Green light for Paarl Waterfront
2010-05-13
Anne Kruger
THE proposed Paarl Waterfront development has received the green light from the provincial department of Environmental Affairs, and the development could start next year. The redevelopment of the Parys cricket grounds as a business centre with hotel, conference centre and office park, has already been approved in principle by the Drakenstein Municipal Council. Once the provincial appeal period of one month has passed, the municipality can approve the sale of the site (currently home to five sports clubs) to the developer. The R750 million Waterfront project on 12 hectares will feature a boardwalk along its entire river front, passing underneath the Market Street Bridge, with restaurants overlooking the water. Also planned are a retail centre, a wellness centre and sports science institute and residential units (possibly a retirement centre). The Paarl canoe club will be relocated to the northern side of Market Street, while the rugby club, cricket club, hockey club and squash club are expected to relocate to the Zanddrift sportsgrounds in Paarl North (Boy Louw fields). According to Garth Adams, MD of the Paarl Waterfront Development Company, R25 million has been budgeted for the redevelopment of sports clubs and the fields in Paarl North (including land belonging to Boland College Paarl), while the municipality will pocket R20 million for the sale of the Waterfront site. The Paarl Rugby Club, the only club not to have signed the relocation agreement yet, has expressed concern about relocating to Paarl North, as they are not assured of retaining their liquor licence. Adams said that the relocation of the rugby clubhouse would benefit Paarl Rugby Club as it will be located adjacent to the rugby fields and will be designed to the specifications of the club. “I would like to thank all the clubs that have signed the relocation agreement as negotiations were done in a very positive spirit and club representatives have always put the interests of their members, their clubs and their respective sport codes first.” According to the provincial Record of Decision, large trees must be planted on the river bank to soften the visual impact of the buildings, retaining the bluegums to the south. According to the developers, it is expected that the project will have a positive economic impact and may be a catalyst for tourism and the upgrading of central Paarl. According to Adams, SA Rugby Legends and Investec International Rugby Academy have signed an agreement to form the International Sport Academy SA (ISASA). “This could lead to the establishment of one of the biggest sports academies in South Africa, a high performance centre catering for all sport codes, focusing on the youth across the region,” said Adams. The development must commence within a period of three years, otherwise the provincial authorisation will lapse.
More
News
|
