Plans for a proposed R500 million lifestyle centre in the Belmont Valley seem to be on hold – until the Makana council comes to the table with a nod of approval.
Plans for a proposed R500 million lifestyle centre in the Belmont Valley seem to be on hold – until the Makana council comes to the table with a nod of approval.
It has been proposed that the land in Belmont Valley is developed into sport and farming academies, a hotel and conference centre, and a small residential area of about 50 housing units.
Part of the plan, as Grocott's Mail reported on 26 March last year, is to relocate the Grahamstown Golf Club and Grahamstown Riding School – both about 5km out on the Cradock Road – to Belmont Valley. The land these clubs occupy would then be developed as a residential area.
Makana Riding Club was issued with the land swap application earlier last year, but have not yet made a decision. The Chairperson of the Riding Club, Louise Bowker, said members had not discussed the matter further, but would obviously be keen if they were given the right offer.
The Grahamstown Golf Club was quoted in the 26 March article as saying the valley would be a better location, which would attract more visitors. Izenzo Project Manager, David Davies, was also quoted in the article stating that the road in the Belmont Valley was graded and that there was plenty of water from the perennial river.
The treated sewage effluent that flowed into the valley made it very fertile, with lush vegetation. The golf club has signed a mandate to authorise Izenzo Project Manager, David Davies, to go ahead with the proposal. However, the land has a restrictive condition in favour of the Makana Municipality, which has to be lifted to authorise the transaction.
The Belmont Valley Company has submitted a proposal to the Makana Municipality for a land swap between Grahamstown Golf Club, and its Belmont Valley & Country Estate. If approved, the land occupied by Grahamstown Golf Club would be developed into a residential area, the golf club relocated to Belmont Valley and incorporated in a sporting academy that would have a world-class golf course and promote equestrian sports, golf, tennis, bowls, rugby, cricket and soccer.
The item appeared on the agenda of the Land, Housing, Infrastructural Development (LHID) Portfolio Committee in November last year. The committee's report from the Technical Services directorate states that around 1994, Erf 8045 was sold and transferred to the Grahamstown Golf Club, with a special condition which included a pre-emptive right in favour of Makana Municipality.
"However these restrictions were never registered against the title deed but remained a contractual liability on the Grahamstown Golf Club," the document stated. The document also stated that the Grahamstown Golf Club indicated that it would not abandon its title to the land without being assured of alternative land, "reason being that the restrictive condition is not registered on the title deed, but stipulated on the deed of sale".
Makana municipal spokesperson, Thandy Matebese, said the application had been discussed at relevant portfolio committees, but had not yet gone to Council for approval." According to the LHID report, the Golf Club has agreed (subject to the approval of the Makana Municipality) that: *The land comprising the Grahamstown Golf Club with all improvements thereon shall be transferred to the Belmont Development company for the purposes of a housing development. *The Belmont Development company will develop a new golf course in the Belmont Valley and transfer ownership of this land to the Golf Club. "It is therefore advisable that the Council approves to uplift the restrictive condition, in order to allow the transaction of land swap between Grahamstown Golf Club and Belmont Development company to take place," the report stated.
The report said the Belmont Development Company should pay the municipality a market-related value for the existing golf course land, and for the lifting of the restrictions. When Grocott's Mail asked Davies for comment, he said he would be prepared to speak only after the Council meeting scheduled for 8 March.
In its motivating documents for acquiring the prime land, the Belmont Valley Company said it aimed to source its service providers locally; create 10 000 construction job opportunities during the five- to ten-year building phase, as well as between 750 to 1000 permanent jobs and to provide skills development in training programmes. It also sought to uplift disadvantaged people through the small-scale farming venture, and encourage sports tourism in the area.
