It was a chilly and windy morning of the 18th June 2013 at Naval Hill as the MEC for DETEA, Mosebenzi Zwane took delivery of the aluminium dome to its new home. Bloemfontein, particularly Naval Hill will be a home of the first digital planetarium in Sub-Saharan Africa. What started as ‘a pie in the sky’ is fast becoming a historical event of international stature.
Almost four years ago, the University of the Free State approached the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs for partnership in upgrading Boyden Observatory on the outskirts of the town.
Looking into to the broader picture of not just astronomy, the department proposed that the Lamont Hussey Observatory, also known as Sterrewag theatre of Naval Hill will add to the already existing tourism attractions of Heritage Site and Game Reserve found at Naval Hill.
This was to give credence to the Free State region becoming a hub for eco and astro-tourism. More tourists coming to Bloemfontein will lead to job creation, economic development and proper recognition from local, national and international communities.
It was all excitement as the MEC drove the forklift to offload the crate filled with the dome parts from the truck. This was to become the official home of the dome as it travelled from the USA by sea and by truck to Bloemfontein.
Added to the excitement, the dome had to be splashed with water by the 1926 fire truck to ensure that the 87 year old planetarium dome is water proof and functional.
During his key note address, the MEC revealed a master plan consisting of three main phases for the development of Naval Hill. Bloemfontein is already famous for its roses, so the First phase will embark on the development of Naval Hill and rebranding Bloemfontein as the City of Stars and Roses.
In Phase Two of the proposed development, DETEA envisages the development of a state of the art eco-park recreational area to complement the planetarium. Phase Three envisages the development and the establishment of an international hotel & convention centre including an office park, which in turn will generate significant revenue for (MMM) through rates and taxes.
The MEC thanked all parties that were involved in making this mega project a reality. The realisation of this event is a meticulous discussion between the University of the Free State, Mangaung Metro Municipality, The National Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs which is a living proof of successful Intergovernmental Relations. No single organisation would have made this plan a reality on its own.
