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THE consultative committee of Paarl's Central Business District (CBD) is in the process of finding Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partners for the urban renewal project. The committee will drive the process that will see the core CBD transformed into a new and vibrant shopping and recreational area. The committee was formed in April and is a partnership between a group of property owners and the Drakenstein town council. The members have agreed on procedures to follow to ensure that the BEE component is given the maximum possible exposure to potential subscribers in Drakenstein. They have to ensure that its selection of BEE partners is done in accordance with the regulations established by National Treasury. According to these all municipalities must adopt a Code of Good Practice with regard to Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) when they jointly undertake projects with the private sector. The main purpose of BBBEE is to ensure that historically disadvantaged groups are included in every aspect of the project so that the benefits extend to a wide range of people and not just a few select individuals or businesses. The BEE partners will acquire their shares in a company that will be formed by the property owners. It is the company that will ultimately take charge of this phase of Paarl's urban renewal, after all the major legal and technical tasks have been successfully completed. That is not where BEE stops, though. The company is also bound by the legislation on PPP's to set targets for involving BEE partners at the management and operations level of the project. The search for BEE partners will therefore include companies that can supply a range of goods and services during and after the construction phase of the project. Council's representatives on the committee are of the view that there is enormous scope for Drakenstein companies to play a role in this important project, especially if they have adopted BEE practices. The process of finding BEE partners The finding of BEE partners is technically the task of the property owners, but council's representatives on the committee will have input into the process. The committee feels it is important that the final decision is seen as having been made in the best interest of the project and the development objectives of Drakenstein's IDP, specifically job creation and economic development. The procedures developed by the Committee are therefore aimed at facilitating the process of selecting BEE partners and finding an effective method of satisfying Council's criteria as well as Treasury's regulations. In summary, the procedures for selecting BEE partners will be as follows: * Identify potential partners in a number of sectors in Drakenstein through research and notices on radio and in the press. The sectors should represent the diverse groups of Paarl and Drakenstein. * The property owners meet with the prospective BEE partners to discuss the offer to acquire equity and to participate in the management and operations side of the project. * On the basis of the information obtained on companies, consortiums and individuals an evaluation sheet will be prepared and each assigned a score of rank. * The property owners present their findings and shortlist to the consultative committee with a brief report on the reasons why they are nominating particular companies and individuals for partnership. * The consultative committee discusses the nominations and, through consensus and negotiation, reaches a decision about the final selection of the partners. * The property owners will present a formal offer to those partners who have been selected and discuss financing arrangements with them in the case of acquiring equity and their role in the case of management and operational positions. * Once all the necessary legal provisions are compiled with, the names of the partners are announced in the local and provincial media.
Criteria to guide property owners
The Council's representatives on the Committee have also proposed that a set of criteria be adopted to guide the property owners in the selection process. The criteria should be applied to all prospective partners to develop a preference scale from most favoured to least favoured candidates for BEE. Among the criteria that will be used for selection are: * That they be drawn from the widest possible spectrum of society in Paarl and Drakenstein. This means the established business community (including large, medium and small enterprises), traders' organisations, trade unions, transport operators, farm worker associations, non-governmental organisations, religious institutions, civic associations, youth groups, bodies representing the disabled, sport bodies, women's organizations and community trusts; * That the companies or individuals selected have a track record of involvement in social /economic upliftment of the local community; * That they have a history of participation in local activities * That they demonstrate their capability to add value to the project through either knowledge of local issues, the local economy, skill, expertise, social networks or the manufacture of products; * That they are familiar with the development plans of DM including its IDP; * That they have no criminal record and are free of any charges of bribery and corruption. An exception here would be those persons who, prior to 1994, were convicted of political offences; * That they have not been prohibited from doing business with the public sector presently or in the recent past; * That they agree to appear before Council or the general public to answer any questions about their business affairs or their personal backgrounds; * In the case of established or formal business or non-profit organisations, that they are able to provide proof of good standing with respect to their tax status with SARS. The procurement manager's office in Drakenstein will support the committee in its effort to verify the information provided by the prospective partners (companies and individuals). As far as it is feasible, the scorecard developed in the Code of Good Practice for PPP's will be used in conjunction with the criteria to assess the BEE levels of engagement in the projects that are proposed by the property owners. Interested persons and companies should contact the Municipal Manager at 807-4500. |
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THE property boom in Wellington continues unabated, with numerous properties due for development. Estate agents ascribe the huge growth in Wellington properties to the growing demand for smaller homes within security complexes, and the lack of available land in Paarl. Other aspects in favour of Wellington, say residents, are the rural atmosphere, good schools, the improved R44 road to Cape Town for those wishing to commute, the expansion of the colleges and the fact that the tannery has upgraded its plant and is no longer a source of odours. New on the market is Dukes in Hoogenhout Street, commemorating the Duke of Wellington in its name. The new security development will consist of 64 houses starting at R749 000 for a three-bedroomed home. The site is well located with a view over the mountains and vineyards and according to estate agent Johan de Bruyn, 31 have already been sold. There are six house designs to choose from with a variety of finishes. Transfer and mortgage costs are included. The developer is Kingfisher Homes, owned by Mike Ryan and Steve Powell, who are based in England. The Wellington Mews development of 31 houses in Piet Retief Street is finally reaching completion after long delays, while the Serenata retirement complex in Addy Street is also progressing well. The Campus Ecclesia complex of 23 houses off Church Street has also been completed. At Diemersfontein the first houses on the smallholdings which are for sale within the vineyards, have been built. Also planned on the estate is a village of 108 upmarket homes with a clubhouse, swimming-pool and tennis courts. The development of the Levin property north of Piet Retief Street is also on the cards, although final approval has not yet been granted. The property of 13 hectares is to be developed into 275 units starting at R375 000 for the smallest units. Another developer is planning the subdivision of a smallholding in Nuwe Uitsig (Rigter Street) into six homes, subject to final approval. Also in the pipeline is the development of a security complex of 50 homes on the bank of the Leeuw River in Berg-en-Dal. Approval is still being sought. |
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on the east side of Cecilia Street. The off-ramp will start under the bridge, joining a realigned Arboretum Street and linking to Cecilia Street with a traffic circle at the entrance to the mall. For this purpose the property of Paarl veterinarian Dr Pietie van Aarde has been purchased, as well as the southern section of the KWV farm Labori et Picardie. The on-ramp back to Cape Town will be located on the opposite side of the national road, also on the bank of the Berg River. As the intersection is to be located east of the Cecilia Street bridge, no changes will be required to the Main Street intersection. Further improvements to be implemented by the developer are upgrading of the intersection of Cecilia Street and Berg River Boulevard (traffic lights) and of the intersection of Arboretum Avenue and Jan van Riebeeck Drive. The eastern end of New Vlei Street will be closed to traffic. According to developer Pat Flanagan, a total of R12 million is to be spent on roadworks by the time the mall opens in September 2005. The section of the Tiger Foods factory site near the Paarl railway station, on which the R240 million mall of 35 000 square metres is to be built, has already been demolished. Preparation of the 15 hectare site has started, using rubble from the demolished factory buildings, which will be used to level the sloping site. Among the local stores which will open additional branches in the mall are Pick 'n Pay, Woolworths and Edgars. There will be a wide variety of line shops. An environmental assessment of the roads proposal is being undertaken in terms of the Environment Conservation Act. An environmental scoping checklist is available for public review at the Mill Street library in Paarl. Comments must reach Doug Jeffery Environmental Consultants at PO Box 44 Klapmuts 7625 or dougjeff@iafrica.com by 27 August. For enquiries, phone 875-5272 |
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AN additional section of land north of the Pearl Valley golf course, known as Pearl Valley II, will soon be rezoned to become the site of a second Jack Nicklaus signature course, a "Bear's Best". There will also be 950 new homes around the course. The new course will be the first of its kind outside the USA and only the third ever to be built. Pearl Valley has also signed an exclusivity deal with the Nicklaus Organisation to ensure that it will be the only Bear's Best within South Africa. A Bear's Best course is a composite of the best and most famous 18 holes from Jack Nicklaus courses around the world. A total of 341 hectares is to be rezoned for this new development, comprising sections of the farm Kliprug, Kunnenburgh, De Hoop, Titus Kloof and Riverside east of the Berg River. Most of the area is sandy wasteland which is unsuitable for farming and will require considerable rehabilitation. The development entails an investment of R594 million by Novelway and proposes the construction of 200 resort lodges, 750 homes, a hotel, conference centre, health spa, golf academy and polo field with horse trails. A site visit for interested and affected parties will be held on Wednesday at 10:30. For more information, phone environmental consultant Anneke de Kock on 866-1524 or dekockae@ mweb.co.za. * An additional residential development on 210 hectares north of Pearl Valley II, called "Dans la Vigne", is also currently being planned by Gatekeeper Private Equity of Pretoria. According to PJ le Roux of planning consultants Jan Hanekom Partnership, the security development on 230 hectares will consist of 549 housing units including a retirement village, private school, polo field and equestrian centre. The project is a joint initiative by Novelway, the Malaysian developers of Pearl Valley, and the Nicklaus Organisation. Representatives from each organisation will travel to the various Jack Nicklaus courses around the world to select the 18 holes that would be the most appropriate to replicate for the new development. There are only two other such courses in the world in Las Vegas and in Atlanta. The new course will be surrounded by residential plots effectively creating an estate with numerous fairways facing homes and two 18 hole signature golf courses, making Pearl Valley a golfing mecca. |
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DIE tekort aan ontwikkelingsgrond op Bolandse dorpe soos Wellington en Paarl is die oorsaak dat welgestelde kopers - plaaslik sowel as uit die buiteland - hulle nou toespits op omliggende landbougrond wat gewild is as naweektuistes of sonnige "somertuistes" vir buitelanders. En, sê die eienaar van die Aida Paarl-kantoor, Piet Viljoen, sakemanne met kontant in die sak koop toenemend duur wynplase of tafeldruiweplase met die oog daarop om te boer. "Dit bring 'n welkome kapitale inspuiting vir die gebied. Baie van die nuwe eienaars bring verbeteringe aan deur byvoorbeeld boetiek-kelders te bou en in die algemeen pas hulle gesonde landbou- en bestuurspraktyke toe. "Ons ervaar ook 'n groot vraag na klein Karooplasies van tussen 1000 en 5000ha onder besige Wes-Kaapse sakemanne wat naweke uit die stad wil wegbreek. "Areas wat binne twee ure uit Kaapstad is, soos die Ceres-, Tankwa- en Moordenaarskaroo, is gewild, asook plase in die Ladismith, Touwsrivier, Matjiesfontein en Sutherland distrikte. Die meeste kopers stel belang in plase met pryse van tussen R800 000 tot R1,5 miljoen." Viljoen sê pryse van eiendom op Wellington en Paarl het die afgelope 12 maande beduidend gestyg en sal aanhou styg soos wat eiendom al skaarser raak. Plaaslike pryse pas ook aan by hoër pryse wat in naburige dorpe soos Stellenbosch en Franschhoek behaal word. "Wellington en Paarl raak ook gewilde blyplekke vir mense wat in Kaapstad werk, maar wat 'n meer landelike lewenswyse wil geniet. "Die Agter-Paarlpad (R44) na Kaapstad is sowat twee jaar gelede opgeknap en maak dit nou baie makliker om na 'n kantoor in die stad te pendel, veral vanaf blyplek op Wellington. Ontwikkelingspotensiaal is beperk aangesien die dorpe deur berge en tradisionele landbougrond omring word. "En die geskiedkundige 'dorpsplase' rondom Paarl mag nie ontwikkel word nie ingevolge ooreenkomste rakende residensiële ontwikkeling en belastingverligting wat vroeër met plaaslike owerhede gesluit is. "Onlangse ontwikkeling in die Paarl was hoofsaaklik tot gholflandgoedere beperk. Die ontwikkelings bedien 'n baie klein mark en spreek nie die stygende vraag na normale woonhuise aan nie." |
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THE full extent of the new owner's ambitious development plans for the Anglo American sold the property to a consortium for R323 million last year. Nedbank Corporate will help fund the purchase and the development work. "The leader of the new consortium, Clive Venning, and his team propose a development programme that could run for ten years and that could result in R2 billion worth of land sales and in a staggering R3,8 billion in total property development. "It is likely, also, to promote substantial employment within the area. Boschendal, in short, is set to become the premier upmarket residential precinct of the Western Cape." The first phase of the new owner's plan involves bringing 20 Founder's Estates of about 20 hectares each to the market from between R15 and 25 million. These are being developed on the 917ha of the Boschendal section of which the new owners have already taken transfer (Rhone and Good Hope). The Founder's Estate owners will be able to use this cottage as a guest house and club premises. They will too be entitled to receive a quota of the wines produced and to have their bottles labelled with their names. Phase 2 of the new owners' plan involves taking over the remaining 1,337ha. This will be done once planning permission has been received which could take another 18 to 24 months - but it is on this section that large-scale residential development will take place. The new owners will be developing a 300 unit retirement village and some 400 farmyard style villages on the footprints of 30 existing farm villages which will in most cases be demolished, but some will be renovated. In essence, says Johnson, this means that Boschendal will be a premium, low density development which blends and complements the surroundings, has a very low impact on the landscape and is sensitive to the environment and local community. A unique feature of the take-over is the preservation of the "integrity" of the farming operation. The entire agricultural unit continues to be managed and farmed by Boschendal and this is entrenched through a notarial lease on the land. The plots will vary in size from 1 250 sq/m to 10 000 sq/m and will be selling between R2 and R8 million. The homes built on them, says Johnson, will in all probability cost as much or more, giving an average value for the plot and homes around here of around R4 to R5 million. "I predict that these farmyard village homes will become some of the most sought after in the entire Western Cape," said Venning. The properties are marketed by Pam Golding Franschhoek. |
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PROPERTY AGENTS Aida 872-2161 - www.aida.co.za |
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