Job hopes lifted by nod for ‘greener‘ N2 project

Cathy Dippnall GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT

THE Western Cape environmental affairs and development planning department has given provisional permission for the Destiny Africa project in George, which promises massive job creation in Thembalethu.

But the record of decision for the development, next to the N2 south of the Garden Route Mall, has several environment-friendly requisites.

Thys Pretorius, a director of developers Monteriva Investments, said: “This does not mean we have the right yet to go ahead and build. The next step is to get zoning approval from (the provincial administration) and the George municipality.”

Destiny Africa will be built in three stages and include a conference centre with seating for 5000 delegates, shops, offices, restaurants, apartments, residential lodges, hotels, an open air theatre, a 2000-seat sports stadium, a tourism village and a waterfront development.

The development borders Thembalethu and the developers plan to integrate residents by creating job opportunities close to their homes.

“(They) will no longer be isolated on the outskirts of town but will be next to a vibrant mixed-use development, increasing the possibility of employment that could also have a positive impact on their land values.”

The new conditions include an integrated waste management system to minimise waste, incorporating recycling and re-use of water. The developers will also have to implement “green architecture” and find a more efficient use of electricity.

A plan for group housing was rejected because two butterfly species endemic to the Garden Route are found on the south side and it has been declared a conservation area.