Sarah from
Dune Ridge Country House sent us a link to the following item on a new centre focusing on the conservation, rehabilitation and sustainability of the ocean that will be opening soon in Port St Francis.
Marine Centre at Port St Francis now a reality
A marine centre focusing on the conservation, rehabilitation and sustainability of the ocean will soon open at Port St Francis. The keys for the new venue of this working visitors centre were officially handed over to the operational team, Rob and Sam Bester of Gypsea Marine Eco Tours on 5 September.
Peter Miller, well known businessman from Port Elizabeth and owner of the venue (the previous Erich at the Port Restaurant), also became the first official sponsor of the initiative at Port St Francis. “I am looking forward to see Squid Square alive with tourists, school groups and researchers,” Peter said. “This centre will become a major tourist attraction and I am proud to be part of it.”
The GypSEA Marine Centre, partnered with the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST), will be a state-of-the-art visitors centre where interactive programs and displays will promote public awareness and ecotourism.
“Our new home is Port St Francis, where we have access to the ocean, the Kromme River and the St Francis canal system, all subjects of future research,” Rob Bester from GypSEA Marine said. “By working together with other established groups in St Francis, our eco-tourism programme will include a diversity of watersport and other sporting activities, photographic tours and educational excursions.
The centre will be jointly managed by GypSEA Marine and the SST, represented by its founding trustee and CEO Dr Tony Ribbink and Business Manager Vivianne Quin.
The Centre will become a prime tourist destination on the Garden Route and Route 62, thus contributing to the economic development of Port St Francis and the greater St Francis and surrounding areas. “Our great venue enables us to run workshops, children’s programmes both indoors and outdoors, host guest speakers and offer fun, educational social events.”
Groups from schools and universities of both impoverished and affluent communities will visit the centre as part of educational tours to get a better understand of the ocean and its challenges.
The centre will also be the basis for various research projects, involving international students, educators and researchers. The centre will identify, raise funds and conduct these projects in the area. They will provide education programmes based on the research by using films and computer generated imagery, with a view to moving into 3D format by 2014. “We will have editing facilities at the centre, opening the doors for further job creation.”
Knowledge obtained through research will be shared in public awareness campaigns to encourage sustainable ways of life, promoting skills that enable people to better care for the coasts and oceans, their plants and animals.
To achieve these goals the SST academic, editing and other team members will produce educational materials together with GypSEA Marine. It is further envisaged to consider the establishment of a SEAS Centre for skills development and employment.
An advisory committee drawn from prominent people within the greater St Francis area, including Tsitsikamma and Jeffreys Bay will be appointed not only to ensure a broader support base for the centre but also to have guidance from local expertise. “We need the support of all local businesses to ensure the sustainability of this centre too, and are very happy to announce that our second official sponsor is Calibre Security, who sponsored alarms for both the GypSEA Marine Centre as well as the Kromme Trust’s Heritage Centre.”
The official opening will be the second week in November.
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The original article, written by Esti Stewart, was published at http://www.stfrancisvillagenews.com.
To keep up to date with happenings in and around St Francis Village like their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/St.Francis.Village.News.
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Dune Ridge Country House is an exclusive family-owned retreat in picturesque St Francis Bay, set on a 600-hectare conservancy surrounded by beautiful indigenous birdfilled gardens. Dune Ridge offers a private and tranquil stay, warm hospitality, good food and excellent service. Luxurious and spacious bedrooms have private verandahs and all modern comforts.
Be pampered in the Bush Spa with indigenous oils and African inspired treatments.
Enjoy birdwatching, guided dune walks and evening Frogging Safaris. Minutes from beaches, shops and restaurants and bordering the St Francis Links Golf Course.
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