Stone walls, footpaths and roads will be built to create a circular infrastructure
that will take visitors
on a 30-45 minute walk through the Gardens which also aims to accommodate
disabled persons.
Two main entry points will now be utilised, one just
below Grey Dam and the other from Lucas Avenue opposite the Botany Department.
Ideally a “community garden”, Mr Hazell envisions the Botanical
Gardens as becoming a place of conservation, education and skills training
through active community involvement. Plans to build a Conservation Centre
will assist in this aim to create a sustainable resource which will hold
workshops and training exercises.
The R2.9 million will be used primarily
for materials and equipment, employment and fencing but will also create
spin-off opportunities for small businesses in town.


Mr Hazell explained
that with the amount of work that needs to be done, Rhodes will outsource
to small and medium sized enterprises in the area. The project is set to be
completed
around 2006 and although renovated aims to maintain links to its history,
through the use of stone walls and footpaths. Mr Hazell says that he would
like the Gardens to “entice people to stay longer” and become
an “educational experience” that can be beneficial for both Grahamstownians as well as contribute to a budding tourist industry.
A further boost to the project was
when DEAET granted an additional amount of money from the
poverty relief program. This second injection allocated
R14.1 million to be used for a visitor centre, tea garden,
and EE centre. as well as further upgrading of the gardens.
included in the project is the upgrading of the Ornee
Cottage previously known as the Monkey Puzzle Restaurant to
incorporate the provision of improved toilet facilities for
the public.

Poverty relief and skills transfer are
important components of the project. A number of members of
the local community have already received training in
various areas.

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View of Grahamstown from upper contour path looking north east |
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