Captain Beer
Executive Member
The Dreamworld Film Studio has been given the go-ahead. Tasneem Essop, provincial minister of environment, planning and economic development made this announcement last Wednesday.
The Dreamworld Film Studio is to be situated alongside the N2, between Khayelitsha and Faure, and borders the Helderberg.
Mrs Essop says government has identified the film industry as a key growth sector. There is a massive demand from Hollywood and Bollywood for facilities to shoot blockbusters in SA, but a shortage of ideal production venues meant the City had to turn away many of the movie houses.
?Cape Town is a sought-after destination for the movie industry and Tstotsi?s Oscar has increased our profile even more,? she said.
A substantial economic injection in the Helderberg is expected following the Dreamworld go-ahead. The capital investment in the project is estimated to be around half a billion rand.
Mrs Essop says that according to the developer, some 8 000 jobs will be created during the operational phase of which 4 300 will be permanent.
The announcement by Mrs Essop has also given credence to the concerns of conservations groups who have campaigned for the protection of wetlands and plants.
This comes after Cape Nature and the Wildlife Society of SA appealed against the construction of the studio.
These groups apparently believe the project could destroy natural wetlands and a dune area.
?Granting should be overturned?
She says a number of botanists who photographed the area over the past year, convinced them of the importance to preserve these wetlands. ?For this reason I felt the granting of permission for the complex should be overturned,? she says.
Two areas that were to be used as outdoor venues for film production, may therefore not be developed. The area will henceforth be protected and in this manner some 61% of the wetlands will be saved.
A fund has also been established in which R1,8-million has been invested. This money will be used for bio-diversity management and other conservation programmes.
Thabo Leholo, chairman of the Helderberg African Chamber of Commerce, says the organisation is overjoyed with the decision.
He says that through this decision the Western Cape government has demonstrated its eagerness to address poverty through job creation and to economically empower the previously disadvantaged.
According to him, his organisation was one of those that supported the project from the beginning.
[rant]
A swamp and some sand is more important to these people that creating 4300 permanent jobs? Yes I know the environment needs to be looked after, but sometimes these people take it too far IMHO. I bet they all of nice cushy jobs
[/rant]
What's you opinion?
The Dreamworld Film Studio is to be situated alongside the N2, between Khayelitsha and Faure, and borders the Helderberg.
Mrs Essop says government has identified the film industry as a key growth sector. There is a massive demand from Hollywood and Bollywood for facilities to shoot blockbusters in SA, but a shortage of ideal production venues meant the City had to turn away many of the movie houses.
?Cape Town is a sought-after destination for the movie industry and Tstotsi?s Oscar has increased our profile even more,? she said.
A substantial economic injection in the Helderberg is expected following the Dreamworld go-ahead. The capital investment in the project is estimated to be around half a billion rand.
Mrs Essop says that according to the developer, some 8 000 jobs will be created during the operational phase of which 4 300 will be permanent.
The announcement by Mrs Essop has also given credence to the concerns of conservations groups who have campaigned for the protection of wetlands and plants.
This comes after Cape Nature and the Wildlife Society of SA appealed against the construction of the studio.
These groups apparently believe the project could destroy natural wetlands and a dune area.
?Granting should be overturned?
She says a number of botanists who photographed the area over the past year, convinced them of the importance to preserve these wetlands. ?For this reason I felt the granting of permission for the complex should be overturned,? she says.
Two areas that were to be used as outdoor venues for film production, may therefore not be developed. The area will henceforth be protected and in this manner some 61% of the wetlands will be saved.
A fund has also been established in which R1,8-million has been invested. This money will be used for bio-diversity management and other conservation programmes.
Thabo Leholo, chairman of the Helderberg African Chamber of Commerce, says the organisation is overjoyed with the decision.
He says that through this decision the Western Cape government has demonstrated its eagerness to address poverty through job creation and to economically empower the previously disadvantaged.
According to him, his organisation was one of those that supported the project from the beginning.
[rant]
A swamp and some sand is more important to these people that creating 4300 permanent jobs? Yes I know the environment needs to be looked after, but sometimes these people take it too far IMHO. I bet they all of nice cushy jobs
[/rant]
What's you opinion?
