobs. The plan, and billions in capital, was approved despite pointed questions over the zones’ economic viability.

Other state plans underpin the project. If a petrochemicals hub materialises in Nelson Mandela Bay, it fits neatly with the industrial development drive, with chemicals one of the lead sectors earmarked for intervention to boost growth.

Sources point out, though, that a vast sum would go into the refinery, again raising questions of economic viability.

“These plans may look sweet,” said an industry insider, “but will the state get a return on capital? That’s the fundamental question. With capital-intensive projects one looks at the most economic way of doing things, but with state corporations the inclination is to look at the decision that would yield the biggest political dividends.”

From: www.eprop.co.za

"our societies should live together"...lol


building low cost houses near/ within up market/upper income areas is more to do with the politicians ego's than providing good quality homes for the poor. dont lower the value of a good area by adding in low cost housing.

this refinary is a political attempt to populate a ANC haartland and white elephant that they created in Coega

Blue Flag flies on SA beaches

Eighteen South African beaches have been awarded international Blue Flag status for excelling in safety, cleanliness, the provision of amenities and setting and maintaining environmental standards.

Blue Flag gives local and foreign visitors the knowledge that their beaches are clean, environmentally sound and adhere to international safety and other tourist standards.

When South Africa joined the campaign in 2001 as the first country outside Europe to participate, Blue Flag began to grow into a truly international campaign.

The Blue Flag is given to beaches that meet 14 criteria spanning three aspects of coastal management: water quality, environmental education and information, and safety and services, which include excellent life-saving standards, top-rate parking and sparkling ablution facilities.

Local authorities report a number of spin-offs from being awarded Blue Flag status, including an increase in visitors, improved behaviour on the part of beach-goers, property prices rising for homes near Blue Flag beaches - and visitors enjoying a well cared-for and managed beach.

South Africa's Blue Flag beaches 2007:

EASTERN CAPE


Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred
Kings Beach, Port Elizabeth
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth
KWAZULU-NATAL


Addington Beach, Durban
Hibberdene Beach, south coast
Margate Main Beach, south coast
Marina/San Lameer Beach, south coast
North Beach, Durban
Ramsgate Main Beach, south coast
WESTERN CAPE


Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town
Grotto Beach, Hermanus
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai
Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, a further 21 SA beaches are piloting the Blue Flag Programme with the aim of achieving full accreditation in 2008 or 2009.

"The growth in the number of Blue Flag beaches augurs well for the future, and especially for visitors coming to South Africa for the World Cup in 2010," the department says.

"Blue Flag beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, with their warm Indian Ocean waters and 365-day-a-year swimming conditions, will be ideal places for soccer fans to chill out and relax."

The Blue Flag is awarded for one year only. Twenty South African beaches were awarded Blue Flag status in 2006, 20 in 2005, 14 in 2004, eight in 2003, eight in 2002, and four in 2001.

SA's Blue Flag beaches 2001-2006:


EASTERN CAPE


Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay (2004-2006)
Gonubie Beach, East London (2005)
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth (2002-2006)
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred (2005-2006)
King's Beach, Port Elizabeth (2006)
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth (2004-2006)
KWAZULU-NATAL


Addington Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Anstey's Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Bay of Plenty Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Hibberdene Beach, south coast (2003-2005)
Lucien Beach, south coast (2004-2006)
Margate Main Beach, south coast (2001-2004)
Marina/San Lameer Beach, s coast (2002-2006)
Ramsgate Main Beach, south coast (2002-2006)
South Beach, Durban (2001-2006)
Umhlanga Rocks Main Beach (2003-2006)
Uvongo Beach, south coast (2005)
Willard Beach, Ballito (2001-2002)
WESTERN CAPE


Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay (2005-2006)
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town (2004-2006)
Grotto Beach, Hermanus (2002-2006)
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus (2006)
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus (2004, 2006)
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai (2005-2006)
Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay (2001-2002)
Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein (2004-2006)
The Blue Flag was born in France in 1985 where the first French coastal municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of criteria covering sewage treatment and bathing water quality

The concept has grown from there to encompass other required qualities and there are now over 2 600 Blue Flag beaches and 600 Blue Flag marinas around the world.

Blue Flag is managed in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and participating coastal authorities under the department's Coast Care programme.

Coast Care gives financial and technical help for coastal development projects aimed mostly at poor communities, and offers education, training and research services.

7 blue flags for the western cape!!!

PE adds retail to economic drivers
2007/11/06

Long defined and massively financed by its manufacturing, automotive and tourism sectors, Port Elizabeth is adding another string to its economic bow, namely retail.

According to Marios van Dongen, chairman of the Eastern Cape branch of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) and managing member of the commercial, industrial and retail division of Bowman Olivier Properties, the seaport city is in the throes of a major retail boom as evidenced by the construction of four new shopping complexes.

He says these are being built in response to such a high level of consumer demand that a number of major national brands are opening here for the first time ever.

Of the new retail developments, Moffat on Main at 25,000sq m is unique in that it will be Port Elizabeth's first lifestyle centre, he says. On track for completion in April 2008, anchor tenants such as Mr Price Home, Blue Line Checkers, Mr Price Sports and @ Home Interiors are already lined up. Planet Fitness will also be opening its first branch in the Eastern Cape in this centre.

"Moffat on Main will not compete with Port Elizabeth's existing shopping centres, which are predominantly fashion-focused. Rather, it will be concentrating on furniture, interior décor and food," Van Dongen says.

An architectural blend of contemporary with modern, Moffat on Main will comprise basement and ground floor parking, a large ground floor retail and restaurant component and second floor, A-grade offices aimed at the corporate sector. The developer is Amber Mountain Investments.

The second of the new retail projects is 17th Avenue Quarter in Walmer, a 10,000sq m open construction value-type centre, which will open in November this year. Anchored by a 4,000sq m Game store, additional major tenants include Jet Stores, Ackermans and Pep.

Buffelsfontein Road in Walmer is the site of the new, 10,000sq m Kings Development, a mixed-use centre which will offer a Pick 'n Pay Supermarket and DisChem on its lower level. Upstairs will include medical suites and a residential component.

The fourth development is in fact a 3,000sq m extension of Sunridge Village in Kragga Kamma, which is already home to the Eastern Cape Spar of the Year. Expected to be finished by May 2008, it will house the first Woolies Foods in Port Elizabeth as well as the city's first Cattle Baron, says Van Dongen.

Rentals for all four centres range from R50 per square metre to R350 per square metre, depending on space requirements and the type of lease taken.

"These centres will be a major boost for the Port Elizabeth economy, which is experiencing substantial growth in its spending power," he says.

Van Dongen says this spending ability is the result of strong growth in its manufacturing and automotive industries as well as from Coega, which are bringing billions of rands into the locale and playing a key role in job creation.

Helenvale benefits from R78m urban renewal project

Sipho Masondo HERALD REPORTER

NELSON Mandela Bay Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi heralded a new dawn for Helenvale this week when she launched a R78-million project to give the area a much- needed facelift.

The Helenvale Urban Renewal Project (Hurp) will be driven by the directorate of strategic projects in her office.

The project, launched at the Helenvale Primary School on Tuesday, was attended by Public Works MEC Christian Martin and former Cape Town mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo, and more than 2 000 residents.

Helenvale councillor Pieter Hermans said: “The community has been waiting for such a day for a long time.”

The area was earmarked for urban renewal last year following a visit by President Thabo Mbeki.

After hearing of residents‘ misery and seeing the decay, poverty and lack of services, Mbeki asked the municipality to prioritise the area for urban development.

Of the R78-million, only R2- million came from municipal coffers. The rest came from the national government.

Helenvale is a product of apartheid removals. Residents were dumped there after being forcibly removed from other areas during apartheid.

Renewal project director Debbie Hendricks said of the population of about 25 000, 75 per cent were unemployed.

“Only 6 per cent have matric. But we need to make a scientific analysis of the area to fully understand the dynamics at play,” she said.

A study of projects that could be adopted to transform the area was under way.

“When we finish the plan next year, we will come up with a business plan which we will implement in five years,” Hendricks said.

Housing, crime and social development programmes needed urgent attention.

“It‘s a challenge, but it is long overdue,” she said, adding that they would also work hard to shed the area of its image as a “no-go zone”.

She said a social compact structure had been established to ensure the project included everyone.

Maphazi said whatever projects were conceived would have to address poverty, services, housing, health, education, employment, small businesses and infrastructure improvement.

“We can‘t have a situation in which 24 people live in one house. There is no privacy,” she said.

“We have to accept that there is drug abuse in the area. How do we take our kids away from the drugs? What do we do in an area where you are not safe even in your own house?”

Martin said Helenvale was an extraordinary place which needed extraordinary teachers, and community and religious leaders.

Bayworld Oceanarium, the new design of its revamp.

http://www.noharchitects.co.za/modules/PagEd/pictures/bayworld_1.jpg

Lukus, can you please get us details of this?


My other friend went to PE during easter holidays and he told me that new buses are already on the road, can we please get details. Any photos of Kei rail and what areas does it serve?

Blue Flag flies on SA beaches

Eighteen South African beaches have been awarded international Blue Flag status for excelling in safety, cleanliness, the provision of amenities and setting and maintaining environmental standards.

Blue Flag gives local and foreign visitors the knowledge that their beaches are clean, environmentally sound and adhere to international safety and other tourist standards.

When South Africa joined the campaign in 2001 as the first country outside Europe to participate, Blue Flag began to grow into a truly international campaign.

The Blue Flag is given to beaches that meet 14 criteria spanning three aspects of coastal management: water quality, environmental education and information, and safety and services, which include excellent life-saving standards, top-rate parking and sparkling ablution facilities.

Local authorities report a number of spin-offs from being awarded Blue Flag status, including an increase in visitors, improved behaviour on the part of beach-goers, property prices rising for homes near Blue Flag beaches - and visitors enjoying a well cared-for and managed beach.

South Africa's Blue Flag beaches 2007:

EASTERN CAPE


Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred
Kings Beach, Port Elizabeth
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth
KWAZULU-NATAL


Addington Beach, Durban
Hibberdene Beach, south coast
Margate Main Beach, south coast
Marina/San Lameer Beach, south coast
North Beach, Durban
Ramsgate Main Beach, south coast
WESTERN CAPE


Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town
Grotto Beach, Hermanus
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai
Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, a further 21 SA beaches are piloting the Blue Flag Programme with the aim of achieving full accreditation in 2008 or 2009.

"The growth in the number of Blue Flag beaches augurs well for the future, and especially for visitors coming to South Africa for the World Cup in 2010," the department says.

"Blue Flag beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, with their warm Indian Ocean waters and 365-day-a-year swimming conditions, will be ideal places for soccer fans to chill out and relax."

The Blue Flag is awarded for one year only. Twenty South African beaches were awarded Blue Flag status in 2006, 20 in 2005, 14 in 2004, eight in 2003, eight in 2002, and four in 2001.

SA's Blue Flag beaches 2001-2006:


EASTERN CAPE


Dolphin Beach, Jeffrey's Bay (2004-2006)
Gonubie Beach, East London (2005)
Humewood Beach, Port Elizabeth (2002-2006)
Kelly's Beach, Port Alfred (2005-2006)
King's Beach, Port Elizabeth (2006)
Wells Estate, north of Port Elizabeth (2004-2006)
KWAZULU-NATAL


Addington Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Anstey's Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Bay of Plenty Beach, Durban (2005-2006)
Hibberdene Beach, south coast (2003-2005)
Lucien Beach, south coast (2004-2006)
Margate Main Beach, south coast (2001-2004)
Marina/San Lameer Beach, s coast (2002-2006)
Ramsgate Main Beach, south coast (2002-2006)
South Beach, Durban (2001-2006)
Umhlanga Rocks Main Beach (2003-2006)
Uvongo Beach, south coast (2005)
Willard Beach, Ballito (2001-2002)
WESTERN CAPE


Bikini Beach, Gordon's Bay (2005-2006)
Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town (2004-2006)
Grotto Beach, Hermanus (2002-2006)
Hawston Beach, near Hermanus (2006)
Kleinmond Beach, near Hermanus (2004, 2006)
Lappiesbaai Beach, Stilbaai (2005-2006)
Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay (2001-2002)
Mnandi Beach, Strandfontein (2004-2006)
The Blue Flag was born in France in 1985 where the first French coastal municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of criteria covering sewage treatment and bathing water quality

The concept has grown from there to encompass other required qualities and there are now over 2 600 Blue Flag beaches and 600 Blue Flag marinas around the world.

Blue Flag is managed in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and participating coastal authorities under the department's Coast Care programme.

Coast Care gives financial and technical help for coastal development projects aimed mostly at poor communities, and offers education, training and research services.


What about the Northern Cape? Are there no Blue Flag Beaches there?

Don't know if they're rated in the Northern Cape at all. The beaches are desolate and far from any civilisation, except Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay. That coast is also very very chilly.

hey pule will try and get some stuff on all the PE developments over the summer holidays. Unfortunately can't right now cos of exams.

Thanx Lukus and good luck for your exams.

Coastal development tops Bay's ratings
15 Nov 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has placed the North End coastal development project at the top of its priority ratings

By Khulu Phasiwe

Civil engineering and construction group Sanyati Holdings on Tuesday said government contracts and extending operations beyond KwaZulu-Natal had boosted its order book, positioning the black economic empowerment company to achieve its forecast net profit of R53 million for the 2007-08 financial year.

The order book included a R25 million contract for civil infrastructure work in Polokwane, a R75 million road rehabilitation contract in Gamtoos, Eastern Cape, and a R1,9 billion contract for civil works on the new King Shaka International Airport in Durban.

Releasing the company’s results for the six months ended August, CEO Rick Jackson said the buoyant growth in the construction industry boded well for the firm. He said though 66% of Sanyati’s contracts came from KwaZulu-Natal, he was pleased at the inroads the company had made in Gauteng.

“The Gauteng operations are up and running with (the group’s piling subsidiary) Mega Pile’s first R2 million contract ,” said Jackson.

Gauteng accounted for 22% of Sanyati’s contracts, with the balance split among Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Zambia.

In an effort to grow the business , Sanyati said, it had acquired Gauteng-based Ruthcon Civil Contractors and GEM Earthworks, which has operations in Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.

Net profit for the period under review doubled to R22,9 million on a 105% increase in revenue to R396,2 million — up from R192,5 million.

Cash generated from operations surged to R10,9 million from a loss of R4,5 million. Headline earnings per share increased to 8,74c from 5,73c.

Of Sanyati’s four business units, Civils Coastal was the biggest contributor to overall performance.

Revenue accumulated by C ivils C oastal was R215 million. Its performance was boosted by large-scale projects such as the R117 million tender to construct roads in Barberton, and the R52 million contract to construct a water pipeline in Umgeni, on the south coast.

The unit also stood to gain R190 million over the next 19 months after the Ilembe Consortium was awarded a R1,9 billion contract to build the R6,8bn King Shaka International Airport.

The Herald

Exciting plans for Van der Kemp's Kloof
16 Nov 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
A consultant has been appointed to assess the feasibility of a backpackers‘ lodge in Van der Kemp‘s Kloof

By Guy Rogers

A consultant has been appointed to assess the feasibility of a backpackers‘ lodge in Van der Kemp‘s Kloof, in the first step towards rejuvenating the Bethelsdorp hospitality sector that was gutted in anti-apartheid protests 17 years ago.

The plan for the lodge is part of a multi-pronged strategy to promote sustainable development in and around the kloof, a rich corridor of diverse plant life cutting through the centre of Bethelsdorp, the oldest part of Port Elizabeth.

The strategy is being driven by the Bethelsdorp Development Trust and funded through a grant by the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) and the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Besides the backpackers‘ lodge, it includes the expansion of the kloof into a vast new conservancy as well as development of a range of adventure sports and a “rustic lodge”.

Trustee Robert Gallagher said yesterday that DBSA had been supporting the project since 2005 and had so far injected “in excess of R1-million”.

With this support, the trust has identified eight “bankable opportunities” ranging across six different sectors from environment and conservation to local development and housing and a number of feasibility assessments have been commissioned.

“For the environmental sector, following a request for proposals we have just appointed Richmond Hill urban design and architectural firm The Matrix to assess one of these opportunities, which is a backpackers‘ lodge.”

Gallagher said the trust‘s only premise at this stage was that the lodge should capitalise on the 7km-long kloof‘s rich environmental and cultural heritage and its potential to serve as public open space for 350 000 residents in the adjacent wards 38, 41 and 42.

“In 1990 the hospitality industry was burnt down during protests. Since then, taverns and shebeens have proliferated, promoting gangsterism and undermining our society.

“We want the new developments to result in the resurrection of the Bethelsdorp hospitality industry and to re-empower the community.”

The backpackers‘ lodge should also tie in with the envisaged range of adventure sports that are going to be developed especially to attract foreign tourists, he said. They include foefie-sliding, kayaking on the Little Swartkops River and mountain-biking on the existing 98km trail.

Environmental consultancy SRK and The Matrix have already been awarded the tender to expand Van der Kemp‘s Kloof from its present 560ha to 4 000ha. The metro has donated R700 000 to supplement the DBSA funds to plan for this project. The aim is to link up with land owned by the Anglican Church to create an extended nature reserve reaching south through communities like Helenvale, Booysen Park, Greenbushes, Malabar and Llewellyn Park “right up to Cape Road”, Gallagher said.

Although Van der Kemp‘s Kloof is a declared municipal nature reserve, it has never been proclaimed by the provincial government. As part of the planned sustainable development of the area, the trust has petitioned the environmental authorities to try to have this done.

Gallagher said another consultancy, MGM, has presented a draft comprehensive management plan which should result in strict environmental controls being imposed in the kloof.

The Herald

Another massive boost for Coega

Bob Kernohan BUSINESS EDITOR

IN YET another major scoop for the Coega harbour development, the world‘s largest steel company has teamed up with a South African empowerment group in a R4,2-billion partnership to build a manganese smelter in the industrial development zone.

The international joint venture between Indian-based ArcelorMittal and Kalagadi Manganese will result in the first major manganese project to be built in South Africa within the past 30 years.

The partnership was announced in Johannesburg yesterday by Kalagadi Manganese chairman Daphne Mashile-Nkosi.

“The deal is particularly important as it comes at a time when we are spearheading the trend towards backward integration into raw materials,” she said.

Sixteen international companies had expressed interest in the project, and Kalagadi and ArcelorMittal would be 50-50 partners in the deal.

An ArcelorMittal official said: “The Kalagadi manganese project will not only prove to be an important and competitive source of manganese for our plants, but a notable contribution to the economy of South Africa.”

The steel giant already operates the former Iscor steel plants, making it the largest steel-maker on the African continent, producing 7,1 million tons of liquid steel a year.

It has 320 000 employees in more than 60 countries and its production is equivalent to about 10 per cent of world steel output.

Both companies said the venture to develop Kalagadi‘s manganese resources would lead to the development of a mine, beneficiation plant and sinter complex in the Northern Cape, as well as the smelter at Coega.

Sintering is a method for making objects from powder, by heating the material until its particles adhere to each other. It is used in making precision parts for industries like vehicle and aircraft manufacturing.

Kalagadi‘s manganese resources are situated near Kuruman in the Northern Cape.

The companies said they intended establishing the manganese mine and sinter plant at Hotazel, near Kuruman. It would ultimately produce 2,4 million tons of sinter product a year.

The Coega smelter would handle 320 000 tons of ferromanganese alloy a year.

The latest announcement follows a series of investments in the Coega IDZ, now totalling about R30-billion.

This includes a R5,6-billion Straits Chemicals chlorine refinery and the R19,2-billion Alcan aluminium smelter,

Dynamic Commodities is also setting up its production facilities in the agro-processing cluster of the IDZ.

Local investor Cerebos is expanding and relocating to the IDZ in an R85-million project.

German company Ferrostaal‘s R1,1-million stainless steel precision strip mill is being executed in two phases and R500-million will be spent on each phase. A R1-billion ferromanganese smelter complex is already under construction.

that is great news cos if these massive plants go ahead its the knock on effects that have the most economic impact. The suppliers, the house builders for the plants, the car sales men etc etc.

ESKOM are going to have to lift their game if this all happens cos all those plants need massive UNINTERUPTED power supply. Might be a good place for a nuke plant

I agree with you on ESKOM, yesterday on news they spoke about ESKOM development of power stations to cope with the issue of energy shortage and one thing ticked my mind of which ESKOM must really take into consideration and that is supplying neighbouring countries with electricity. What's gonna happen, as we see now, when all these countries we supply with electricity increase their consumption because of economic growth?

I think ESKOM is got brigger problem that we think.

Alo,
I grew up in PE. Went to the cbd yesterday, I must say the urban regeneration project is taking shape nicely. Order has been resorted to a once chaotic part of the city. I am specifically referring to the section of gov Mbeki (old main rd) close to the old library and market square. I went into the library and was blown away by its old world charm. I hope that the positive trend will continue.

Madiba Bay is Africa’s City of the Year
Wednesday, 19 December 2007

http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/highwayPE.jpg


Nelson Mandela Bay won the Best African City of the Year award at the World Leadership Awards held in London earlier this month.

The City also won first prize in the Health category for the Emmanuel Haven project; a Christian response to HIV and AIDS made up of a research unit, an anti-retroviral clinic, orphans club and Christian outreach programme.

The World Leadership Awards are organised by the World Leadership Forum. The non-governmental organisation promotes leadership by stimulating debate on leadership issues and highlighting the work of exceptional leaders.

More than 400 cities across the world are asked to submit projects for the Leadership Awards. These encompass a range of activities including; Architecture & Civil Engineering, Culture and the arts, Economy and/or Employment, Health, Housing, Sport, Urban Renewal and Town Planning.

Awards are then given to cities whose leaders have shown exceptional imagination, foresight or resilience and those cities that have reversed trends and acted as an example and inspiration to others.

For the first time since the inception of the awards in 2005, judges declared four cities to be City of the Year for their region. These were Nelson Mandela Bay (Africa), Las Vegas, USA (America), Amman, Jordan (Asia-Pacific) and Madrid, Spain (Europe).

An overwhelmed Executive Mayor Councillor Nondumiso Maphazi, said it was a special moment for Nelson Mandela Bay. “This has indeed proved that Nelson Mandela Bay is committed to working with the people in improving their lives for the better.

“The name Nelson Mandela Bay will continue to travel around the world, and serve as an outstanding marketing tool for attracting tourists, as well as local and international investors" she added.

In 2005 Nelson Mandela Bay’s entry The Red Location Museum of Struggle won the Architecture & Civil Engineering Category, while their Sustainable Community Planning entry won the Town Planning category.

PE guys, which part of PE is this?

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c50/Carlacbsjc/Port%20Elizabeth%20-%20AS/DSC00203.jpg

Pule,

This is right next to hobie beach. The pier is just to the right of that photo opposite the Casino.

33'58'49.18S
25'39'28.04E

Check it out on google earth.

Madiba Bay is Africa’s City of the Year
Wednesday, 19 December 2007

http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/highwayPE.jpg


Nelson Mandela Bay won the Best African City of the Year award at the World Leadership Awards held in London earlier this month.

The City also won first prize in the Health category for the Emmanuel Haven project; a Christian response to HIV and AIDS made up of a research unit, an anti-retroviral clinic, orphans club and Christian outreach programme.

The World Leadership Awards are organised by the World Leadership Forum. The non-governmental organisation promotes leadership by stimulating debate on leadership issues and highlighting the work of exceptional leaders.

More than 400 cities across the world are asked to submit projects for the Leadership Awards. These encompass a range of activities including; Architecture & Civil Engineering, Culture and the arts, Economy and/or Employment, Health, Housing, Sport, Urban Renewal and Town Planning.

Awards are then given to cities whose leaders have shown exceptional imagination, foresight or resilience and those cities that have reversed trends and acted as an example and inspiration to others.

For the first time since the inception of the awards in 2005, judges declared four cities to be City of the Year for their region. These were Nelson Mandela Bay (Africa), Las Vegas, USA (America), Amman, Jordan (Asia-Pacific) and Madrid, Spain (Europe).

An overwhelmed Executive Mayor Councillor Nondumiso Maphazi, said it was a special moment for Nelson Mandela Bay. “This has indeed proved that Nelson Mandela Bay is committed to working with the people in improving their lives for the better.

“The name Nelson Mandela Bay will continue to travel around the world, and serve as an outstanding marketing tool for attracting tourists, as well as local and international investors" she added.

In 2005 Nelson Mandela Bay’s entry The Red Location Museum of Struggle won the Architecture & Civil Engineering Category, while their Sustainable Community Planning entry won the Town Planning category.

well done.

Pule,

This is right next to hobie beach. The pier is just to the right of that photo opposite the Casino.

33'58'49.18S
25'39'28.04E

Check it out on google earth.

Thanx Dn.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/2133493319_6f5af43855_b.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/2134273782_b6faee5bf6_b.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/2134289496_13ca89a5ee_b.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/1547987926_f17fe68902_b.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/2118901632_661ed7589e_o.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/2133496953_023a26b152_b.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/375774784_08d710a059_b.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/508261227_f985e2807f_o.jpg

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http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x31/Upington/Gaonet/508270563_fb898b87f4_o.jpg

Nice pics Upington..

.....thanks!....BTW, you are doing an amazing job with Jozi.......

.....thanks!....BTW, you are doing an amazing job with Jozi.......


Much appriciated bro, thanks.

I hope these aren't reposts:

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New development brings mixed feelings from elderly residents
31 Dec 2007 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
Just next to a number of retirement villages in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, a shady plantation of trees was flattened a year ago

By Nicky Willemse

Just next to a number of retirement villages in Walmer, Port Elizabeth, a shady plantation of trees was flattened a year ago to make way for a new shopping complex – still under construction – and the widened roads that came with it.

It inspired mixed feelings from the elderly residents on the doorstep of the development.

Some welcome the convenience of the new shops and say the new wall and electric fencing built to separate them from the new development has added an element of security. Others have found the dust, noise and concrete jungle just too much to bear.

Crossing the widened Walmer Main Road – which has seen an increase of taxis ferrying workers to and from the development – has also proved a challenge.

The 25 000m² development Moffett on Main will house a lifestyle centre, including shops like Blue Line Checkers, Mr Price Home, Mr Price Sport, @ Home Livingspace and a Planet Fitness gym.

Laubscher Park West resident Heather Hutchings said: “There was so much dust in the beginning, I could‘ve grown potatoes on my windowsill. I had quite a large liver tree in my garden, which was literally sand-blasted to death, and we are still getting a lot of dust.”

Hutchings said the widening of Main Road had also made it difficult to cross over to Walmer Park. “I don‘t walk across, I take my car – the road has become an obstacle course.”

She said the large wall built to separate the village from the complex did not offer much protection from the wind.

“Buildings don‘t stop wind. It goes over the top and comes down in a vortex. We used to be well-protected.”

Another resident, Pam Pote, did not think another shopping complex was necessary in Port Elizabeth. “I don‘t think we need the vast number of shops coming up. When my husband and I first came to live here, it was so lovely and quiet – now it‘s too developed.”

Resident Esme Busse was more positive, saying the dust situation had “definitely improved now that the pavement is finished”.

“We are looking forward to the buildings being completed. Then we can just walk around the corner, rather than crossing the road (to Walmer Park).”

Despite the pedestrian crossing, Busse said walking over the road, especially with the added lane, was a challenge. “The cars don‘t always stop, especially during peak hour.”

Moth Cottages resident Aloma Corney has developed asthma from all the cement dust and says the development has brought with it an increase of taxis, which were wreaking havoc on the roads by making illegal U-turns.

Another resident Rhoda Bibb had “mixed feelings” about the development. “It‘s been plonked right in the middle of senior citizens‘ residences – and it has caused a disturbance.

"Supermarkets are great, but they bring with them a certain amount of noise and disruption.”

Five-star hotel on the cards for Seaview
07 Jan 2008 - Inet Bridge -

By Sipho Masondo

A massive development worth about R300-million comprising a five-star hotel and about 100 flats will replace the historic and somewhat controversial old Seaview Hotel.

The hotel was acquired by the Kat Leisure group for R15,4-million at an auction in June last year.

A hardware store complex and three erven which are part of the hotel property were auctioned separately for R875 000, R575 000, R660 000 and R712 000, respectively.

Group chief executive Avrip Kaschula said the company had submitted plans for the proposed development to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality on December 10.

“We will get started as soon as the plans are approved. We are ready to move on site,” he said.

As the building is older than 60 years, the company has also applied to the historical society to have some parts demolished.

The development is expected to take between 18 to 24 months. Asked if he was targeting the 2010 World Cup, Kaschula said: “It‘s nice to launch a product prior to an event like that.”

However, while the building stands vacant, vandals and thieves are having a field day, stripping the hotel of copper pipes, windows, glass, bathtubs and anything of value.

Last week, The Herald spotted people loading steel and anything else they deemed worthy into a light truck.

“We have permission from the police to be here,” one woman shouted, while others continued loading the truck. A minute later, they drove away.

Inside, the hotel was permeated with the acrid stench of human waste, urine, debris and stagnant water, the result of rain pouring through huge holes in the roof where gale-force winds had ripped off the corrugated roof shooting.

Not one bathtub or basin was left in any of the rooms. The kitchen is empty of stoves and all other electrical appliances. And the hotel is strewn with broken glass, paper and pieces of the ceilings.

Speaking from Knysna, Kaschula said: “ I am surprised – there is a security company in Seaview looking after the property. I will make a trip to Port Elizabeth in the next 10 days to see it.”

One nearby resident said he heard people hammering at the hotel most nights.

Before Kat Leisure bought the hotel, the property had been on the market for two years, but could not be sold because of various complications.

It belonged previously to Dutchman Bob de Ronde.

Between December 2004 and April 2005, De Ronde became involved in talks with a Pretoria investor interested in buying the hotel for R14-million.

But in June 2005, another Pretoria businessman, Jan Faure, agreed to buy it. He took possession of the property before paying for it and allegedly began selling off some of its assets. The deal went sour and Faure was charged with fraud.

Faure was arrested in September 2005 and granted R8 000 bail. The Port Elizabeth commercial crimes court is still hearing his case.

hey pule will try and get some stuff on all the PE developments over the summer holidays. Unfortunately can't right now cos of exams.


I hope you did well in your exams Lukus, can you give us an update of projects going on in PE or the ones that have been planned.

Mandela Bay Development Agency spreads its wings
10 Jan 2008 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
In another boost for development in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Mandela Bay Development Agency‘s mandate has been extended from the inner city to incorporate urban renewal in Motherwell, Despatch and Uitenhage

By Max Matavire

In another boost for development in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Mandela Bay Development Agency‘s (MBDA) mandate has been extended from the inner city to incorporate urban renewal in Motherwell, Despatch and Uitenhage.

The agency has also been tasked to start the search for an operator for the 2010 soccer stadium.

Initially, the MBDA, which is now converting from a Section 21 company to a private one, and turning into a fully-fledged municipal entity, was mandated to operate in the Port Elizabeth central business district, Central, Humerail, Baakens Valley, the waterfront and North End.

The decision to expand the MBDA‘s mandate is part of a rationalisation process in which the municipality is restructuring six of its entities to do away with duplication and in some instances make savings.

MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges said on Wednesday that municipal lawyers were changing the institution into a share- holding company.

“This will be the first municipal entity in South Africa to operate on a private company basis. This will create many capitalisation opportunities as any municipal assets will be transferred to the MBDA.

“There are several municipal assets lying dormant. When these are given to the MBDA, it will use them to earn revenue for the city,” said Voges, giving the example of the old tramways building at the corner of Valley and Baakens roads.

The MBDA is taking over that building from the municipality to use it to earn revenue.

Voges said he did not need more staff because the MBDA‘s mandate had been expanded, but will use consultants.

“If I am to appoint more staff, it will mean quantity surveyors, engineers, town planners and other professionals, and this will cost lots of money. We would rather appoint professionals as we need them, but use consultants now.

“It is the basic principle internationally that you do not employ additional personnel in such a specialised industry, but engage consultants,” he said.

However, Voges added he would have to ask for more funding from the treasury department to cover the expanded area effectively.

He would employ the same approach he used in the CBD to address urban decay in the new areas.

“We will start by developing a master plan. It will identify where there are gaps. It means research in retail, leisure, residential entertainment to identify what is lacking. We will then also improve the infrastructure so as to boost the confidence of potential developers.

“There has to be a significant investment in the public infrastructure to attract investment,” said Voges.

On the MBDA‘s relationship with the board, he said the municipality was the controlling shareholder, and board members were appointed by the mayor. The chief executive is appointed by the board.

“Although the chief executive officer is appointed by the board, practically, in the day- to-day operations, he reports to the municipal manager.

“As the mayor is above the board, it means the municipality is above the board.”

On whether the MBDA would lose its original focus of urban development now that its mandate had been expanded, Voges said: “That is always the danger,” but stressed that they would stick to urban renewal.

“We have said we want to retain our core focus, which is urban development. Anything passed on to us must be urban renewal-related. We are going to duplicate the approach we have used in the CBD for the development of the new mandated areas,” he said.

Municipal manager Graham Richards said on Wednesday that although wholly-owned by the municipality, the MBDA had certain autonomy as a private company, and the relationship between the two was bound by agreement.

On the MBDA now going into Motherwell, where the Motherwell urban renewal programme is already operating, Richards said there would be no clashes.

“If the MBDA is going into Motherwell, it will be in support of the MURP.

“Its main focus is on the CBD. With the successes we are now seeing in Port Elizabeth, there is a feeling that the MBDA should also apply this in Despatch and Uitenhage.”

On the running of the 2010 soccer stadium, he said an operator should be appointed by July or August this year.

He said an operator should in fact have been appointed during the early stages of construction so that it became familiar with the structure.

“We are looking for a professional operator to make the stadium sustainable. That means the incumbent will have to identify and implement sports- related revenue streams, such as rugby, football and other disciplines,” said Voges.

He emphasised that the municipality would remain the owner of the stadium, with the operator running it on behalf of the municipality.

He said the MBDA was preparing to call for proposals from interested operators.

However, Richards said no formal decision had been taken, and he and 2010 executive director Errol Heynes were still looking at a proposal presented to them by Voges on how the stadium should operate.

I hope you did well in your exams Lukus, can you give us an update of projects going on in PE or the ones that have been planned.
Thanx Pule. Can't give you too much in depth. Radisson hotel at the beach front is rising. On about first or second level. Didn't see any construction at museum and bayworld complex when I last went down that way. A few large shopping malls u/c, one opposite Walmer park shopping centre. Sorry I can't give much more than that. Will go around soon to get pix of all the developments.

Thanks Bro.

Stayed in PE for 2 nights in Loraine, lovely area that, shopping malls are not far, well anything in PE isnt that far. will post pics soon.

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That last pic - CP Nel Museum - is in Oudtshoorn!

P.E da windy city, & it does get windy!

Drive along the beach front.

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Into the City

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cranes of the stadium

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Cheeez DB!! You've covered the whole area really well.

Is this still the highest Bunjee Jumping in the world. Am I right to post this in here or is it in CT?

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......the Storms river bridge is in Tsitsikama at the start of the Garden Route.......there is a tourism office with restaurants and pathways next to this bridge.......its more closer to Plett than PE or CT.....downstream at the mouth of this river there is a suspension Bridge......

Thanx Upington.

Thats Van Stadens, I dont think they have Bunjee's from there, as upington said, there is at Storms river, & also after you pass storms river (heading towards CT) there is another george (Bloukrans river) with a very nice bunjee spot, apparently that is the highest in the southern hemisphere, it is in the Tsitsikama forest & also the are has curio shops & helicopter rides.

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The highest bungee in the world is the 216m drop at Bloukrantz bridge, which is to the west of both Van Stadens and Storms River. That is the one pictured above. If i'm not mistaken, it is also at the border between the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces.

.....long story, short answer to Pule's question......the bridge is close to Plett......too far to CT and PE.....







..

Dankie Upington.

Big designs for R21m revamp of run-down PE street

Max Matavire METRO EDITOR

PARLIAMENT Street is set to become the “entertainment hub” of Port Elizabeth‘s Central area, the project team handling the R21-million upgrade said yesterday.

Addressing interested parties – including businessmen, ward councillor Jeremy Davis, Irish property magnate Ken Denton and other stakeholders – at the third meeting of the project, The Matrix town planner Hedwig Crooijmans outlined slight changes to the original plan.

These flowed from comments during earlier meetings, she said, among them being the narrowing of the street, which will be one-way, to create more space for the proposed red-brick pavements.

“We are going to remove the curbing, trees will be planted and modern lighting installed. Pedestrians will walk along the paved sidewalks and there will be coffee shops and restaurants which will put their tables outside for people to sit and enjoy the atmosphere.”

Africoast‘s Venance da Silva said the Rink Street entrance would be closed and vehicles would use Rose Street and Lawrence Street instead.

“We are going to redevelop the street as an entertainment street, eyeing 2010 and beyond,” said Da Silva.

“We must improve the lighting and retain the parking currently available (although nine bays will be lost). We have also identified the residential function in the area as very important.”

The meeting also agreed the entrance to the street should be beautified, with large, clearly marked signs heralding it as Central‘s entertainment street.

Crooijmans said tenders for the work would be put out today and would close in three weeks. The contractor is expected to be on site by April, with work expected to be completed in eight months.

Construction will be divided into two phases to avoid traffic chaos, starting with the eastern side. The R21-million upgrade project was initiated by the Mandela Bay Development Agency in line with its mandate of urban renewal.

The MBDA has already embarked on redeveloping Govan Mbeki Avenue, with the first phase already completed.

Church of Scientology buys historic CBD building in PE

METRO EDITOR

ONE of the historic landmarks in Port Elizabeth‘s central business district – the United Building on the corner of St Mary‘s Terrace and Govan Mbeki Avenue – is soon to have a R6-million facelift, adding a new look to the inner city.

The building has been bought by the Church of Scientology, which wants to turn it into its regional headquarters, for about R8-million.

Recently approved by the commissioner of revenue as a public benefit organisation, and also tax- exempted, the church has also recently acquired new property in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.

The Port Elizabeth building originally housed the United Building Society, then Boland Bank and the Consumer Credit Bureau.

The church‘s director of external affairs for Africa, Paul Sondergaard, said yesterday: “We see our investment in Nelson Mandela Bay as a contribution to the upliftment of the area as has been so well demonstrated by the Mandela Bay Development Agency at the recent opening of Govan Mbeki Avenue.”

Sondergaard said the building would serve as the church‘s regional headquarters and house its community programmes. Renovations will start in the first half of this year.

Sondergaard said they were committed to restoring the building “to its former glory to add to the heritage of Port Elizabeth”.

He said the church had been successful with its anti-drug and human rights campaigns.

It also has a volunteer ministry – an international help and disaster relief organisation with a membership of 100 000 worldwide – that has been involved in such disasters as the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina in the US, the South East Asian tsunami, and the cyclone in Mozambique.

The MBDA has introduced special tax rebates for investors who buy old buildings in Port Elizabeth‘s CBD and renovate them.

Last week, it gave a long lease to local developer Pambili to redevelop the old PE Tramways building in lower Valley Road into an up-market arcade. The project will cost about R100-million and construction is set to start in April.

R20m storage facility filed for Bay area
05 Feb 2008 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
A landmark high-tech R20-million building in a rapidly expanding industrial area of Nelson Mandela Bay will be home to about 200 000 boxes of vital documents later this year

Business staff

A landmark high-tech R20-million building in a rapidly expanding industrial area of Nelson Mandela Bay will be home to about 200 000 boxes of vital documents later this year.

Specialist firm Metrofile said yesterday it would be moving its Port Elizabeth operations to a new site in Perseverance.

Construction of the building – the highest structure of its type in the area at more than 22 metres, according to Metrofile – is due for completion by May.

“The facility . . . will be the Eastern Cape‘s first purpose-built records storage and management facility,” said company regional general manager Brett Harris.

“(It) will consist of a modern office and administration block, a fully SA Bureau of Standards-rated and climate controlled storage vault and an adjoining warehouse structure,” said Harris.

“Importantly, provision has been made for future growth by ensuring that the property is sufficient to house two further warehouses,” he added.

Source: The Herald

New multi-million eco-estate planned for Motherwell

Patrick Cull

THE metro‘s economic development, tourism and agriculture committee yesterday supported in principle a R20-million eco-estate at Motherwell overlooking the Swartkops River.

Presenting the results of a feasibility study to the committee, Rory Riordan said the site selected had “magnificent views of the river estuary” that with the unspoilt natural vegetation would allow it to be “the most competitive alternative to the Summerstrand- Humewood beachfront”.

Riordan acknowledged that there were significant challenges in establishing such a facility in Motherwell, one of which was advertising costs to present the new development to the market. In addition, proper provision would have to be made for security and guest transport.

He pointed out that it was a simple matter to guide a tourist from the airport to a hotel on the beachfront, but a “much more complicated set of instructions” was required for Motherwell.

Addressing these challenges, he said, would cost R456 000 a year.

With regard to the type of development that should take place, Riordan said the conclusion of the feasibility study drawn up by Development Partners was that it should be a hybrid scheme that would consist of a lodge set in the Motherwell Nature Reserve overlooking the Swartkops.

It would provide reception, catering and conference facilities and accommodation in “flexibly designed low-intensity chalets, that would include some that would sleep eight to “provide the backpacker option”.

There should also be a boardwalk to provide access to the Swartkops River for water sports and riverside facilities.

“This hybrid option offers the best option of a user- friendly, inexpensive, yet high quality establishment that can accommodate the Coega market requirements as well as a backpackers option and provide a haven and a valued social amenity for the local community.”

One of the market target areas for the facility, Riordan noted would be investors in the Coega Industrial Development Zone seeking accommodation for staff.

He added that the explosion of industrial and commercial activity in the IDZ adjacent to Motherwell “can only increase the number and income” of the middle- class in that suburb and the demand for tourist accommodation, recreation, restaurant and conference facilities.

Some of the demand, he acknowledged, would be “taken up by the Summerstrand/Humewood strip but there would nevertheless be room and “a tremendous opportunity” for a development at Motherwell.

While the committee accepted the feasibility study in principle and mandated the directorate to seek external funds for the project, it was felt that other committees would need to be consulted because funds would be required for bulk sewage and other infrastructure.

R45-million for rural transport

Patrick Cull POLITICAL EDITOR

THE Eastern Cape department of roads and transport has handed over sites to contractors for the start of work worth R45-million as part of the implementation of the Provincial Rural Access Transport Programme.

And the department has started implementing the capital projects on roads worth R1,6-billion, R233,5-million of which will be spent in the next financial year.

The department said its internal road construction and maintenance units had been deployed to work on the inaccessible roads in districts like Chris Hani, Amathole, OR Tambo and Ukhahlamba, adding it was now evaluating submissions from companies for the purchase of new plant and machinery, specifically graders worth R20-million. These would be distributed throughout the Eastern Cape as part of the substantial recapitalisation of the department‘s “yellow fleet” in support of the Provincial Rural Access Transport Programme. Twelve graders worth R16,4-million were bought in this financial year.

The statement said this meant the department had been able to spend the allocated R100-million provided by provincial treasury in the Adjustment‘s Budget in November last year.

The main purpose of the Provincial Rural Access Transport Programme is to provide concrete short, medium and long-term strategies to build an accessible and sustainable rural transport network in support of the Provincial Growth and Development Plan and the Integrated Development Plans. These include roads that lead to schools, clinics, hospitals, tourism destinations and other economic activities.

One of the contestents of Freedom Statue in PE.

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I doubt thats even still happening

yeh havn't heard anything about it for months

I doubt thats even still happening

It is happening http://www.mbda.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=74

"once the manganese ore dumps and the petrol tank farm facilities have been moved to the new Ngqura Port in the Coega IDZ."

Talk of this only happening in 2015.

Then how long will it take to rehabilitate the land after all those years with the manganese ore there.

I read somewhere that it will take R5 Billion rand to move them.

"once the manganese ore dumps and the petrol tank farm facilities have been moved to the new Ngqura Port in the Coega IDZ."

Talk of this only happening in 2015.

Then how long will it take to rehabilitate the land after all those years with the manganese ore there.

I read somewhere that it will take R5 Billion rand to move them.


I have heard the similar story before but then whya re they now saying it will be constrcuted in 2009?

I think there site is not updated that often.

Coega generator could solve Bay‘s power problems

Sipho Masondo HERALD REPORTER

THE Nelson Mandela Bay municipality and Coega Development Corporation are investigating the possibility of a generator that will ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the corporation and the whole city.

The idea was prompted by the load-shedding which left many parts of the country without electricity for hours on end last month.

The envisaged generator would be operated by a private company and produce about 800MW a day.

Municipal manager Graham Richards said the government‘s plan to deal with power shortages, which would only bear fruit in 2013, was not really addressing the problem.

“Coega and the municipality believe there is a great potential for a combined cycle gas turbine.”

He said there was also the potential of upgrading it to a medium-capacity plant, in which case it would generate 1500MW to 1800MW a day.

On January 31, Richards and CDC chief executive Pepi Silinga met to discuss the proposed generator. “And now we are lobbying the government and Eskom on this issue.”

After tendering, the turbine could be up and running in 15 months, he said, adding negotiations were under way.

In the meantime, Richards said, the municipality, the Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the CDC were investigating creative ways to save 10 per cent of the city‘s daily consumption of 500MW, as requested by Eskom. All the stakeholders met to discuss the issue on February 1.

“The municipality has made available about R500000 for this purpose. The money will be used as needs like research and payment of service providers arise,” he said.

He also announced the municipality would resume the installation of ripple-control units placed alongside the homeowner‘s distribution board to control residential geysers, switching them off at peak times. The programme was stopped in September last year when funding for the project died. At the time, Richards said more than 10000 units had already been installed.

Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica announced this week 90000 energy-saving solar water heaters were to be installed in the Bay, but Richards said the idea had always been the Bay‘s brainchild.

“It is part of our renewable energy projects. We should be receiving a pat on the back because the government is buying into our project.” He said the Bay would be able to save between 50MW and 100MW daily should it manage to heat water with solar power.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLAN - Nelson Mandela Bay

OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLAN (PTP)

The PTP reviews the current status of bus, taxi and train services in NMBM and analyses future scenarios. It includes a proposed long-term strategy for the public transport system and a phased implementation plan. The PTP will be integrated with the ITP to provide a comprehensive multi-modal solution for the future transport needs of the metropolitan area. The PTP is available in CD format and a summary presentation will be made to the Committee.

The preparation of the PTP was guided by a Steering Committee on which Councillors, Public Transport Operators, National and Provincial Departments of Transport, amongst others, were represented.

The following is a brief summary of the main elements of the PTP.

1. THE MISSION OF THE PTP

“To provide an efficient, safe, affordable, sustainable and accessible multi-modal public transport system which supports social and economic development to ensure optimal mobility and improved quality of life for the residents and users of the transport system in the metropolitan area”.

2. STRATEGIES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT
The strategies for developing public transport within the NMBM have been based on a number of important principles. These principles encapsulate many of the intentions laid out in the NLTTA for public transport in the long term. These principles are listed below:

The transport system should be customer orientated.
The transport system should promote integration between modes.
Densification of transport corridors should be promoted to improve the utilisation of public transport.
New contracts for public transport services operation should be developed.
Phased introduction of co-operation between public transport modes.
A regulatory framework must be introduced to support public transport.
3. CONCLUSIONS FROM SCENARIO ANALYSIS
The long-term development proposals for the public transport system are based on the results from an analysis of several possible scenarios. The conclusions from the scenario analysis are that an integrated public transport system with scheduled services, based on trunk bus routes with complementary feeder and main route systems will, in the next 10 years, best serve the communities of NMB. The Public transport system will have the Khulani Corridor (Motherwell – Njoli – Korsten – CBD) as the back bone onto which the other services will be built. An expanded railway system will not attract enough passengers in the next 10 years to justify the large investments required.

4. THE LONG-TERM PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM
The long-term public transport system will be characterised by some important qualities. The system will consist of integrated and regulated public transport which will be modern and attractive offering seamless travelling with an integrated and scheduled service. The operators will be contracted and through ticketing will enable true integration. The public transport corridors will encourage high density development through quality, high frequency, scheduled public transport services which in turn will attract more people to use the public transport system. A trunk bus network will be developed in the defined public transport corridors. Certain of these routes will have dedicated bus lanes and will ultimately be operated on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) principles with new modern and possibly articulated buses. These will cater for people with special needs, such as persons in wheelchairs and the system will aid general mobility by incorporating the concept of universal accessibility. The trunk routes will be supplemented by express, main, feeder and special services with an extensive network operated by normal buses, midibuses and minibuses. It is also intended that a number of these vehicles will be adapted to provide facilities for special needs passengers.

The trunk bus and feeder operations will intersect at attractive interchanges where passenger transfers can be made in a safe and secure environment. The interchanges will also be important nodes of commercial attraction and will be located close to suburban business activities and in the city centre. These interchanges will stimulate further economic development in their immediate surrounds.

The current rail service between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage should be kept and supported and no new road based public transport routes should be implemented parallel to the existing railway service. The study concluded that an extended railway service will not be justified up to 2020, except for a possible extension into Motherwell along the central corridor. In the National Railplan the SA Rail Commuter Corporation has indicated that in 3 – 5 years the Motherwell extension could be established, therefore the reserve for the railway alignment should be kept.

5. PHASED IMPLEMENTATION
An integrated and modern public transport system throughout the NMBM area will be implemented over a 3 to 5 year period. The implementation will be dependent on the reform of the current public transport system as well as funding for investment in public transport infrastructure and subsidies for the operation of the system.

A trunk bus route in the Khulani Corridor will be the first example of a modern integrated public transport system. The route will connect Motherwell and the PE CBD with a scheduled all day service via Njoli Square and Korsten. There will also be trunk routes from Korsten to Cleary Park and from Korsten to Greenacres.

A scheduled public transport service will be introduced gradually into the Coega IDZ as it develops. It will initially be a distribution system connecting to the trunk bus route in Motherwell. The route alignments will be detailed in the Coega Public Transport Plan and will be part of the integrated public transport system for Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

A network connecting the major tourism nodes will follow the first phase implementation and will be an important part of the public transport system to serve the World Cup in 2010.

Due to the time constraints, for introduction before the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, work has already started on the implementation of the PTP with the route alignments, vehicle specifications and legal requirements already in an advanced stage of investigation and planning.

6. STRATEGIES FOR SCHEDULED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICE CONTRACTS

The implementation of a scheduled public transport service is currently being undertaken with the cooperation and consultation with all current stakeholders. The NMBM area has been divided into five operating areas based on geographical and operational boundaries. Public Transport Services in each area will form the basis of a operating contract for the provision of the new services to be provided in that area. Operators, including the minibus taxi operators and Algoa Bus Company, wishing to operate on the new public transport system will be encouraged to establish formal, legal, entities with which the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, or a duly established Transport Authority, can conclude the contractual agreements. In order to empower the current minibus operators to formalise their business, and to guarantee their participation, the negotiated contract route should be followed. If these negotiations do not result in acceptable agreements, within the timeframe, an open tender process will be followed.

The contracts will incorporate a mechanism to recapitalise the minibus fleet, in accordance with the national government’s Taxi Recapitalisation Project, in a phased manner, for use on the new services. Vehicles that are identified as unlicensed will be withdrawn from operation by enforcement actions.

Throughout the duration of public transport contracts the operations must be monitored with regard to the service delivered and the patronage. This is necessary to ensure that the entities operate according to the contract conditions and to protect the contracted operators from illegal operations. A process will be implemented whereby the compliance of operators with the conditions of their operating licenses will be checked on an ongoing basis.

Various Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) projects will be implemented that will include integrated ticketing and revenue collection, public transport prioritorised traffic control, security camera system monitoring of all major facilities, control room and electronic passenger information.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS

To establish an attractive public transport system, improved infrastructure is needed to give a safe and secure public transport service with short travel times, convenient transfers and priority for public transport vehicles. This includes new, modern, safe and attractive bus stops and passenger facilities, as well as dedicated lanes for public transport vehicles and priority signals at intersections. The infrastructure projects will be phased in over a 3 to 10 year period with those projects that have direct influence on the success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup event being given priority.

Funding applications have been submitted to the Department of Transport for grants to design and construct the infrastructure required to implement the Public Transport Plan

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PE to get R18m emergency medic station for 2010

Patrick Cull POLITICAL EDITOR

A MODERN emergency medical service (EMS) station costing an estimated R18- million will be developed in Port Elizabeth in preparation for the 2010 World Cup, Health MEC Nomsa Jajula announced yesterday.

Delivering her policy speech, Jajula said the design for the station had been completed and documents were being prepared for the tendering process. It was anticipated that the station would be completed by the end of next year.

Jajula said a vehicle tracking and monitoring system had also been developed that would allow for the location of EMS vehicles to be identified.

This, she added, would improve the response time and prevent duplication of services when EMS vehicles were dispatched to the scene of an emergency.

She said a further 80 EMS vehicles would be purchased and five rescue vehicles in the next financial year.

Turning to the National Hospital Revitalisation Programme, Jajula said R30-million had been allocated for the upgrading of the trauma and oncology units at Livingstone Hospital. The trauma unit was being prepared with an eye to what would be required for the World Cup.

In addition, she said, there would be major renovations for the Kwazakhele and Motherwell community health centres and rehabilitation of the Korsten clinic.

Jajula said R50-million had been provided for in the budget for alternative power sources and generators for health facilities to mitigate the current problems. In additions to the generators, other urgent interventions were:

�Procurement and installation of un-interrupted power supply (UPS) mechanism for all health facilities.

�Replacement and procurement of generators.

�Upgrading and maintenance of reticulation and electricity systems in health facilities.

R1,5bn Coega soya bean plant boost for farming

Sipho Masondo BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT

WIDESPREAD benefits, ranging from the creation of farm jobs in rural areas to the production of an alternative fuel, were promised yesterday at the announcement of plans for a R1,5-billion soya bean plant at the Coega Development Corporation industrial development zone.

The Rainbow Nation Renewable Fuels Limited (RNRF) announcement came as a welcome development for the IDZ after Rio Tinto-Alcan said last week that its planned R21-billion aluminium smelter would be delayed because of doubts over Eskom‘s ability to supply power.

Rainbow, whose head office is in Australia, said its plant – planned to be up and running by the end of next year – would process the beans to produce meal and oil. It also said it would develop capacity to process the soya bean oil into biodiesel and pharmaceutical glycerine.

The investment will create about 400 permanent jobs, and an estimated 800 during the construction phase, according to executives. A further 725 jobs will be created by manufacturing industries related to the plant.

Managing director Geoff Mordt said South African soya bean farmers, and especially existing and potential growers in the rural Eastern Cape, stood to reap enormous rewards from the business. “South African soya bean farmers and livestock industries such as poultry, pork, dairy, beef, and aquaculture producers stand to reap enormous rewards.

“The facility will consume one million tons of soya beans annually, providing a consistent local demand that South African farmers can rely on year after year,” he said.

In turn, the company would produce about 800000 tons of soya bean meal, which is used mainly by farmers as feed. “Our local facility‘s soya bean meal production will help improve the nation‘s balance of payments. South African imports of soya bean meal reached 812000 tons last year,” said Mordt.

Talks were already under way with farmers, agricultural co-operatives and emerging farmer groups to increase the local supply of soya beans, he said.

In addition, Mordt said, increasing local production of soya bean meal fell in line with the government‘s policy on food security. “Growth of the local soya bean industry will strengthen local agriculture and rural development, adding a key source of protein to the human food chain.”

Agriculture MEC Gugile Nkwinti said there was no better way to welcome RNRF‘s investment than to ensure that local farmers, in particular those in rural areas, were the primary suppliers of high-quality soya beans.

“We expect that rural-based co-operatives will sign off agreements with RNRF and therefore benefit directly from this initiative. More business opportunities are expected to emerge from the value chain activities linked to the biofuels industry,” he said.

Simpiwe Somdyala, chief executive of Asgisa Eastern Cape, said his office, RNRF and district municipalities would develop comprehensive support and mentorship programmes for emerging farmers and co-operatives.

CDC business development manager Khwezi Tiya said the project “is expected to create upstream and downstream opportunities which will mostly benefit the agricultural sector”.

In due course, Mordt said, the company would announce its empowerment partners, who would acquire 26 per cent of RNRF.