A new phase towards the redevelopment of the Bayworld precinct and the greater Happy Valley is currently underway, which includes the old Boet Erasmus Stadium.
This important step comes after the Bayworld Project Steering Committee (BPSC), met to deliberate on the progress made by the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) thus far.
According to Luvuyo Bangazi from the MBDA, the new phase aims at giving interested stakeholders and the public an opportunity to influence the final design and model for the Bayworld precinct.
“The BPSC is a multistakeholder body comprising of representatives from the MBDA, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Eastern Cape Provincial Government Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (ECPG) also includes several other stakeholders in civil society, business and academia,” Bangazi said.
The proposed elements of the new Bayworld include a full dome theatre based on planetarium technology. The theatre will facilitate research and present shows, covering a wide range of educational topics, in space, under the ocean, inside the human body or within molecules.
The new concept and framework proposes a multi-purpose events space – the home of a hologram circus performance of virtual animals that would be a first in Africa.
In addition, a seaside world would be installed, which includes a rock pool exploratorium and possible dolphin rehab pools.
A water world is in the pipeline as well, which will consist of water slides, virtual learning, swimming pools, learning about the currents and how to swim.
Other elements include an eco-boutique hotel, an adventure land, a butterfly park, mazes, cycling, zip lining and linkages to other tourism journeys.
Bangazi commented, “The Bayworld SC finalised an information item to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture Committee, advising them of the significant progress made to date by the MBDA.
“The NMBM is a major role player and parent municipality of the MBDA, so it is important to keep the leadership abreast of developments. At this stage the item is not (ready) for approval until all public and stakeholder inputs have been consolidated and a comprehensive business plan formulated.”
The Bayworld stakeholder engagement process seeks to solicit views and aspirations from various stakeholders, testing the feasibility and sentiment towards the draft conceptual framework.
Possible additional components, which will be added to the new phase, include, among others, McArthur Baths, Happy Valley, Telkom Park, Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre, Art Museum and South End Museum.
The public and stakeholders also get the opportunity to reimagine the Bayworld precinct and propose their own aspirational views and opinions.
The stakeholder engagement process is scheduled for completion by March 30, 2019.
Members of the public who wish to engage, can send an e-mail to vanessa@strategicedge.co.za to get included in the process.
Bangazi added, “A limited number of spaces are available, hence booking is essential.”
A public meeting was held yesterday and another will be held at the MBDA Tramways Building today, March 6 from 10:00.
Residents of the Bay are invited to join the process in sharing their dreams and aspirations in reshaping these iconic assets of Nelson Mandela Bay. According to the plan, site works for the improvement of Bayworld are scheduled to start in the second half of 2020.
