Tourism development and job creation in the Breede River Valley gained a significant impetus today with the sod-turning at the new R156-million Worcester Casino, scheduled for opening in September 2006.

At the ceremony, Alex Abercrombie, chairperson of the company, said that this windfall investment would do much to promote the visitor and leisure industry in the Breede River Valley.

"Our project has been conceptualised in such a way as to ensure that the economic benefits arising out of our investment remain as far as possible in the local economy. The new property will be a catalyst for other new investment in the region, and it will create sustainable employment, and new business opportunities for the people of the Breede River Valley.

"This is also a further step forward in the transformation of our province's leisure industry, as 60% of the equity in our company is in disadvantaged hands, and strict protocols will be instituted to ensure that broad-based empowerment takes place at every level of the value chain.

"We have adopted the nationally-acknowledged Targeted Access Programme (TAP) to ensure that we meet our empowerment objectives. We will give preference to SMEs and empowerment firms in the region in respect of the procurement of goods and services, and in the awarding of concessionaire opportunities. Through TAP, we are able to measure and audit our performance against these goals", he said.

The new Worcester casino will be developed at a cost of R156-million, the largest private sector investment ever in the Breede River Valley's leisure industry, on a site on the N1 opposite the Worcester dam.

It will be a family entertainment complex which will include a 250 slot machine casino, catering for both smokers and non-smokers, a conference centre, accommodating up to 120 delegates, a buffet restaurant, a sports bar with live entertainment, and some festival retail. There will be an entertainment area for children, including the latest electronic games, and a nursery and crèche staffed by childcare professionals.

The complex will be developed and managed by Sun International, which also has 40% of the equity, out of which will come 3.5 % for employees at the complex. Grand Parade Investments (GPI), and other empowerment shareholders, including the Breede River Valley Community Trust, own the balance of the equity.

Sun International's chief executive-designate, David Coutts-Trotter, said today that the tourism and leisure industry was South Africa's most rapidly expanding economic sector, and every serious analysis of the Breede River's economy and development prospects suggested that this industry was one sector which could contribute enormously to the growth and prosperity of the region.

"Our R156-million investment package, including a much-needed conference centre, and family entertainment, will be an anchor attraction in the Breede River Valley, and add new tourism and leisure products that will help broaden the appeal of Worcester and the region without undermining existing draw cards. Sun International will market these amenities nationally.

"Our project will also boost job creation in and around Worcester, creating 160 direct and sustainable employment opportunities, excluding new jobs among our local suppliers and service providers.

"As much as the new project will stimulate the local economy, we are the first to recognise that with gambling comes the risk, albeit in a small minority of cases, of individual dependency and problem gambling. The National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) is already active in this region, including education programmes in schools and community centres, and Worcester Casino, which will be a signatory to the Western Cape Industry Code of Conduct, will meet all of its obligations in respect of the programme".

The new entertainment complex will be themed around a traditional Cape Dutch concept, remaining true to the historic built heritage of the region.