EThekwini Municipality Invests in Bulk Infrastructure for Westown

 

By Fred Felton | Apr. 24, 2024.

There is just under a year to go before the official opening of Westown Square, a clear sign that the new 100ha ‘City of the West’ is going ahead as planned.

JSE listed Balwin Properties signed lease agreement with Fundamentum Property Group to develop a R2bn eco estate as part of the Shongweni Development. | Photo: Thuli Dlamini. 

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda was on-site at the development along with development partners, Fundamentum Property Group (FPG) and Balwin Properties (BP) on 18 April 2024 to see the progress of Westown Square. This comes after the City had invested R600 million in bulk infrastructure in the region.

Mayor Kaunda was also witness to the signing of a R2 billion agreement between FPG and BP for an eco-estate residential development. ‘’This investment will yield huge returns for the City,’’ said Mayor Kaunda.

This 15-year strategic catalytic Shongweni Urban Development consists of nine mixed-use precincts. ‘’We are excited that this is going to be the first real Smart City in the province and will make eThekwini a world-class City,’’ noted Mayor Kaunda.

Carlos Correia, CEO of Fundamentum Property Group explains how far the development has come to the city delegation. | Photo: Thuli Dlamini. 

There have been 1 000 people, mainly from the area and surrounds, that have been hired for the construction and bulk infrastructure and Westown Square.

According to Steve Brookes, CEO of Balwin Properties approximately 8 000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase of the Shongweni Eco Park with around 500 permanent jobs to be created on completion. 

Construction on the Westown Square retail experience is on course for completion in March 2025. | Photo: Fred Felton. 

There will also be infrastructure upgrades which include two new bridges and a total make-over of the existing two-lane Kassier Road across the M13 and N3 into four lanes with a centre median. The M13 bridge will be rebuilt and a new pedestrian bridge is being added over the N3 along with a new loop ramp and bridge over Kassier Road providing direct access into Westown.

There has also been a R1.4 billion investment that has been triggered through the investment by Fundamentum with Absa Commercial and Investment Bank’s backing the 50 000m² Westown retail experience. ‘’This investment was cemented as Balwin signed a formal agreement with Fundamentum for their 1 260-apartment lifestyle estate, that will comprise of 20 phases, to be built over the next few years and is due to launch later this year,’’ said Carlos Correia, CEO of Fundamentum.