"This will ensure the inclusion of communities that currently stand removed from the bigger spatial economy of George."
The spatial economy of the town is currently centred around three nodes: the CBD, the commercial node developing around the Garden Route Mall (and future Eden Meander/Destiny Africa) and the Pacaltsdorp industrial node.
"The communities south of the N2, mainly as a result of the previous dispensation, are physically separated as sleeping towns and areas of few opportunities and access to social and economic infrastructure. The Hansmoeskraal coastal area has been identified as the last coastal area that can reasonably be developed. This is where we intend to establish a fourth node of growth. Its location will bind the southern areas of George into the bigger spatial economy and therefore also the new growth direction of the George urban area. In this way restructuring and integration are accomplished."
One of the options being investigated is the establishment of a science and technology park at this node. "This could be supported by related functions such as tertiary training, eg a university, and conference facilities."
Linking the southern areas and the new node with the existing urban areas will be via the future western bypass past Blanco and the airport, to the new traffic
circle at Kraaibosch.
These proposals are in the spatial development framework that will be tabled before council for consideration. A public participation process will be followed before the framework can be finalised and approved.
This map of George shows the three existing business nodes and a fourth one that has been proposed, to be developed in the south (Hansmoeskraal area). The western bypass (blue dotted line) will link this new urban area with the rest of George.
ARTICLE: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
