What is the situation/progress with the proposed hotels in Kruger?

[H. erectus]

I can only bet against some remarkable contentious menu
dished,.....any way to pull a fast buck,...but let's just wait
'n see,....

[H. erectus]

The still is bubbling, releasing lot's of energy and
leaving behind some concoction supposedly known
as imagination and endeavour!!!


Seasons come and seasons go<.....

[Richprins]

Viewers would do well to read the first two pages of this thread, old stuff from 2012 and before, when Min. Molewa supported the Hotels...

[Duke]

New Kruger safari resort still going ahead

New Kruger safari resort still going aheadToday's News
12 Fri, Sep 2014

Plans for the construction of a new safari resort near Malelane Gate in the Kruger are not “off the cards” the developer and SANParks have both confirmed.

Earlier this week, reports suggested that the project had been suspended after the deadline for an application to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) was missed.

However, Peter Wright CEO: Malelane Safari Resort Investments and SANParks Managing Executive: Tourism Development & Marketing, Glenn Phillips have said the project is still going ahead.

“We are certainly continuing with all processes necessary for the implementation of the rights owned by Malelane Safari Resort Investments (Pty) Ltd. (MSRI), to construct and operate the resort to be built in the Kruger Park,” Wright told Tourism Update.

He said, while the deadline for the submission of an application to DEA did lapse, another application had already been submitted to the department and the company was expecting a response within the next two weeks. He said a decision had been taken to submit a new application.

“We received notice from the DEA that the application would lapse and have been aware of the state of the process all along,” said Wright. “However, since the original submission of the application in 2010, the EIA regulations have been amended and there have been significant alterations to the design, including an off-grid power design for what is now a tented resort.”

Wright said these factors had resulted in the need for a new and different application. “It therefore made obvious sense that we should follow this alternative route. Consequently, the initial application process had to lapse to enable the new process to commence.”

NuLeaf Planning and Environmental, the appointed consultants, submitted the new application on September 8. “As soon as a Letter of Acknowledgement has been received from DEA, NuLeaf will commence with the Public Participation Process,” said Wright. “The consultants will continue to manage this process according to the regulations and will follow best practice and transparency.”

This was confirmed by Phillips. “The project is absolutely continuing,” he told Tourism Update. He also highlighted that the design of the hotel had changed substantially and said the decision to go off the grid would reduce costs and also result in a smaller carbon footprint. According to Phillips, the new tented design was also in keeping with the Kruger as a safari destination.

Carlson Rezidor, the company that was awarded the management contract is also still committed to the project. “MSRI still has a signed international management agreement with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, who will operate the safari resort under its Radisson Blu brand, said Andrew McLachan, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group: VP Business Development Africa & Indian Ocean Islands. “They are still as committed today as they were when the deal was first signed.”

Wright said while the project had taken over four years to reach this stage because of various procedural issues, he now expected an efficient process. He added that the communities south of Malelane would be equity partners in the business and would derive great socio-economic benefits from the project.

[Duke]

and this...

An application has been submitted to the DEA to start a Basic Assessment Process. The DEA still need to provide a Reference Number for the project. In terms of due process Public Participation can only start once a reference number is received. At this stage, it is merely an application.

All documentationn will be provided in the Basic Assessment Report (should the DEA accept the application). An official Stakeholder Participation Process, i.e. advertising in Newspapers, Site Notices, etc. will be implemented. A new process will be started from scratch.

[Lisbeth]

Ready for a new race?

[mposthumus]

[Duke]

note it is not a hotel now but a tented design:

“The project is absolutely continuing,” he told Tourism Update. He also highlighted that the design of the hotel had changed substantially and said the decision to go off the grid would reduce costs and also result in a smaller carbon footprint. According to Phillips, the new tented design was also in keeping with the Kruger as a safari destination.

my bold

[Lisbeth]

In a few days it will be a new tented camp Nothing to do with a lodge even less a hotel

[Richprins]

Don't know where H. has disappeared to...he knows more about this...

Anyway, Ja, the whole thing has been downscaled and reapplied for under different paradigms, exactly as said!

The big thing remains that it is confirmed that an EIA, or now BAP, must still be done by an independent body, not a .gov one, which is absolutely vital! So things stay the same and start over...bring it on!

The exact plans will be coming through soon, but basically it has been changed to a tented camp, which is far cheaper, so as to attract/reassure developers.

The power issue was that a line was to be laid across the Croc River according to the first plan, or one of the first plans, which was a major headache regarding Environmental Impact, so it will now be solar and gas...nothing to do with being more eco-friendly, as gas is a pollutant, but anyway.

The other significant thing is that it will be a multi-phased development, possibly still targeting the same bed-numbers eventually, but starting small/er.

Far more sensible! But still stupid.

The whole Park & Ride concept remains, with the Parking at Malelane Gate being East of the Staff quarters there, so relatively out of sight, not that I would leave my car there, but anyway...

SP has budgeted to pay for a portion of that construction.

The "Community Benefit" thing mentioned has always been a prerequisite for this deal...don't know why it is highlighted now?