A walkway and cycle path - stretching from St George's Strand in the east to Flat Rock in the west - is among a series of ambitious projects that will form part of a R116-million facelift planned for Port Elizabeth's seafront.

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan municipality will embark on the massive integrated beachfront development plan this financial year. It will be implemented in phases until 2009.

A study undertaken by consulting engineering firm Africoast has identified 15 projects stretching along the coastline from St George's Strand to Cape Recife.

These projects are part of the metro's Vision 2020 and are part of the gateways and beautification project which is run from Metro Mayor Nceba Faku's office.

In the first phase of the entire development, this financial year will see the extension of the existing walkway - between Kings Beach and St Croix Drive at Pollok Beach - westwards to the beacon at the end of Admiralty Way.

"The extension of this walkway is at the point of commencing with detailed planning, surveys determining the best materials and procurement," states a report tabled at the metro's environment and health committee meeting on Monday.

The environment and tourism department will provide part of the funding. Works should commence soon to avoid "unnecessary inconveniences" over the festive season.

The committee agreed has on Monday that consultants be appointed to co-ordinate the Vision 2020 projects under the metro's environment and health business unit, and that the walkway and cycle path from St George's Strand to Admiralty Way be undertaken this financial year.

Africoast gave a detailed presentation to the committee yesterday on the development plan.

The entire coastline has been divided into 12 development nodes.

The council has already agreed to appoint a consulting engineer to help implement and complete these projects by 2009.

For this financial year, the metro has budgeted R10,15-million for the coastline development, and other funding will come from the Vision 2020 projects funding of which the metro is seeking to borrow R1,8-billion offshore.

Eastern Province Herald