IDC Bourke’s Luck Potholes

Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND

Situated where the Treur River meets the Blyde River at the start of the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes are a result of centuries of river activity that has carved out a series of rock formations and pools which has become a popular tourist attraction. The rock formations are characterised by cylindrical potholes in the river’s bedrock.

The phenomenon was named after Tom Bourke, a prospector who hoped to find gold at the site. Bourke’s Luck Potholes is located 35 km north of Graskop on the R532. The site attracts significant numbers of day visitors and competes with the likes of God’s Window, Pinnacle Rock, and the Three Rondawels, which are also in the area.

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency teamed up with the Industrial Development corporation to conduct a pre-feasibility study, assisting the local land reform beneficiary community. The potential investment proposal comprises a hotel with 80 rooms, a 150-seat restaurant, two conference facilities, and other amenities.

SERVICES RENDERED

The team indicated the need for a suitably qualified and experienced consultancy to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the development of the Bourke’s Luck Potholes facilities, to be completed within 10 weeks from the date of appointment.

The study was required to include the following:

  • A marketing study and competitor analysis
  • Potential annual usage
  • A warranted development cost
  • A development concept
  • A financial analysis
  • An assessment of potential employment and local upliftment
  • A SWOT analysis.

Delta BEC provided the following services:

  • Conceptualisation of a Green building
  • Assessment of the existing municipal infrastructure
  • Compilation of a high-level cost estimate for the construction of the new hotel, restaurant and the conference facilities
  • Town planning assessment
  • Environmental screening.

To conclude the pre-feasibility study, considerations and recommendations were made, and all information was submitted to the client and was duly  approved.

The project was closed-out in March 2015.

CLIENT NAME: Grant Thornton

LOCATION: Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

PROJECT DURATION: 3 Months

START DATE: December 2014

END DATE: March 2015

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