Construction started at the end of November and the project, with an estimated capital cost of R87 million, is expected to open in December 2006.

The resort will comprise 120 gaming machines, eight tables, an 80-seater entertainment bar, an 80-seater restaurant, a 22-key three-star hotel - capable of expansion in accordance with demand - an amusement centre, a professionally staffed childcare facility and a convenience and confectionery shop, the company has said..

The gaming floor will consist of a main casino and salon privé with smoking and non-smoking areas throughout.

Peermont Global bought effective control of Inciticorp, holder of the casino licence, and will also be the developer and manager of the casino and the other facilities forming part of the resort.

Peermont's BEE will have 30% ownership of the resort.

The Frontier Inn & Casino will create approximately 480 jobs during the development phase, and a further 113 jobs are expected to be created, largely for residents of the surrounding communities, once the resort is operational.

Peermont Global CEO Ernie Joubert said the project provided Peermont Global with an opportunity to contribute to economic and tourism development and BEE in the Bethlehem area.

"In designing the Frontier Inn & Casino, we took our inspiration from Bethlehem's characteristic architecture when it was still a Frontier Town. The theme of the resort is that of a late 19th century stage coach or mail coach Inn and Tavern with typical sandstone and plaster trim, wide porches and terracotta clay roof tiles, accentuated with chimneys."

The Free State is experiencing increasing tourism interest, with many local and international travellers choosing to break journeys with a stop over in Free State towns such as Clarens and Bethlehem. This development will give further momentum to the current tourism drive in the Bethlehem and Clarens area, Peermont said.

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