| The Dinokeng tourism initiative - which aims to establish a "Big Five" tourism node close to Johannesburg and Pretoria - is starting to catch the attention of property developers. A Blue IQ project of the Gauteng provincial government, the Dinokeng initiative rests on the establishment of a major new game reserve with associated eco-tourism attractions to the northeast of Pretoria/ Tshwane. "The idea is to turn Dinokeng into a premier destination especially for weekend and short-stay tourists from Johannesburg and Pretoria, and in this way promote economic growth, job creation and social upliftment in the area, says Dr Willie Marais, principal of leading local agency Homenet Maxima. "And it is already fuelling new interest in residential and eco-tourism related development around the Roodeplaat Dam and the historical villages of Cullinan and Rayton." Indeed, a degree of spin-off development south of the Dinokeng area has already taken place, with the earlier approval by the Nokeng Tsa Taemane municipality of projects such as Burkea Park, Pebble Rock, Leeuwfontein Estate and Sable Hills. "These provide some idea of the property potential of the area as in the However, Marais notes, there is widespread recognition - and acceptance - that developments around the proposed game reserve will have to be constrained by strict guidelines to avoid environmental despoilment and over-extended infrastructure. "Going forward, the market now awaits clarification of zonings and land use in areas on the edge of existing urbanisation to the west of Dinokeng's demarcated area. The development framework for the area is currently being formulated by the Nokeng Tsa Taemane local authority in consultation with various stakeholders. "Market talk, though, is that developers are already testing the water on proposals for residential game/ golf/ lifestyle estates in the area and it is reasonable to speculate that there will also be B&B's and commercial development for service industries and convenience retailing." |