Bay water park in the tube
Multi-million-rand entertainment resort planned for Richards Bay.
RICHARDS Bay could be home to an iconic Water Park and Resort if an elaborate plan by private developers is given the thumbs up by the City of uMhlathuze.
Private consortium BAHF Holdings presented its bold conceptual plan to the local business fraternity during the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) divisional meeting in Empangeni on Tuesday.
BAHF Holdings CEO, Agrippa Jebison, said with a visible lack of recreational facilities in Richards Bay, there was a need to establish a quality entertainment resort providing ‘good, clean fun’ for the entire family.
Expected to create about 300 jobs, the R300-million development will be located on a proposed 18 hectare site. Private developers are in the process of approaching the municipality for acquisition of available sites along the coastline of Richards Bay.
‘This development will stimulate economic growth in the region and boost tourism by attracting domestic, regional and international visitors to the region. Our goal is to make Richards Bay an attractive and top South African tourist destination.
‘This development will have shared benefits for other tourism establishments including hotels, transport and tourist operators,’ said Jebison.
The Water Park and Resort will boast a big wheel – providing an aerial overview of Richards Bay and the port. Rides include the super flume, river raft ride, abyss, family boomerango, multi-lane mat racer, flow rider, aqua course for teambuilding, kids slides area and a waves pool.
‘Richards Bay will become the second city in South Africa to have a big wheel.
‘The Water Park has the ability to service a population of more than 2.3 million people in Zululand. We are concentrating on providing a pro-active water experience for families, individuals, businesses, government, special interest groups and schools.
‘People are often travelling out of Richards Bay for entertainment.
‘We also want to promote a drug free society and this is clean fun for the youth without substance abuse,’ Jebison said.’
Support
The developers have also received the buy-in from Chamber.
‘This development targeting Richards Bay gives us hope that essential jobs will be created in a crucial time when retrenchments are taking place,’ said ZCCI President Judith Nzimande.
‘We want to reduce unemployment at all costs. This is the first water park for Richards Bay and, as Chamber, we will help lobby to speed up the process.
‘Tourism is an untapped sector that can boost our economy and this development is a step in the right direction.’
