MEDIA RELEASE OCTOBER 2016
NORTHERN CAPE CELEBRATES 365 DAYS COUNTDOWN ON BLOODHOUND PROJECT
The Northern Cape provincial government this week proudly joins in the celebrations of the 365 days countdown to the BLOODHOUND land speed record attempts due to take place in 2017.
This sees the culmination of a collaborative effort between the Northern Cape provincial government and Bloodhound stakeholders dating back to 2009. The site at Hakskeenpan in the Dawid Kruiper Local Municipal area of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality of the Northern Cape was selected after a bespoke computer programme assessed satellite Earth observation imagery of more than 20000 potential sites. Detailed ground investigations were conducted in favoured locations before a shortlist of 35 potential desert sites was compiled in 2009.
The BLOODHOUND Project has not only had a massive impact on the local communities in Mier, but has already drawn global media attention to the Northern Cape province. The project has incorporated tourism, infrastructure development, community upliftment, skills transfer and overall economic development for the Northern Cape. The project also continues to play an integral part in the positioning of the Northern Cape province as one of the premier extreme sports and recreation destinations in the world.
The project has contributed significantly to job creation in the area with more than 300 of local community members being contracted to assist with track clearance. Since November 2010 more than 15800 tonnes of stones have been removed from the track and safety zones. The nearby communities have also benefited from infrastructural improvements, including a fresh water pipeline and a sophisticated communication network.
According to Premier Sylvia Lucas, the province has put its full support behind the BLOODHOUND team as it recognised the tremendous potential of this project. “Local beneficiation was of paramount importance and the local communities continue to benefit in terms of employment and infrastructural improvements. However, the deciding factor was the fact that youth development and education play such a cardinal role in this project. BLOODHOUND has had a huge impact on the local learners and this has spread globally. The excitement of building a vehicle capable of breaking the 1 000 miles an hour [about 1600km per hour] record is serving as inspiration to an entire generation of youngsters and reigniting an interest in science and technology. Our children will have the incredible opportunity of being part of history in the making,” says Lucas.
The BLOODHOUND project has also played in pivotal role in the destination marketing efforts of the province by drawing global attention to a very remote part of South Africa’s largest province. The province has been promoting itself as a premier destination for extreme sports and outdoor adventure and this high-octane adventure has definitely highlighted this positioning. In addition, it has also given the province the opportunity to showcase its tourism potential and the diversity of experiences to be enjoyed in the area surrounding Hakskeenpan.
The pan lies in the heart of the Kalahari Red Dune Route and visitors have been encouraged to explore the fascinating offerings of this diverse region, which offers something for any type of traveller whether looking for luxury, adventure, culture or family fun.
For more information, visit www.experiencenortherncape.com
ENDS