toerismefasiliteite aan te vul, bewaring te ondersteun en die histories agtergeblewenes van die vallei toegang te gee tot die hoofstroom van die plaaslike ekonomie, naamlik toerisme en landbou.

Die sleutel tot die verwesenliking van hierdie sosiale doelwitte is die ontwikkeling van die eertydse munisipale meentgrond van 100 hektaar, wat die kapitaal vrystel en dien as die platform vir bemagtigingsinisiatiewe.

Die kruissubsidiëring wat moontlik gemaak is deur die meentontwikkeling het die munisipaliteit in staat gestel om R1,2 miljoen plus twee hektaar van prima ontwikkeling vir die grondeisers opsy te sit, as plaaslike aanvulling vir hul regeringskompensasie.

Daar is die afgelope jaar vinnig vordering gemaak met die Mooiwater laekoste-behuisingsprojek, waarvan die deurdagte dorpsuitleg, innoverende huisontwerpe en hoë standaard van dienste baie lof ontvang het. 

Die huise word gratis aan die armste mense verskaf, wat 'n volle titel op die huise ontvang (elk is R38 000 werd, pleks van die gewone HOP-huise wat R18 000 werd is).

Die ondersteuning van die gemeenskap vir die inisiatief was een van die grootste steunpilare vir die sukses daarvan.

Eerw Wilfred Moses, voorsitter van die plaaslike area GOP-forum, sê: "'n Jaar gelede was ek skepties oor hierdie ambisieuse inisiatief. Ek kan egter nou getuig dat die gemeenskap heeltemal oortuig is deur die werklike lewering wat ons die afgelope jaar ervaar het.

"Die behuising wat gratis verskaf word aan die armste van die armes is heelwat beter as wat op ander plekke gebou word. Hierdie huise word teen 'n tempo van 20 per week oorhandig, met honderde families wat reeds ingetrek het.

"Die grondeisers het reeds vergoeding van twee hektaar prima grond ontvang en R1,2 miljoen aanvul-geld.

"Die werksgeleenthede wat belowe is, begin nou na vore kom, asook die besigheidsgeleenthede vir die voorheen benadeeldes.

Werksgeleenthede sal veral geskep word by die Fransche Hoek Wynlandgoed op die meent met 'n luukse boetiekhotel/gesondheidspa, wynkelder, wingerde en olyfboorde, konferensiesentrum en kunstenaarsdorp gemik op die toppunt van die toerismemark.

Volgens dr Franklin Sonn, voorsitter van Frandevco, sal die Meikles Groep (wat die Cape Grace besit) die hotel bestuur.

VinoAfrika sal die wynlandgoed bestuur met Mzokona Mvemve en Carmen Stevens, die wynmakers, en Orlando Philander, die wingerdboukundige.

THE National Budget as delivered by the Minister of Finance last week, has been welcomed by the residential property market in terms of overall tax relief that bodes well for a sustainable increase in homeownership in SA across all income levels.

However, direct tax relief in the residential market is a little disappointing, says Janine Kearly of Durr in Paarl.

"The Budget is consistent with the Minister's policy of providing tax relief across a broad base that will especially benefit those in the middle and lower income tax brackets.

"Transfer duty, as predicted, has once again been reduced, but certainly not to the same extent of last year. In fact, given the estimated increase in house prices of 12 % over the last year, the actual Rand value of the transfer duty to be paid has more than likely remained the same and in some cases increased, therefore limiting any tax relief in real terms.

"The tax allowance on refurbishment of certain designated areas for urban development is an interesting "carrot" for the upgrading of the inner cities and should provide a real incentive for landlords to upgrade buildings in the CBD.

"This will go a long way in uplifting the general standard of the CBDs and provide improved living conditions for residents in these areas.

"On the whole, the budget offers tax relief at all levels that will generate more disposable income.

"This, coupled with anticipated lower interest rates later this year, will undoubtedly make mortgage repayments more affordable to all homebuyers. The impact on the economy and the residential property market should be positive."

THE first two showhouses are nearing completion at Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate and Spa, the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course and residential development between Paarl and Franschhoek.

While each showhouse is a different design, they each total some 450m² and comprise of four bedrooms (two en-suite), a third bathroom, a guest toilet, an open plan dining room/lounge, a family room, a study and a double garage leading into the kitchen.

Says appointed architect Fred de Kock, the appointed architect at Pearl Valley: "We have opted for as many natural materials or natural looking finishes as possible.

"Typically these include: Table Mountain sandstone for exterior retaining and yard walls; natural slate as well as thatch roofs; charcoal swimming pools to match the natural water features on the estate; timber decks; soft, earthy paint colours; travertine and stone tiles; granite tops in the kitchen; and, cherry, beech or rosewood floors in the family and living rooms.

"Since we started the showhouse there has been a strong trend from existing and prospective buyers to houses with all four bedrooms en suite as well as a triple garage which allows for golf cart storage.

"The average plot size is bigger than your normal golf course residential estate. In addition, while most golf course estates rely on the fairways to create a feeling of space, Pearl Valley has the added advantage of 17 hectares of lakes as well as 20 hectares of communal parkland. These all add a significant extra space dimension."

Plots are almost sold out in phase two and prices range from R1 million upwards. For details phone 867-0442.

THE Cape Wine Academy has appointed the Cape Wine Master and well-known wine personality Clive Torr as its new principal. Clive succeeds Christine Rudman, who retired in December.

As principal, he will be instrumental in raising the profile of the Academy amongst members of the public, tertiary institutions as well as companies that use the services of the Academy to entertain and educate their staff and clients. 

Previously the manager of the Cape Wine Academy in Gauteng, Clive has regularly entertained the Academy's students with his unique lecturing style. 

Apart from education in the traditional sense, Torr also sees tourists as an area of focus for the Academy, as it enables one to take education outside the bounds of the classroom.

A graduate of Elsenburg College, Clive began his career as a winemaker at Villiera. After his time at the Academy he joined Nederburg as Public Relations Manager and is currently a Wine Market Development Manager at Distell. 

However, winemaking remains a passion and, in addition to consulting to a variety of estates, he continues to make his own wine in South Africa as well as in Beaune, France.

Pieter Laubscher has been acting in the position of principal since pointBreak took charge of The Cape Wine Academy in December.

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