N8 Corridor Development

The N8 Corridor development is taking place along the N8 route, which is one of the major roads stretching from the east of the Free State province through towns such as Ladybrand, Thabanchu, Botshabelo, Bloemfontein, to the west through Petrusberg, all the way to Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province.

This major project which encompasses several facets addressing various economic sectors, focuses on the development of the N8 national road as a development spine linking the three urban centres of the Mangaung Local Municipality. It also serves as an important link to the neighbouring Mantopsa Local Municipality and the city of Maseru, the neighbouring Lesotho.

The primary aim of the Mangaung N8 development (based on the “beads and string” concept) is to stimulate increased economic activity in existing nodes and spark the development of new economic nodes along the length of the corridor.

The activity nodes identified along the corridor include:

• Expansion of the Bloemfontein Airport (transport, tourism and light industry potential)
• Bloemfontein CBD (retail, office park development)
• Golf course and racehorse node (leisure, recreation and tourism opportunities)
• A 5 star graded hotel and an International Conference Centre
• The Transwerke area (potential for transport logistics, freight centre and warehousing)
• The Rustfontein dam (eco-tourism opportunity)
• The Botshabelo industrial area 9industrial and warehousing potential)
• Botshabelo CBD (retail and trade opportunities)
• Thaba Nchu CBD (tourism, retail and trade opportunities)

These nodes are currently in various stages of development and pose various investment opportunities. The Mangaung Local Municipality has finalized a Planning and Implementation Framework for the N8 Corridor project that will guide the development and facilitate investment along this important transport spine.

Mandela View /Eden Park

Mandela View / Eden Park are located to the south of the N8, east of the airport access road.

Residential development comprising of over R3 billion into residential, retail, industrial and tourism opportunities.

• Mandela View is a classy well-administrated affordable residential development, whereas Eden Park is an up-market and security controlled residential development.
• These estates make provision for amenities such as schools, shops, medical and recreational facilities .

Mandela View – initiated in 2000 – vision for the housing development of a housing estate for all the people of South Africa.

• 10 phases – projected over a 15 to 20 year time span, 1000 hectare over 15 000 homes,
• 2 300 families,
• social housing rental accommodation in the form of apartments (single and double storey).

Eden Park – development started June 2005 – visionary development offering a better life for all – healthy and safe environment.

• a security estate, with luxury Tuscan styled houses between 113m2 and 222m2 is size for between R472 000 and R996 000. T
• an Eden Golf Estate – houses over R600 000,
• schools, a commercial centre and some community and recreation facilities,

Niche Market Identification

• construction sector, community, personal and social services sector and trade sector. Translating into the following urban property markets – residential, retail and community facilities.

Golf Club

Schoeman Park Golf Club
This facility represents the premier course in Bloemfontein, and has been built by Scottish railway workers in 1904. Today the Club building and ground still belongs to Transnet, but the club in itself is a separate legal entity – Section 21 Company. The eighteen hole golf course was opened in 1957. In 1998 the new bent grass greens and rebuilt 10th green were put into use.

The golf course and fairways is always in immaculate condition. A number of SA professional tour events, the SA amateur tournament and a number of provincial tournaments are held at this club.

The golf club has been awarded the prestigious Golden Arrow Award for being the most outstanding sport club in the Free State and Northern Cape. The club boasts with approximately 970 members.

The course represents 18 Parklands holes, with bent fairways and Green, approximately 6 436metres long and with a course par of 72. The golf club welcomes visitors and the fees are determined via affiliation with SAGA, and special fees are available for Corporate and Charity Golf Days.

The club is in the fortunate position that most of the competitions on Wednesdays and Saturdays are sponsored by firms, charity organisers, schools, churches etc. During the week various corporate and charity golf days are being held. On average 3 000 golf rounds are played per month

Opportunities

A sport academy can be developed as part of the Schoeman Park Golf Club – the academy can be sport focused or integrate schools of sport for which facilities already exists. This will involve the development of boarding facilities, lecture halls, an audio visual room, a gymnasium, medical facilities etc.

If a sports academy is not developed a medical sport centre can be developed at the golf course – representing an exclusive medical centre focused on addressing sport related issues and injures – physiotherapy, acupuncture, etc.

Niche Market Identification
These opportunities translate into the following sectors: Community, personal and social services sector. This translates into the following urban property market - community facility market.

Race Course

Existing Recommendations or interventions

• A residential estate has been proposed for the land on which the Bloemfontein racecourse is located
• The development of a Sunnyside Events Park has also been proposed, the facility will include a monument, conference facility, play park equipment for children, parking and braai facilities, an amphi-theatre, man-made dam.

Opportunities

• A funaction venue should also include a beauty spa component providing health and beauty services, conference facilities, accommodation chalets, a restaurant
• a residentila component – middle to higher income in terms of plots.
• Current light industrial / commercial uses
  
• a proposed events park

Niche Market Identification

These opportunities translate into the following sectors: transport, manufacturing, catering and accommodation and construction. This translates into the following urban property markets -tourism market, residential market, commercial market and light industrial market.

Matjhabeng Tourism and Entertainment and Amusement Complex

To reinforce the Goldfields Region ( Lejweleputswa) as a tourism and recreation destination of choice by establishing an Amusement Park comprising of Water World, Underground Hotel, Mining Museum Visitors Centre, Cultural Village, Waterfront Shopping Mall, a Golf Estate and a Five Star Hotel.