The Garden Route looks set to become the home of yet another luxurious golf estate - a resort on the coast near Glentana outside George that, at a cost of about R3-billion, will be among the most expensive golf estates in the area.
The land earmarked for the proposed LagoonBay Lifestyle Estate has been defined as part of the urban edge of George, which the developers say has provided further momentum to the project. The development has already received the support of provincial agricultural authorities, who have tested the soil on the site and found it unsuitable for agricultural use.
Developer Werner Roux said on Wednesday that 4,000 temporary and 1,200 permanent jobs would be created in the George area if the Western Cape department of environmental affairs and development planning gave the project the green light.
He also said that more than R150-million was expected to be generated from the development. This would be channelled into the George community by means of the Hoogekraal Treasury Trust, a public utilities organisation which will have a number of community-based developmental organisations as its beneficiaries.
The development will be made up of 810 residential stands and 100 sectional title lodges with stand sizes ranging from 600 to 4,500m².
It will also include a five-star hotel, a David Leadbetter golf academy and a shopping centre.
Roux said the support of the agriculture department and the definition of land as part of the town's urban edge meant that all processes were now concluded, in preparation for a final decision by the provincial department of environmental affairs and development planning.
Roux's company is currently busy with the development of golf estates in Durban and Rustenberg and is also heavily involved with property development throughout Knysna.
He said the George development would be financed by Rand Merchant Bank.
"With all these positive decisions and approvals we are confident of adherence to all the necessary requirements of the provincial authority to eventually make LagoonBay one of the most successful golf estates in South Africa, especially with regard to the social and economic benefit the local George community will gain," Roux said.
In its letter of approval, the provincial agriculture department says that the community of George is poor and struggling and that the proposed development will have a very positive socio-economic impact.
Agriculture department spokesman Jan Bosman said yesterday the department could not comment until a final decision had been announced on the development. However, he confirmed that recommendations were submitted in favour of the development.
George's acting municipal manager, Godfrey Louw, could not be reached for comment.
Eastern Province Herald
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge
