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KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 8:35 pm
by Klipspringer
Another development is completed. 15 March 2019 is closing date for bidders to operate this education/training centre.

From the tender document (on page 29 there are some pictures of the accomodation)

https://www.sanparks.org/docs/groups_te ... o-memo.pdf

5. DEVELOPMENT SITE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
5.1 LOCATION
Just south of the Phabeni gate within the perimeter of the park:
5.2 DESCRIPTION
An education centre designed for this purpose and to be used for this purpose – consisting of dormitories where the trainees will sleep, a kitchen area where the food will be prepared, staff housing, a conference facility and boma area. In addition, an area of approximately 80 hectares can be fenced off to allow for various activities required to compliment the education and training presented.

5.3 INFRASTRUCTURE PRESENT
The following infrastructure is present:
 Four dormitories that can sleep approximately 15 each;
 On suite bedrooms (two in total) for senior staff accompanying the groups;
 Ablution facilities;
 Kitchen facilities (fully equipped with walk in freezers and fridges);
 Boma area;
 Conference room; and
 On suite staff units (x 3) inclusive of communal kitchen area (fully equipped).
The following plans outlines this existing infrastructure:

5.4 ROADS AND TRACKS
A gravel road links the tarred S1 with the education centre. SANParks will continue to maintain this road to acceptable standard in line with the road classification.

5.5 ACCESS
Access will be granted only via the road linking up with the S1.

5.7 GUEST ACTIVITIES
Various types of environmental education and training courses should be conducted at the site with environmental education being key. The objective of this centre is to skill people on conservation and courses of various lengths and durations can be presented.
The attendees will be diverse and could but is not limited to include people that require a formal education / training to allow them to apply for positions in the conservation sphere, people that show an interest in conservation and are looking for formal training courses to enhance their skills, skilling of local community members in conservation principles and / or training of school groups as part of the curriculum or informal training.
A minimum of 109 days should be allocated for environmental education and could include representatives from the SANParks People and Conservation (P&C) Department tasked to perform this role. In this instance the operator will work hand-in-hand with SANParks to present a superior environmental education curriculum and product.

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 8:47 pm
by Klipspringer
https://www.sanparks.org/docs/groups_te ... eement.pdf
page 96
46.4 Product Offering
46.4.1 Environmental Education (at least 109 days) and training with emphasis on the environment and/or tourism. The annual target will be to educateapproximately 5000 learners.

46.4.3 The Private Party is obliged to do environmental education and training at the Phabeni Education Centre as the primary and only business. The offering will include training of a variety of durations and materials all aimed at increased awareness of conservation and its principles.

page 101
46.20 Drives
46.20.1 The Private Party will not be allowed to do night drives on public roads without SANParks’ consent. Where this is required for training purposes, special permission needs to be granted by SANParks on a case by case basis.

46.20.2 The Private Party will be required to adhere to the SATSA vehicle and guide requirements for all drives conducted from the Phabeni Education Centre.

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:30 am
by Richprins
:-? :-? :-?

Why a private company doing this in a national park?? And where does the profit go?? How does this help "communities" and "disadvantaged"?

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:31 am
by Flutterby
Maybe it helps communities through education? -O- :-?

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:34 am
by Richprins
At a cost, though! :X:

Privates don't come cheap.

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:44 am
by Lisbeth
I already asked somewhere else, where this centre was mentioned: Which kind of education are they going to give in this place or is this still an unknown factor?

Sanparks is renting out pieces of the Kruger to privates :-?

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:08 am
by Richprins
There are dozens of private environmental education centres around Kruger. They pay taxes and services etc and provide employment and so on. This one will only pay a levy to SANParks, it seems, and that's that. It is a way of getting around the "no new TOURISM development" in the south. In my experience tourists have been allowed to use unbooked school accommodations. Anyway, after 25 years this facility will come under SP control, like all the others, and they can do as they see fit with it.

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:24 am
by Lisbeth
Running an education centre costs money and I cannot see where the gain is :-?

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:28 am
by Richprins
Money is the object! :yes:

Re: KNP Phabeni Education Centre

Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:56 am
by Lisbeth
Whose money? Do you mean the rent that is paid?

There are so many questions without answers, that the whole thing starts to smell.