The final go-ahead granted this morning by Environment, Planning and Economic Development MEC Tasneen Essop for the construction of a new stadium for the 2010 World Cup, means that the existing stadium will come tumbling down by the end of the month.

It also means that the city can now award the tender for the construction of the new stadium.

Although it was always the city's intention to demolish the existing stadium, deemed no longer viable, the city's 2010 technical director Dave Hugo said yesterday that Essop's positive decision would mean the process could be fast-tracked.

The tender for the demolition work has not yet been awarded, as it is forms part of the bigger tender for the R2.49 billion construction of the new stadium.

However, Hugo said that should there be a delay in the city's ability to award the tender for construction almost immediately, it would negotiate with the preferred contractor to remove the demolition job from the contract.

The city would then ask demolition companies to provide quotations to carry out the job as soon as possible.

The three companies poised to clinch the lucrative 2010 deal are Group Five, a joint venture of Murray and Roberts and WBHO; and another consortia of Steffanutti & Bressan Civils and Constructora do Tamega SA.

The city is still considering further costing information re-quested by the Bid Evaluation Committee before awarding the contract.

The three bidders are said to have submitted budgets which are very close.
Hugo would not reveal the cost of the demolition, saying it was confidential pending the award of the tender.

The costs will be paid from the city's coffers and not from the 2010 budget.
Today the city will engage in extensive discussions with the Green Point Common Association on its proposals for the management of the urban park - the remaining portion of the common around the stadium.

As part of her announcement today, Essop also gave the city six months to submit architectural and landscaping guidelines and site development plans for the urban park.

She has also demanded a public participation process on how the area should be managed.