CRANES AND CONSTRUCTION - KZN IS GROWING PLACES

Take a drive around Kwazulu-Natal, up and down the south and north coasts, inland up to Cato Ridge and beyond...and you'll be stunned at the new and upgraded infrastructure and vast projects, public and private, rising from the ground. It's all good news

Residential, commercial...public and private...wherever you look, Durban and KZN has a crazy skyline of swinging cranes and massive construction projects. Along the north coast, new stylish residential developments are launching faster than one can keep track of, the inner City is cleaning up its act, the beachfront is getting longer, and there's even dream talk of a cable car network from south and north beach into Florida Road. And that's just scratching the surface...

Bottom line, these projects jumpstart others, and that's how the economy gets going, jobs are created, and entrepreneurs emerge from nowhere.

Durban is the gateway to the rest of Africa...home to Africa's busiest seaport, the southern hemisphere's biggest and best-equipped container terminal, and is strategically positioned on the world's shipping lanes. The province is working hard to capitalise on its unique qualities in terms of freight, cargo, logistics and more, and with the might of Durban harbour and Richard's Bay, the future is bright.

We took a look at only some of what's happened recently - and about to happen - in KZN, and think about it in terms of the province's investment potential.

• King Shaka International Airport - South Africa's fastest growing international air gateway. BA's direct flight to London has resulted in an 11 percent increase in international passengers.
• Dube Tradeport Special Economic Zone (SEZ) won the prized 2019 UN Investment Promotions Award!
• Durban Aerotropolis growth - world-class cargo facilities, strategically positioned between the seaports of Durban and Richards Bay.
• Durban inner city rejuvenation projects (between local authorities and private business), including accommodation and education - R62 billion
• Durban promenade extension completed - R400 million
• Rivertown Development, R2,8m - retail mall and residential apartments
• Mahatma Gandhi Road - R240m water mains project
• New 5 000 square metre cruise ship terminal (R215m) in the Port of Durban.
• Cato Ridge interchange - Transnet's inland port or 'back of port expansion' on the road corridor between Durban and Gauteng, forms part of one of the government's national priority projects - three forms of transport: rail, road and pipeline.
• Florida Road precinct - transformative development into vibrant mixed-use hub, with entertainment and retail alive and well
• Road infrastructure - an arch (not unlike the Moses Mabhida one) will be a landmark for vehicles entering Durban. It's one of 24 projects that are part of the R30b upgrade of the N2 and N3 over the next five to ten years.

And recent major investments into the province?

• R1b Mara phone manufacturing plant at Dube Tradeport
• Rio Tinto's R6,5 billion into Richards Bay Minerals
• Toyota's R2,4 billion into its Durban plant
• SA's first Club Med beach resort - investment R1b - on the KZN north coast
• Heineken's establishment of a production facility (R6b brewery) near Dube Tradeport
• the planned construction of KZN Automotive Supplier Park in Illovo and the Kingsburgh Industrial Park.

A substantial impact on residential

Parallel to all these projects, is a similar picture on the residential front. Not only are these projects all positive and progressive signs for the local economy, but clearly they're improving sentiment for investors. Those cranes are not only swinging through the skies for commercial and industrial, but for residential too. Whether it's retiree developments along the south and north coast - or inland at Hillcrest, Hilton and into the Midlands - or stylish apartment blocks and gated estates strung along our coastline, buyers are literally spoilt for lifestyle choice. Golf, beach, eco, equestrian, smallholding, 360 degree sea views...they're all there, and in a broad selection of prices, configurations and concepts.

Lifestyle is top of everybody's wish list, so no surprise that Kwazulu-Natal is increasingly the province in which to live. We have it all...climate, affordability, far less traffic congestion, coastline...and that's not even touching on our brilliant holiday destinations within a three hour drive, like 'Berg, Bush and Beach.

KZN is the place to live, work and play...as those outside of KZN become insiders.