The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee has greenlit a major private-sector upgrade of the Bellville Athletics track and Velodrome by the successful bidder from a 2009 tender to develop the precinct.
Under the proposal by the successful tenderer, the City will lease the Athletics track and Velodrome to the developer on a long-term basis, who will be responsible for upgrading those facilities and their continued operation as event venues, with the aim of transforming it into a premier world-class sporting and economic hub.
The developer will further purchase identified vacant erven for mixed-use development of the precinct surrounding the Velodrome and athletics track.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the approval from the Mayco comes after years of careful work and negotiation, which will ensure that the site is retained for public access.
“With a development partner investing hundreds of millions of private sector funding, the upgraded precinct and facilities will be well-maintained into the future for athletes, schools, and residents. This is a win-win scenario that the City and ratepayers could never have achieved with municipal funding alone. What’s more, the funds raised from the transaction will also benefit many more communities across our city through upgrades to regional sports facilities.”
According to the City, the upgrade to sporting facilities will enable:
- A world-class, multi-purpose indoor arena with a seating capacity of approximately 14 000 to 18 000 spectators
- A modern, competition-compliant athletics surface
- Improved spectator facilities and accessibility
- Support for schools, clubs, and community athletics programmes
The lease of the Velodrome and Athletics track is for an initial period of 50 years, with a conditional option to renew for a further 10 years.
The recommendation will now go to the City Council for final approval.
