The Hibiscus Coast Municipality has significant beachfront development plans that include a small-craft harbour to link the Port Shepstone central business district (CBD) to the beachfront.

The Port Shepstone CBD serves as the Kwazulu-Natal south coast’s main service centre, but tourism development in the town has been limited, as it is cut off from the beachfront because of the location of Spoornet shunting yards between the beach and town.

Hibiscus Coast Development Agency CEO Michael Bertram says Spoornet has agreed to sell the land to the municipality and that negotiations over price are continuing.

If the land is secured the next step will be to apply for environmental approval from provincial authorities.

Bertram says the local authority will provide 300 000 m2 of serviced bulk infrastructure for leisure, residential, office and retail use, and then allow the private sector to come in and develop the land.

Part of the infrastructure will include a 1,3-m- to 1,5-m-deep inland small-craft harbour for ski boats, linked to the Umzimkulu river by canal. Total volume of water, including the canal and harbour, is expected to be 600 000 m3.

Boats will gain access to the sea via the river. Apart from the harbour and canal, the municipality will provide a raised boardwalk, sea pier, paddling pools, improve road links between the CBD and the beachfront, as well as open up river-fronted land for leisure development.

Plans are to develop an office node between the CBD and beachfront that will house, among other things, new municipal offices, which are currently scattered across seven offices in three towns.

Bertram says there will be a significant private-sector opportunity to develop a boutique hotel and conference centre overlooking the small-craft harbour.

He adds that investment in the project could amount to approximately R2-billion, with the local authority contributing a ‘worst-case scenario’ of R207-million for infrastructure if no grant finance is forthcoming from national government.

Estimated costs for the canal walls and bed, sea pier and water intake system are R88,5-million and costs for bulk services infrastructure, including water, sewage disposal, roads and storm- water drains are R68,5-million.

He expects the balance of R1,8-billion to be invested in private-sector developments.

The concept plan was drawn up for the municipality by a joint venture between architecture and town-planning firm Prop 5 Corporation and an urban-design collaborative known as Iyer Rothaug.

BKS Engineering provided the wastewater plans, Prestedge Retief Dresner & Wijnberg the oceanographic and coastal engineering, and DLDMIC the roads and construction engineering.

Bertram emphasises that the concept is a 24/7, living and working family-friendly environment. The aim will also be to take advantage of the south coast’s position as one of the country’s most significant retirement hubs.

Bertram expects the bulk of the apartment take-up will be from the region’s traditional Gauteng market, with about 10% from foreign buyers.

Projections are that the project could increase rates for the local authority by approximately R42,5-million a year, which could assist in developing poorer inland areas.

The south coast is characterised by a relatively wealthy and developed coastline with a poverty-stricken hinterland.