Keystone Park
The development of new warehousing space in Durban and surrounding areas is a sign of bullish optimism for future economic growth. Manufacturing production in South Africa rose 4 percent year-on-year in May of 2016, following an upwardly revised 3.1 percent increase in the preceding month according to Statistics South Africa. This is good news all around despite many other current local and global political and economic problems.
Currently there are two significant private sector driven logistics developments in Durban. The first is the redevelopment of the old Dunlop Factory in Sydney Road by JT Ross. The second is Keystone Park being developed by Rokwil.
Keystone Park is located in Hammarsdale. This is 46kms from the Port of Durban with direct access from the N3 in both directions. The development offers fully serviced platforms ranging in size from 3 776sqm to 55 051sqm. The end result will be a congestion free logistics park with wide access roads, well designed infrastructure and yard space that is unheard of in the Southern Basin of Durban.
There are many sceptics with regards to the location of Keystone who believe it is too far from the Port and the logistics costs will be prohibitive. “This is the first hurdle I face when talking to my clients about Keystone” says Samantha Anderson who specialises in logistics property at Deal Core. The interesting fact is that Keystone is already home to 100 000m² under roof for Mr Price and Ackermans has signed to build an even bigger facility.
The collaboration between Keystone Park developer and the public sector is where the competitive advantage of the location lies. Transnet has planned to build an inland dry port for freight in Cato Ridge for many years to ease congestion in the Port. The location of this inland dry port is a congestion free 7kms from Keystone. Currently new railway lines are being laid on Maydon Wharf from berth 13 onwards to facilitate rail access directly to the key side. This project is coupled with dredging that is taking place along the same wharf to enable large container ships to berth directly adjacent to the new rail. The end result will be an efficient and cost effective means of transporting freight via rail from inside the Port to Cato Ridge.
The project is estimated to be completed by early 2017 which will coincide with Mr Price’s expected date of operation which is April 2017. “Whilst there are still many sceptics when it comes to the ability of Transnet to deliver, the evidence is there to see and I will gladly take clients through the Port and show them the work being done” says Samantha.
The future of the logistics industry is exciting. There are a lot of new developments and Keystone Park has over 1 million square meters of platformed and serviced space available. It offers a secure, uncongested location that has been zoned for a clean and dust free environment.
For more information about Keystone Park and what is on offer, please contact Ryan Berry on 083 607 8128.