The Department of Public Works plans to spend R85-million to upgrade a property for the use of parliamentarians, government bigwigs and their family and friends. The City of Cape Town yesterday rezoned Fernwood Estate, which has been owned by parliament since the 1940s. It is situated in the upmarket suburb of Newlands.The property is currently used for instruction and training, indoor banqueting, functions and sports events.There had previously been plans to build about 18 ministerial houses on the land.The estate is not open to the public. It will be used for "official and private" functions, meetings, team-building sessions, departmental year-end functions, imbizos and closed sessions of parliament.According to a report submitted by the department, "members of parliament may also entertain their guests, friends and family at the estate in private functions".The department said the proposal would enable the "ongoing conservation and restoration of the culturally and historically significant buildings, gardens and recreational sporting areas, as well as the conservation and maintenance of the environmentally significant forests, wetlands and streams on the property".Department spokesman Thami Mchunu would not say when the multimillion-rand revamp would begin."The present cost of the renovations, upgrading and rehabilitation of the various projects is, at this stage, estimated at R84.8-million."However, the project must be prioritised, after which it will be budgeted for in the next medium-term expenditure cycle," he said.Plans include the upgrading of the main buildings - the Manor House and Long House.The department also wants to reroute access roads, improve sporting and recreational facilities and upgrade clubhouses."Landscaping activities will include ... restoring the formal gardens, rehabilitation of a significant portion of the site to natural vegetation and a wetland," it said in the report...