News Update – Aerotropolis Development to Yield R100 Billion for City
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Click here to download the PDF for News Update 23 April 2013
4300 trucks full of stones, 170 trucks full of cement, 72 kilometres of tarred roads and 160 kilometres of roadside curbing! These are just a few of the resources which will be used in making the envisaged Bramfischer International Airport Node Development (AND) project a reality. During the site servicing phase alone, 11 000 jobs will be created and once phase one is fully developed, R100 billion will have been injected into the economy of MMM. When Mangaung Metro’s Executive Mayor Clr Thabo Manyoni took office in 2011, he made sure that he Airport Development Node forms part of Mangaung’s spatial development framework which will reposition the city economically and financially. This will be made possible as the new town to be built along the N8 will have an ICC & hotels, Urban Square, a Mall, mixed housing, educational and civic sites and a railway station.
“The government has been talking about the N8 Corridor Development happening for years…We are gathered here to say ‘sesfikile’,” the Executive Mayor said at the site visit of the Airport Node Development on Friday, 19 April. During his address to business people, possible investors and Mangaung residents, the EM encouraged them to invest in the development of Mangaung first, before investing in other areas. The address was followed by an unveiling of numerous billboards showcasing the upcoming developments along the N8, one of South Africa’s busiest roads. While the entire area to be developed is 2000 hectares, the first phase which is currently being implemented is 700 hectares. This is about the size of the entire CBD of Bloemfontein. The contractor will be on site in May 2013. Besides being an economic hub for residents of Mangaung and visitors alike, there will be strides to ensure the new town promotes a healthy lifestyle by making it pedestrian friendly.
“The political leadership of this metro is going to be hands on in the planning phase. We want an environment where people can be able to walk and work; an environment which will be able to promote a healthy lifestyle,” the EM explained. A few weeks back, the EM announced that the first solar park would be developed by the new town, and this will be the primary source of energy. “We have been talking about clean energy and energy saving measures. However, there has been too much talk, but no action,” Clr Manyoni said. To bring these ideas into action, a partnership between the city, academic institutions and elevant professionals will ensure that the buildings to be constructed are energy saving. The Airport Node Development will also be significant in the overall development of Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu as it “will generate revenue necessary for cross-subsidisation of critical projects like the Botshabelo/Thaba Nchu node,” the EM explained.
Also at the forefront to ensure that the town becomes a reality is Me Sibongile Mazibuko, the City Manager for Mangaung, who said Clr Manyoni has given the administration an ultimatum regarding the Airport Node Development project: make it happen or leave! “The EM never minced words about wanting this to happen, sometimes harshly so. He always said “this must happen, otherwise you must go. It is an honour to be part of another milestone” Me Mazibuko said. “We want a situation where in five years time, when those coming from outside the city come out of the time, they should get lost because it would have changed that much…We are building a typical 22nd century city,” the Executive Mayor said to applause.
Click here to download the PDF for News Update 23 April 2013