Eco development boosts uMhlathuze’s economy

New business park to drive development

The John Ross Eco Junction, an eco-friendly industrial park in the city of uMhlathuze in northern KwaZulu-Natal, provides a convenient gateway to Richards Bay and Empangeni. The 195 000m² mixed- use commercial property development is expected to boost economic growth and create jobs in the greater uMhlathuze area, which has been identified as a high potential development node.
This is STANLIB and the Liberty Property Portfolio’s first foray into industrial property with the official groundbreaking in July last year. “It is our vision to create a dynamic and sustainable industrial development with strong links to the greater and central business districts of Empangeni and Richards Bay,” says Amelia Beattie, Head of STANLIB Direct Property Investments. The Liberty Property Portfolio is placing great emphasis on developing John Ross Eco Junction in an environmentally sustainable manner.
“We are looking at a broad spectrum of environmentally friendly building techniques such as rainwater capture, permeable paving, renewable energy sources and the conservation of indigenous plant life,” says Alex Phakathi, Fund Manager for the Liberty Property Portfolio in the STANLIB Direct Property Investments Franchise.
uMhlathuze is set to benefit from Transnet’s R33–billion spend on infrastructure, which is likely to attract further investment, leading to increased demand for real estate and job creation.
“Creating local jobs is a key part of this project. Although the development has been designed and will be managed by STANLIB, we have appointed a locally based contractor to carry out building work for the Tangawizi Motors development,” says Phakathi.
This will help ensure that John Ross Eco Junction is entrenched within the local community, he says. The development, situated at the intersection of the N2 Highway (linking Durban and Pongola) and the John Ross Parkway (connecting Richards Bay and Empangeni), is ideally positioned to provide easy access to railway, seaport and airport facilities.
A number of tenants have already signed up, including Tangawizi Motors (which represents Hyundai, Daihatsu, Renault and Honda) and black–owned private hospital group Melomed Richard’s Bay Proprietary Limited