Foundation stone laid for new housing project at Takamaka |31 July 2015
Seventy-two housing units will be built on the ex-Desaubin estate at Takamaka.
The project is being financed by the government of the United Arabs Emirates which has funded three regional housing projects on Mahé. The institution managing the grant is the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).
The foundation stone for the project was laid yesterday by the Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Wallace Cosgrow and Adel Al Hosani representing the ADFD.
Minister Cosgrow was deputising for the Minister for Land Use and Housing Christian Lionnet.
Present at the ceremony were the principal secretary for Land Use & Housing Joseph François, the principal secretary for Policy Planning and Implementation in the Ministry of Land Use and Housing (MLUH) Yves Choppy, the district’s member of the National Assembly Alderic Bristol, ADfD project manager Tariy Hamza, other officials of MLUH and of community development, the district’s inhabitants and inhabitants of Baie Lazare and Anse Royale.
The 4.6 hectares of land where the houses will be built will also cater for a sewage treatment plant.
As of June 2015, more than 250 applications have been filed at MLUH for the Takamaka residents only, hence the development of this housing project which will help in reducing significantly the number of people waiting for a house.
PS Choppy noted that although Takamaka is the fifth largest district in terms of land area, it is among the least populated.
“Because of this, we find it has great potential for offering land for the south and south eastern regions of Mahé to meet housing demands,” he said.
“MLUH is continuously identifying sites that will allow us to maximise resources in developing housing estates. The ex-Desaubin site is an example of a project that allows us to do just that,” he added.
The first phase will cater for the construction of 36 residential units -- 24 with three bedrooms and 12 with two bedrooms.
The consultant for the project is by Gibbs Seychelles.
Mr Al Hosani pointed out that ADFD enjoys a close relationship with Seychelles which dates back in 1979 and this project articulates the importance of promoting inclusive development in Seychelles.
He noted that the ADFD has provided foreign aid assistance valued at around US $65 million to finance vital projects in key economic sectors including housing, transportation, water and health care.
MNA Bristol noted that he and the former district administrator Paul Ernesta had been very involved in this project to make sure that it is the most modern and functional project which will include facilities such as road access, water supply, sewage plant, lights and a playground for the children.
“I can assure you that once completed, this project will be among the best that exist in Seychelles,” he said.
The housing project, which has been awarded to contractor Mahé Design & Build, will take about eighteen months to complete if everything goes according to plan.