GEORGE NEWS - A new round of tender solicitation has started for the Eden District Municipality's seemingly forgotten Kleinkrantz Holiday Resort, which is in a state of neglect after falling into disuse in 2006.
Three development proposals - received by the municipality in 2016 in response to a public tender advertisement - came to nothing after Council rejected all three.
Responding to a query from the George Herald regarding the future of the resort, Municipal Manager Monde Stratu said that that the tender process had been halted "due to certain legislative requirements".
Another solicitation round began on 27 November this year with an advertisement being placed on Eden DM's website and on the e-tender platform of National Treasury.
Eden DM is looking for a development partner (or partners) to develop the 30ha Kleinkrantz site (remainder of erf 1297, Wilderness).
Tenders have to be submitted by 30 April 2018.
The three entities that responded to the 2016 invitation for tenders were GP and S Botha, Ilanga Project Management and Development, and Cape Sails.
No details of their proposals have been made public as it might prejudice the applicants, should they wish to resubmit similar proposals in the new tendering round, according to Stratu.
The resort was built more than 20 years ago.
After being abandoned in 2006, vandals had stripped light fittings and ovens from holiday homes that form part of the resort facilities. Security had to be tightened.
Responding to an allegation that a high electricity account had been left by the last managers of the resort, Stratu said that Council followed due legal processes to collect outstanding amounts from the lessee, who has in the timespan of the process, passed away.
Local restaurateur Massimo Mariotti from Salina's Beach Restaurant shared his disbelief on Facebook about this prime property not being developed. The property stretches on both sides of the N2 and right up to the shore.
Mariotti commented on the cost to the taxpayer of the security services to protect the unused assets.
"What a waste of such a resource and why has no one done anything about developing this land? I don't think you will find another property of this nature in South Africa on a national highway, which has quietly been buried and forgotten about.
Imagine a road under the N2 connecting Island Lake to the ocean and selling this land to a developer.
The funds could go back into disadvantaged communities in the Eden District, but long term the residents of Kleinkrantz would benefit from the jobs created in their suburb and it could uplift the entire community."
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