The village of La Gaulette should benefit from the brand-new Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) project in this south western region of the island, Corniche Bay. With more than Rs 13 billion investment, the new tourist site is expected to create between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs ? mainly for people from the region - when it is ready. During the construction period, 2,500 jobs should be created on the site.

Representatives of the Foster & Partners firm of architects and of the Danish promoters of the project, Tatorio Holdings Ltd, were in Mauritius last week to present their luxury product. They expect work to start as from January and think the construction ?will take about three years?. Their presentation helped to give a better idea of what this new IRS will be like: an innovative project especially with its undulating roofs.

With its 150 hotel rooms, golf course, marina, 120 villas and 200 flats, Corniche Bay appears as a huge project for this vulnerable area that has a high unemployment rate.

Corniche Bay looks even more positive for the region as its promoters do not want to transform the landscape but to ?integrate greenery?. Vegetation will be very important in the project and the architects have already decided that banyans will be given much importance in landscaping. Moreover, they intend to use as much local material as possible. As a result, the main materials will be wood and volcanic rock.

The hotel and flats will be located near the beach while the villas will be closer to the hills. The promoters will ?prevent rain water from flowing into the lagoon» to make sure that the beach ? that they clean ? remains in prime condition.

The minister of Finance, Rama Sithanen, who met the promoters in London a few weeks ago, is happy with the project. ?This will probably be the biggest foreign direct investment into the country. The other advantage is the fact that it will take place in one of the most economically vulnerable areas of the island.?