BIG IDEAS A City that thinks big

BIG IDEAS

A CITY THAT THINKS BIG

While steadfast in its commitment to effectively provide services on the ground, the City of Ekurhuleni’s current administration also has ideas for projects of a grander nature.

BOTANICAL GARDEN

It is widely accepted that natural green spaces increase quality of life and provide people with a greater respect and understanding of their natural environment.

The City of Ekurhuleni’s quest to establish world-class botanical gardens within its municipal area is well under way. During the preliminary design and consultation phase, the City has earmarked Gillooly’s Farm for this project. The City is set on pursuing the idea of its own botanical garden because it will have significant benefits for the residents of Ekurhuleni, as well as a positive impact on the environment. Botanical gardens devote their resources to the study and conservation of fauna and flora, providing opportunities for learning, research and the overall maintenance of healthy living.

The City is also pursuing the possibility of establishing a zoo for recreational, tourism and educational purposes, among others.

The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln

FORMULA 1 RACE TRACK

Formula 1 motor racing is among the most viewed sports across the globe, with approximately 1.77 billion viewers across the world, with almost all grand prix races funded through public-private partnerships or exclusively through private funding.

At a cost of around R5.4 billion, the City of Ekurhuleni believes the addition of a Formula 1 grand prix track would be an excellent addition to the region. Carefully constructed alongside other sideline events and opportunities, the construction of this race track and hosting a grand prix in Ekurhuleni has the potential to inject approximately R25 billion into the economy over a five-year period.

Immediate benefits from the investment will include the creation of 9 000 permanent and temporary jobs per annum. Other benefits will include the promotion of Brand South Africa, increased investor confidence in the local, continental and global economy, the stimulation of trade and exports, and social cohesion through its socio-economic impacts.

DISNEY AFRICA

With an investment and land demarcation of 400 hectares, the City of Ekurhuleni could be the home of Disney Africa – a first of its kind on African soil. Throughout the continent, there is no theme or amusement park of this magnitude. Currently, the Disney network stretches across cities in developed nations, such as Paris, California, Florida, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Disney Africa in the City of Ekurhuleni would serve as a world-class entertainment centre, drastically increasing domestic tourism, while attracting tourists from across the continent and world. The City has the capacity to implement a project of this nature, as it will leverage off the existing world-class infrastructure, such as O.R. Tambo International Airport, the Gautrain, prime residential estates, glitzy entertainment venues, mega shopping malls and recreational facilities. Beyond only tourism, Disney Africa in Ekurhuleni presents several opportunities for the development and enhancement of other priority sectors that contribute towards the South African economy, such as construction, real estate, ICT and the creative industries, further creating job opportunities, among many others, for its citizens.

EKURHULENI INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE

There is strong demand for the establishment of an International Convention Centre in the City of Ekurhuleni. The proposed Ekurhuleni International Convention Centre would enable the City to bid for mega conventions, conferences, summits and signature events, creating another revenue stream and contributing towards the growth of the economy and job opportunities.

Using UCT study on the Cape Town ICC as an example, within the first year of its opening (in 2003) it was projected to make a direct and indirect contribution of R709 million towards GDP and R25 billion after 10 years. At the same time, the study projected a total of over 8 700 sustainable direct and indirect jobs created in the first year after opening and over 47 000 jobs after 10 years of opening.

From an economic perspective, with its contribution to the employment landscape and its impact on GDP, establishing the Ekurhuleni International Convention Centre simply makes sense.