Leading golf course developers Matkovich and Hayes have moved on site to begin a major upgrade of the existing 18-hole Hermanus Golf Course, which is also being extended by a further nine holes.

This follows the recent signing of a R28m contract between Matkovich & Hayes and the Hermanus Golf Club which marked the final endorsement of the golf course development by the club.

Matkovich & Hayes have been responsible for numerous top golf courses including Steenberg, Arabella, San Le Meer, Silverlakes, Mabalingwe and Pinnacle Point. In terms of the contract the first 18 holes of the golf course need to be playable by December this year.

Project manager Clint Evans said that the contractors also had to ensure that 18 holes on the course remained playable throughout the upgrade although golfers will at times be required to use temporary greens and tee-boxes. Work on some of the new holes has also begun and contractors were aiming to have the first four of these ready for play by the end of April to allow better continuity and to help alleviate congestion on the course.

The upgrade and extension of the golf course forms part of the R260m Fernkloof Estate project which comprises the development of 20 golf lodges and 331 single residential erven in eight precincts around the golf course.

The development, which is being undertaken by the Overstrand Municipality, is being facilitated by Rabcav - a joint venture between Rabie Property Projects and Cavcor Property Developers. Rabcav has teamed up with a broad-based empowerment consortium, Buyambo, which is headed up local businessman, James Booi whose primary function is to interface with emerging BEE suppliers and contractors to broaden the empowerment base and ensure the involvement of the local community in the project.

The proceeds of the Fernkloof Estate development are to be used to fund various critical infrastructure projects for the benefit of Overstrand ratepayers generally. These projects will in part be aimed at addressing the critical water shortage in Hermanus including the construction of a pipeline to pump treated effluent from the town's sewerage works to irrigate not only the golf course but other facilities such as sports fields and public open spaces which will free up scarce potable water for human consumption.

Meanwhile servicing of the land for the 331 residential development erven is well underway by the main contractor CSV Construction who has subcontracted part of the work to three local contractors.

Colin Green of Rabcav said that the first transfers in the development, which was given the final go-ahead in October last year following a lengthy planning and rezoning period which spanned six years, were expected to go through in February with the balance taking place on a phased basis through to the end of the year.

Green said not one of the 331 purchasers of residential erven, which were sold out within an unprecedented two-day period in December 2004, had defaulted.

"This is very unusual for a new development and is indicative of how sought-after these erven have been."

Green said construction of the first homes at Fernkloof Estate was likely to start within the next few months providing further job creation opportunities for the local community over the next few years. All homes have to be completed within three years of transfer being affected, he said.

He said great care was being taken in the clearing of the site and the construction process was being undertaken on an ecologically sensitive basis.

"The professional team is continually advising on environmental best practice issues and the Environmental Management Plan is being used as the baseline for compliance and is being monitored and directed by the on-site environmental site managers.

"Landscaping has been designed using indigenous water-wise plants to maintain the sense of place in the unique surroundings with alien vegetation being minimized and where possible eradicated.

"In addition, the two unique wetlands on the site are under special expert management for rehabilitation and extension which will add to these important ecological sites,' said Green.

2007 Whale Festival Hermanus
Whale Festival Hermanus 2007, the Total Whale Half Marathon in Hermanus, the