MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The proposed rezoning of the Indigenous Tree Sanctuary in the town's Greenbelt Area has temporarily been called off.

The acting Municipal Manager, Mr Vic Viljoen, this week confirmed that the whole rezoning process has been called off indefinitely.

In the meantime a growing number of residents of the town expressed their concern for the future of this irreplaceable natural asset. There is growing pressure for the formal establishment of a botanical garden, arboretum or natural garden to be developed as a permanent natural asset for the community and as a visitor-friendly drawcard for tourists.

With regards to the proposed rezoning of a section of the town's sports grounds for business development, Mr Viljoen said that a tender for the development of a business centre on the existing sport grounds has been allocated to a developer from Gauteng. The developer, Landmark, is also involved in business activities in the United Kingdom.

The proposed phased development of a business centre on the existing sportsgrounds makes provision for an initial 12 000 square meters of floor space, which will be extended to 27 000 square meters. The proposed development is subject to the rezoning of the specific portion of the sportsgrounds. Objections to the proposed rezoning will be heard at a special meeting to be held on June 20 at the Civic Centre at 10:00.