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.’
I was born and raised in Richards Bay and I now live in Austria at the age of 21. When I saw this article on facebook it caught my attention because this very idea of a Water Park being built in the Richards Bay area was an idea proposed by me as a matric student for my tourism class’ year project where we were asked to create a viable idea for richards bay in order to attract tourism to the area aswell as help drown out drug usage by the youth. With that said I now find it very curious that my tourism teacher at that time gave me a C for my project…. Reason? “It wasnt a viable idea” she commented on my budget and said that it was way too over the top and also said that it wouldnt be supported enough by the community. I too had a budget reaching multiple millions of rands and now to see that the idea I once had, is indeed a viable and probably soon to be very real possibilty makes me very happy to know that I was in laymans language ‘ripped off’ by my teacher. With that said I think this project would be a magnificent boost for the untapped tourism potential in Richards Bay. Not only will this cause job promotion, but it will also cause inter-connected support between other tourism based sectors, the accommodation being one of those sectors. There are so many inns, bed and breakfasts, guest houses and hotels in Richards Bay; yet there is nothing really attracting tourists to this beautiful city/town. We have beaches and there is the fishing aspect to richards bay, but thats about it. My idea was to have it based on Naval island which is not only currently not being used for anything, but is also the main ‘shoot it up’ area for the drug users in Bay. It would make me very happy to see my stunning home town finally being seen for what it is! It is a stone throw away from some AMAZING game reserves too and with something like a water world in richards bay and not ALL the way in Durban, Richards Bay in my opinion would be boosted right up there among the ‘must visit’ cities of south africa! I would then be even more proud and excited to tell my many new friends from all over the world that Richards Bay is a MUST SEE city if they ever plan on making a trip down to SA. I support this idea and really do hope it becomes more than just that. Make it work people because I highly doubt there will be any regrets from any parties involved!
You can go all the way dad. Just do it and the Lord is with you all the way
Ronelle, what is contact number for the Consultant Engineers or developer? We stock and supply AVK Water Works Valves and piping. Established 6 years in Alton, Level 1 135% BEE.NOLADA8. Excellent local opportunity.
OK folks, reality check.
Who is BAHF Holdings? No idea. A half an hour intensive search on the internet turned up nothing. But yet, they think that somehow they will be able to get investors (or perhaps self invest) to invest R300mill into this project?
Secondly, who is Agrippa Jebison? A LinkedIN search revealed that he is an IT support consultant. Not a bad jump… Computer techie to CEO…. Has happened before, but this time? Me thinks not.
Lastly, irrespective of the above misgivings, is project is totally unviable. In order to yield a return on investment, which includes covering the operating costs of such a facility (which is immense, believe me), they would need to generate cash flow many levels above what could be possible.
A dead duck. Somebody’s thought bubble. Or a scam. Or all of it.
Steve, you won’t be selling them any valves, mate. You have probably figured out by now that there is no consulting engineer working on it, and probably never will be.
Many thanks from Umfolozi Community for this big news it will be like dream comes true for Richards bay and surrounding area. Wish you all the best.
Brilliant idea
At last – this was proposed abt 20yrs ago. Sum excitement 4 the people of zululand.
Zenzi Nkonyeni wrote Well done President Judith Nzimande. Brilliant idea.This project will benefit billions of people