February 14, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
THE development of the Huddle Park golf course - well on track with an approved bidder in the City's sights - will also see other golfing developments around Johannesburg, particularly in Soweto and Alexandra.
The Huddle Park development, in Linksfield, will see the existing golf course facilities upgraded, with developers also undertaking to upgrade the Pimville golf course in Soweto and build a new one in Frankenwald, Alexandra.
Amanda Nair, executive director for Johannesburg's development planning, transportation and environment department, announced on 11 February the City of Johannesburg has nominated Islandsite as "preferred bidders" to develop the under-utilised Huddle Park golf course into a mixed-use facility.
Huddle Park has, over the years, run into a state of disrepair, which prompted the City to intervene "and inject some investment" to improve the state of the property.
"The project is destined to be a success story financially because bankers are the major participants in the developments," said Nair.
Islandsite, a consortium of empowerment groups led by Investec Bank and Standard Bank, has proposed to develop part of the golf course into an office, retail, residential and entertainment facility.
Work on the site is expected to get underway in 18 months.
"Currently, we are in the process of negotiating with the bidder to facilitate the development agreements," Nair added.
Huddle Park is owned by the City of Johannesburg and is currently under a 15-year lease to the Linksfield Golf Development Company, which is responsible for maintenance.
The lease agreement covers all Huddle Park's three 18-hole golf courses: the White, the Yellow and the Blue.
The City, according to the development planning, transportation and environment department, can terminate the agreement when confirmation that the rezoning application and the proposed development has been approved by the mayoral committee.
Huddle Park is one of the largest remaining open spaces in Johannesburg, covering an area of 235 489 hectares, and is surrounded by Bedford Park, Senderwood and Sandringham.
Islandsite's bid, according to Nair, had the "strongest financial backing" and "achieved the required Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDI) and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) credentials". Two of the empowerment companies in the consortium are Pew and Shanduka Properties.
The proposal envisages residential development, the creation of a private golf course, and retail and office components. Two-thirds of the site will be retained as open space.
Although the development has been subject to resistance from surrounding communities, Nair said the City is engaged in consultative talks with the communities. Some people have "articulated concerns" about the development, she added.
"People have expressed concern about the imminent traffic congestion that will result from the proposed developments in the area. They are also concerned about environmental degradation and the loss of green space. Despite the concerns raised, most people have expressed high levels of support for the project."
As part of the Huddle Park development, the City plans to develop a Special Place, a combination of a park and a bird sanctuary and farmyard, for recreation purposes.
And alongside the Huddle Park project, the developers have agreed to upgrade the Pimville golf course and oversee the building of a new course in Alexandra, to be designed by Gary Player.
The Pimville development will consist of 80 middle-income residential units alongside the golf course, the first such development in the area.
"The development is expected to bolster transformation and arrest the growing migration of upward mobile communities from their Soweto and Alexandra backyards," said Nair.
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