An important day in the Westown development timeline as the Deputy President visits Westown and acknowledges the projects value in boosting the local and provincial economy and it’s people.
On Thursday 18th May Deputy President Mr Paul Mashatile visited the province of KwaZulu Natal to engage on the Municipality’s partnership projects. As a catalytic project recognised and supported by local, provisional, and national government, Westown was the first stop on his 2-day tour, one that focused on projects aimed at developing skills, advancing employment creation, and stimulating the economy.
The visit to Westown included discussions around the government’s unwavering commitment to infrastructure funding, the support of initiatives triggering growth along the N3 transport corridor, and the importance of government and business partnering together to achieve a shared goal.
During his speech Mashatile acknowledged Westown’s value in boosting the local and provincial economy and its people saying the government would do everything to support plans to develop the project. “We want a post-apartheid city where people can live and work in ( … ) a city with sports, business, and retail facilities ( … ) This project must succeed and for that it requires that government must be an active partner,” he said.
The Deputy President was accompanied by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube and eThekwini Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda. Dube-Ncube said Westown was as a key to transforming the province saying, “this project will help us to boost our economy and it will also boost our light industrial and warehousing.”
Set to generate some R15 billion in new investment over the next 10-15years both in infrastructure and top structures, Westown will also:
- Bring in an additional R1.3billion in investment through the Westown Square retail experience (currently under construction)
- Create 15 000 construction jobs and 8 500 permanent jobs over the next decade.
- Train 500 people in construction related skills over the next 2 years through the Westown Training Centre facilitated by the Stefanutti Stocks Academy
- Activate local stakeholder participation in the development and construction value chain and the long-term operation and management of the new City of the West.
- Partner with the eThekwini Municipality to enable an upgraded road infrastructure
- Undertake wetland rehabilitation and the creation of an active green belt with running, cycling and equestrian trails
- Develop a new 100-bed hospital and related medical services
- Bring new residential offerings to the market
- Develop a logistics and warehousing precinct
- Create a node for commercial and business activities.
Westown is a mixed-use precinct of urban and green spaces positioned right off the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is being developed, and will be managed, by Durban-based Fundamentum Property Group.
See the Westown gallery for more images from the visit.
