South African consulting engineer GIBB reports that it has been contracted by island developer Eden Island Development Com- pany for the consulting engineering of the second phase of the $500-million Eden Island Development, in the Seychelles.

The project’s first phase is drawing to a close and GIBB will now be responsible for the civil, structural and electrical infrastructure engineering of Phase 2. Other key features of the contract include revised transportation models to suit the project, all earthwork design and quan- tities and detailed design of the bulk infrastructure.

Eden Island is a luxurious residential marina development located a few hundred metres from Mahé and measures over 56 ha in size. “The 56 ha island is made up of a commercial area, a residential area consisting of a wide selection of apartments, mansions and villas, of which over 370 have already been sold, and 20 ha of beaches, water- ways and basins. The island also generates its own drinking water through a desalination plant,” says GIBB project director Philip Grobbelaar.

He adds that the expected completion date for GIBB’s involvement on the pro- ject is mid-2013. Despite the great challenge of working remotely, “we are very excited as it is a high-profile project beyond our borders that clearly displays GIBB’s ability to deliver world-class solutions and effi- ciency”, he adds.

The island hosts exclusive freehold title homes that can be accessed through the waterways. Access is made easy through the Eden Island Marina, which is a deep- water, international marina capable of handling super yachts of up to 100 m in length. Residents of the island automatically qualify for a private mooring, while there is plenty of space in the marina for the craft of friends and guests. Further, the international airport on Mahé is a 10 min drive from the island.

Eden Island’s commercial precinct will feature restaurants and bars, boutique shops, a supermarket and a number of service outlets. The island development is funded by shareholding, which is held through offshore structures representing the interests of South African and Austrian investors.

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