N2 airport relocation nearer to take off

Millions budgeted to buy land near nature reserve

A BUDGET for the purchase of land for the relocation of Richards Bay Airport to a space along the N2 has been announced.

Speaking at an IDP roadshow in eSikhaleni on Tuesday, city Mayor Xolani Ngwezi said R19.5-million has been set aside for the purchase of land 'between Canefields and the Enseleni Nature Reserve'.

This as the existing airport site has been earmarked for the growth of Mandlazini.

“We have an agreement with the community trust in Mandlazini and the Department of Land Reform for the airport to continue operating where it currently is in Richards Bay.

“We have a 10-year lease with eight years remaining. This is why in this year's budget, I mentioned R19.5-million that we want to use to purchase land between along the N2 to build the new airport.

“We would then be able to vacate the land where the airport currently is and return this land to the people of Mandlazini,” said Ngwezi.

At an IDP roadshow at the municipal council chambers in December, the mayor said the relocation is estimated to cost about R1-billion; a figure determined after a recent feasibility study.

Ngwezi said the upgrade would accommodate domestic and international travellers, as well as attract investment a move likely to boost the local tourism sector and economy.

“We are now in the process of looking into how we can best fund this project,” he said.

He said the airport would accommodate larger aircraft and increased connectivity to different parts of the country.

However, the EIA process is bound to a controversial one given the close proximity of aircraft to the nature reserve.