Mega Mall is link in aerotropolis chain
The Benoni Mega Mall will form an integral part of Ekurhuleni’s aerotropolis project, but it is on ice at the moment.
This was the message of Pieter Swanepoel, divisional head of city planning at the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM).
He spoke at the Ekurhuleni Captains of Industry forum, held at the Marechelle Country Estate, in Kempton Park, recently.
Swanepoel addressed the room regarding the city’s plan to build an aerotropolis.
The initiative aims to integrate Ekurhuleni’s infrastructure and businesses to fully benefit from and contribute to the O R Tambo International Airport, situated in the metro.
“We, as the city, approached the private sector to work on the aerotropolis; having local business involved is important to us,” Swanepoel said.
He listed several locations within Ekurhuleni, where developments, which will be in line with the aerotropolis, are in different stages of planning or construction.
One such a project is the Mega Mall, along Glen Gory Road, in Vlakfontein 30-IR.
Although the municipality told the City Times in May that the project might not go ahead, due to weakening economic conditions, Swanepoel seemed optimistic that it will continue.
“The project’s timeframe and size will depend on the economy and the market for retail,” he said.
“In terms of the aerotropolis, the mall and the infrastructure upgrades around it will connect the airport to outlying areas, such as Daveyton.
“The metro has already approved the company’s application for the development and will contribute by upgrading the area’s services and infrastructure.
“The developer and metro will share the costs, but a final figure has not been established yet.”
Swanepoel added that there is a 40 per cent discount on the bulk contribution fee to be paid by developers, if the project exceeds a specific size, which this one does.
He said the development won’t start for another year of two.
“But, in addition to the mall, other developers are looking at building residences in the surrounding areas,” he added.
The project is being run by the Benoni Precinct Partnership, an alliance of several companies across the country.
In addition, Swanepoel said, Ekurhuleni is one of the metros in South Africa, with the highest unemployment rates.
“These projects will add economic value to the city and will create thousands of jobs,” he added.
The municipal official said the city is also planning to have a university built in Ekurhuleni.
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