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Developers have started submitting proposals for the Johannesburg City Council's controversial Huddle Park development, and a contract should be awarded before the end of the year, a council spokesperson told Engineering News Online yesterday.

An announcement of the council's development plans earlier this year drew opposition from various quarters, with concerned residents and the Democratic Alliance criticising government for being 'secretive' about its plans for the developing the property for multiuse.

However, the Johannesburg City Council's media liaison, Nthatisi Modingoane said potential developers were invited last month to submit proposals for the development of Huddle Park, within parameters established by the council's.

Modingoane explained that council's intention was to build two golf courses - one private and one public, a retail section and high-density residential development.

In the 1920s, Huddle Park was bequeathed to the local council, apparently on condition that it remained a public open space. It has since hosted an unprofitable golf club, before granting a 15-year lease to the Linksfield Golf Development Company last year.

Linksfield Golf Development Company, in a joint venture with the South African Golf Development Board, subsequently established there a successful golf academy for black youth.

When it announced plans to develop Huddle Park earlier, the Johannesburg City Council defended its position amid accusations of already-sealed deals with developers.

Allegations were also made that the council has concluded a deal with developers for a multimillion-rand upmarket residential development.

However, Modingoane said yesterday that developers have been invited to produce ideas to make Huddle Park a "special place", and added that, despite certain parameters, the development was open-ended at this stage.

"Although we said what we would want to see developed there, we many still receive ideas for something completely different," he commented.

"The city provided parameters in terms of the type of land uses that will be considered on site. In the proposal call documents, developers are encouraged to be innovative and not be limited by the city's parameters."

At this stage, Modingoane would not say how many proposals have been received, but the deadline for submissions is November 12.

He added that the value of the development would become known once a preferred bidder is announced, based on the type of development proposed.

It is envisaged that work on the project will begin at the end of January next year.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance ward councillor Carol Milner, who has been opposed to the proposed development from the start, said she would closely watch the environmental-impact assessment process.

"At the moment we are waiting to see that everything is carried out in accordance with proper procedure," she said.

Milner earlier slammed the development plans on grounds that the council did not give due consideration to the effects on surrounding areas, including the burden that such a development may put on existing roads and the electricity supply to surrounding residential areas.