The Chintsa River golf estate is set to go ahead after the national Department of Agriculture approved proposals that would allow the development to be constructed.

This was revealed by the estate's developer David Eastall on Monday.

The department in October last year decided not to rezone the area for the proposed 500 hectare golfing development because about three percent of the land was regarded as prime agricultural land.

Eastall submitted proposals to the department late last year in which the development would maintain the present orchards and would also introduce an organic farming component to the proposed estate. In addition, there would be a reserve that would breed indigenous buck.

"The department came and inspected the site at the beginning of February and late last week we received an approval of the proposals we had made," the estate's marketing head Di Stap said on Monday.

"The Great Kei Municipality (GKM) is now in the process of considering this news and granting an unconditional consent so that work may start on site," Stap added.

Earlier, the GKM approved the plan conditional on the Department of Agriculture approving proposals which would allow for the rezoning.

Oxley Ngqele, GKM municipal manager, said he was waiting for confirmation from the Department of Agriculture before the municipality could grant the go-ahead.

Eastall said, however, that work on the estate would probably commence after Easter.

"We have been working on the planning aspects flat out for over two years so to say now we are ready to go is an understatement."

The development, 30km outside East London, will include a 650-home housing complex.

There will also be a 160-room four-star hotel, an 18-hole championship golf course and a golfing academy with nine practice holes, plus numerous other sports and entertainment facilities, as well as an office park and retail centre.

Eastall said he understood the Department of Agriculture's concerns about ensuring arable land was kept for farming.

"Fortunately, we have reached an understanding and a large amount of land will be reserved for agricultural use."

One of Eastall's development schemes in Spain took nine years before a decision was made.

"Take that into account and people will understand why I say the authorities should be applauded for their spontaneous support."

The promise of the golfing estate has, according to local estate agents, been one of the main reasons for a property boom in the area.

Water is the most contentious issue surrounding golf estate development. Eastall has plans for a R13 million desalination plant, with a capacity of two megalitres a day.

Permission for the "seawater to freshwater" plant will depend on a full environmental impact assessment and authorisation from the dozen or so authorities that govern the various aspects of sea-water extraction.

There is also a proposal for a public-private partnership for a dam on the nearby Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve that would be a community project and could supply water to the entire area.

Daily Dispatch
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge