A PRESENTATION on what has been achieved and projects still in the pipeline regarding catalytic projects in the City was given to the Executive Committee at a meeting held on 13 February by Deputy City Manager of Economic Development and Planning, Phillip Sithole.
Speaking on the Point Waterfront Development, Sithole said all approvals were in place. He said the promenade extension, which was a City investment, would be launched in March adding that the contractor was now on site.
The investment for the project over the next 10 to 15 years is estimated to be around R30 to R35 billion with 11 000 construction jobs and 6 750 permanent jobs to be created. A sum of R200 million in rates per annum is expected to be generated.
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He said further possibilities of the Point Waterfront Development project could include a residential component, the potential for a mall and hotel as well as land sale in progress to accommodate a high-end office park.
Regarding the Durban Film City, Sithole said the City was still in negotiations with the Department of Defence regarding the transfer of land to the City so it can in turn be transferred to Durban Film City.
He said however, certain components did not have to wait for the land transfer to be complete, particularly on land already owned by the City.
“The developers are ready to start on parcels of land available. Through the intervention of the City Manager, Sipho Nzuza, we have had several meetings with investors regarding the slow progress and we are seeing progress,” Sithole said.
He also touched on the Virginia Airport site and the proposed Durban Iconic Tower.
Sithole said the proposal to develop the airport site was an unsolicited bid which was not approved by the Bid Adjudication Committee which called for it to be an open tender process.
“This will be brought back to Council and go out for open tender. There have been media reports that we are doing away with the project which is not true.”
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Responding to questions about the site and whether it could remain an airport, Sithole said the Council decision taken was that it be a high-end mixed use development which would only change if another decision was taken by Council.
Sithole said the proposed Iconic Tower would also not go the route of an unsolicited bid and would follow the open tender route.
Other projects discussed were The Centrum Site, the Keystone Logistics and Business Hub in Hammarsdale, the Amalgamated Beverage Industries, Land Use Strategy C3 Corridor and Westwood Phase one, the Pearls Umhlanga, The Arch, Nedbank Square, Suncoast Casino, Clairwood Logistics Park, Cornubia and Dube Tradeport.
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