THE long anticipated development plans set to catapult the City of uMhlathuze into the tourism mecca of the Zululand region is well underway.
Stage 1 of the expansion and upgrade of the Alkantstrand Beach Precinct, comprising groundwork and clearing of the allocated area for development, is set to be completed by July.
Expanding the usable area of Alkantstrand to 90 000m², City Development intends on incorporating 14 000m² (next to the restaurant/dune areas) into the precinct.
Newark Beach will also be included spanning another 50 000m². Alkantstrand currently comprises 26 000m² of usable area.
Conceptual ideas for Alkantstrand comprise a walk through shopping centre, amphitheatre, walkways with cobblestone paving and timber, tidal pool, swimming pools for children and improved restrooms/showers.
Deputy Municipal Manager: City Development, Lindani Khoza said stage 2 and 3 of the project, which entailed construction of the walkways and ablution facilities, would begin in about two months time.
The project has received grant funding of R10.5-million from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
Waterfront Development
Meanwhile, progress on the Richards Bay Waterfront Development is also gaining momentum as township establishment is being finalised for four precincts with refined boundaries.
Emulating the likes of the popular V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, the precincts include the Mzingazi Canal, Central Waterfront, Waterfront Park and Alkantstrand.
The Mzingazi Canal precinct entails the previous casino site and has been earmarked for mixed-use commercial use (retail and offices), hotel/resorts, entertainment, tourism and recreation.
Water dependent sporting facilities, entertainment, retail, hotels and resorts will be accommodated in the Central Waterfront, which is already home to the NSRI, Blind Canal and yacht club, among others.
The Waterfront Park, comprising the Bay Hall area and Pelican Island, will be preserved for general public access boasting recreation and tourism facilities including a Botanical Park, walkways and promenades.
Tenders have already been invited for the conceptual redesign of the Richards Bay Waterfront Steel Bridge to keep it in line with the future aesthetic view.
‘We are looking for a team of experts led by architects to construct a spectacle and landmark for Richards Bay.
Assisted by engineers, it could take more than six months to redesign the bridge,’ said Khoza.
