Hamburg Project

A small town regeneration strategy for Hamburg

The development vision that was compiled for Hamburg based on various stakeholder engagements, is for the town to become

"A vibrant, artistic and natural coastal town, where people can enjoy a low-key, small-scale, ecological, and self-sufficient community – sufficient in jobs, food and quality of life".

The vision is based on five core regenerative elements:

1. The quality of urban space & social infrastructure – which points to the need to develop Hamburg as a place which is attractive, spatially functional and provides the necessary social infrastructure for its population.
2. Accessibility & infrastructure – highlighting the need to enhance the accessibility to sites (residential, business, social services, municipal administration, recreation, etc.), especially for pedestrians. This requires a focus on infrastructure upgrading and densification/consolidation of services and functions.
3. The protection of natural resources – which are a significant resource to the Hamburg lifestyle and economy, as well as its future positioning as an ecologically sustainable coastal town;
4. Job creation which focuses on tourism, the arts and agriculture; and
5. Self-sufficiency, which promotes the possibility of Hamburg becoming self-sufficient in terms of local jobs, food production and overall quality of life.

The anchor project: Hamburg Artists Retreat

The Hamburg Artists Retreat is a catalytic project positioned to anchor the regeneration of Hamburg as a niche cultural tourism destination, centred on art and the unique natural environment of the region. It is funded by the National Department of Tourism as well as National Treasury with operations funded by the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs. Offering accommodation, conference facilities, dance space, a recording studio, a mini theatre and ample work space, the Artists Retreat aims to attract artists and art appreciators alike. Inspired by the already very artistic Hamburg community the retreat aims to forge a link between art promotion and economic development. It is due to commence operations in September 2012.

www.artistsretreat.co.za

Town centre upgrade

Funding has been secured by National Treasury’s Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant to upgrade the centre of Hamburg Town. The upgrade will include a range of facilities aimed to make Hamburg a more attractive place to live and visit. The facilities to be provided will include:

• a music and performing arts studio to groom local children into international performers
• an environmental education and training centre for environmental management
• a care centre for local workers
• a revived community garden to increase food security
• an upgrade of the main street to improve access to the town centre
• an upgrade of Emlanjeni Park to provide an attractive recreational space for residents and visitors
• a re-design of Imbizo Square to make the space usable for everyday activities

To kick-start the developments, National Treasury’s National Development Partnership grant has allocated a funding envelope to Aspire of R273 million to include the small towns of Alice, Butterworth, Dutywa, Hamburg and Stutterheim.