Estate Living Magazine Investment - Issue 34 October 2018 | Page 8

Community inclusion Lifestyle
The sawmill had been a major employer in the area so, in order to
create as many jobs as possible, the CMAI design team adopted
a design approach that favoured labour-intensive construction
methods – like the gabions – and encouraged innovative local
procurement and manufacture of all the street lights, street
furniture, boardwalks and paving. In total 1,800 local workers
were upskilled, and were employed for six years during the
project implementation. The street lighting, bridge handrails,
bollard lighting and walkways were constructed by small local
enterprises and artisans using local, sustainably grown timber. The Thesen Islands Marina celebrates the rich and fascinating
history of the island through a heritage trail walk marked by
information boards. Wide paths promote a pedestrian lifestyle
and an appreciation for the natural environment by way of
constructed beaches, bird hides and gardens. The Marina is
situated within the Garden Route National Park, and SANParks
has their main office on the island. Outdoor living is further
enhanced with parks, a clubhouse, tennis courts, squash court,
kilometres of walkways, and a boating club. Most residents own
a boat of some kind, ranging from kayaks to luxury powerboats
or ocean-going yachts, and they are often to be seen quietly
cruising the calm waters of the canals. This world-class marina
is well deserving of its Blue Flag status, and it beautifully
complements the magnificent Garden Route National Park.
The extensive new commercial, retail and hospitality elements of
the marina have created additional employment opportunities
for local people. Today there are over 800 people employed in
the commercial area of Thesen Harbour Town alone.
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