Contents of July/August 1997

Editorial

Events

News

Opinion pole

Inspiration
Airways Park, Kempton Park - hi-tech, sleek, timeless and inspirational.

Insult
Desert-like parking areas an insult to the urban environment.

Battle of the ‘burbs
Peter Dayson compares Observatory’s urbanity to the rural lifestyle of Philadelphia.

Tree of the issue
Acacia sieberiana var. woodii.

Information technology

Urban rivers and wetlands - threatened
Gerald Garner comments on urban rivers and wetlands in Gauteng.

EPPIC National Premium Award ‘97
The Urban Green File features the three finalists in the EPPIC environmental award for 1997.
Alusaf Hillside Smelter
Kronenzicht: Sandy Bay
Lesotho Delivery Tunnel North

Waterford Estate - urban living in natural surroundings
Waterford Estate provides an example of a well planned, mixed use urban area.

Roodepoort Sports Complex - a recreational experience
A multi-functional facility which is set in a landscape of ‘rolling’ embankments, streams and lakes.

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EDITORIAL

During a recent search on the World Wide Web, I found almost 23,5 million listings relating to ‘urban rivers and wetlands’. On the one hand, there is this amazing amount of information available; while on the other, 650 South Africans, most of them children, die from diarrhoea every day (according to the Water Research Commission) - a disease caused mainly by drinking contaminated water.

The disregard that South Africans have for their scarce water resources and the resultant pollution becomes evident when one visits an urban river, like the Jukskei in Johannesburg (see article). And although the issues industry and developers deal with in urban areas, relating to rivers and wetlands, may seem small - the canalisation of a small stretch of a stream, or discharging a small amount of a pollutant substance into a river, the cumulative affect of these actions may be of national significance. No part of a river exists in isolation and upstream pollution has an affect on those living downstream.

It is time for local councils and communities to act swiftly to protect the rivers and wetlands within their areas. Insensitive waterfront developments which destroy the natural vegetation and ecological systems should be banished! We have seen enough silted-up and heavily polluted Bruma Lakes, Randburg Waterfronts and Centurion Lakes!

The concept of Metropolitan Open Space Systems (MOSS) has been discussed at many symposiums and conferences in the past. However, it seems that this policy, which could help with the conservation and rehabilitation of urban river systems, has long been ignored by local authorities. Rivers and wetlands should be seen as open spaces and integrated into the urban fabric and always be developed in a sustainable manner. Management plans should be drawn up for entire catchments and river systems. Many wetlands exist, for instance, in Soweto and these could be restored and incorporated into the new parks that the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council is developing for the community. We cannot allow these important resources to be destroyed by insensitive development. The challenge is to act creatively to ensure maximum return for surrounding communities.

We have tried to touch on some of the important aspects relating to urban rivers and wetlands - the theme of this issue - in this journal. However, the topic is so far reaching that we could dedicate at least the next two year’s issues to it alone. We hope that this issue will make you a little more aware of the many streams and wetlands around you and the vital functions that they fulfil.

We are pleased to welcome the Gauteng Society for Landscape Architecture (GSLA) as a bulk subscriber to The Urban Green File. We hope that other associations will follow the lead taken by the ACTRP and GSLA - as their support of the journal bodes well for the future of the urban environment.

Gerald Garner - editor

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EVENTS

International events

Landscapers Conference

An international landscapers conference, hosted by the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI), is scheduled for 22 to 25 February 1998.
For more information contact Gilbert Briscoe at Tel (011) 464 1098 or Loly Stewart at Tel (0331) 425779

Lighting in developing countries

An international conference on lighting in developing countries hosted by the South African National Committee on Illumination (SANCI), in conjunction with the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), is scheduled for 1 - 3 September 1997 at the International Convention Centre in Durban.
Contact Angie at Tel: (011) 622 2176 or e-mail: durex@icon.co.za

National events

Civil engineering and sustainable development

The South African Institution of Civil Engineering’s congress on civil engineering and sustainable development is scheduled for 6 - 8 April 1998 in East London. The congress will focus on three aspects: technical (the design of simple systems that work), financial (how to create renewable resources and ensure cost recovery) and social (communication as the key to successful development).
Contact SAICE at Tel: (011) 648 1184 or e-mail: saice@cis.co.za

Water and Sanitation for all

The 23rd Water Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) Conference, with the theme ‘Water and Sanitation for all’ is scheduled for 1 - 5 September 1997 at the International Convention Centre - Durban.
Contact the organisers at Tel: (031) 23 3494 or e-mail: ci@neptune.infolink.co.za

Integrated Environmental Management in S A

The annual conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (SA) is scheduled for 29 and 30 September 1997 at KwaMaritane in the Pilansberg National Park. The theme is ‘Integrated Environmental Management in SA: the state of the art and lessons learnt’.
Contact Glaudin Kruger at Tel: (021) 45 1609 or e-mail: kruger@jaywalk.com

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NEWS

Gold Fields Environmental Education Service Centre launched

The Gold Fields Environmental Education Service Centre, part of the Faculty of Education at Rhodes University, was officially launched at a cocktail function at the Johannesburg Country Club on Monday 7 July. The centre offers environmental education to business, industry and ordinary citizens.
Contact Dr Heila Lotz Tel: (0461) 31 9389 or e-mail:edhl@warthog.ru.ac.za

Arbor day now Arbor week

Arbor day has become so popular since it was introduced in South Africa during 1983, that Minister Kader Asmal (Water Affairs and Forestry) has announced that as of 1997, it will be extended to an annual National Arbor Week. The dates for 1997 are 1 - 7 September.

The national launching event is scheduled for 1 September at the Umpakathi Nursery in Orange Farm. The nursery was initiated by the Ananda Marga Mission and Trees for Africa and sponsored by Total. The activities are to comprise the planting of several hundred trees along the roads, the launch of an environmental education centre and the distribution of tree packages to all schools in the areas. Bafana Bafana, Minister Kader Asmal and other politicians and celebrities will attend to give their support to the environment.
Contact Trees for Africa at Tel: (011) 803 9750

Permaculture against crime at Thusong in Alexandra

Ten previously unemployed young adults at the Thusong Youth Centre are involved in food gardening using permaculture principles. The mission statement of this community youth centre is "... to broaden and develop the strengths and skills of disadvantaged young adults in a constructive manner so as to enable them to participate pro-actively and contribute responsibly to a changing South Africa."

Administrator of the centre Beauty More has long dreamt of rehabilitating the youth of Alex through involvement in community projects and the permaculture project, which is being carried out in partnership with Trees for Africa - with Joe Sithole advising on permaculture methods, will ensure that the land is used resourcefully and productively and will enable the centre to teach food gardening to unemployed and unskilled community members. Sentrachem must be commended for their sponsorship of this project.

"Thusong wants to expand to assist in combating crime. Our aim is not only to do permaculture gardening but to start motor maintenance classes. Thusong people should be the mentors of other young people - and, in fact, the whole community must stand together to combat crime," were the words of Beauty More at the launch of the permaculture project.

Lourens River wins Habitat Council Award

The Lourens River Conservation Society (LRCS) has won the Habitat Council Annual Award for 1997 for the outstanding contribution it has made to environmental conservation over the past 15 years, culminating in the declaration of the Lourens River as a Protected Natural Environment (PNE) by the Western Cape Minister for Environmental Affairs. A PNE is protected under section 16 of the Environment Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989).

The Lourens River PNE is one of only five PNE’s in the country, and the only complete river system to gain this status. The other PNE’s are: the Peninsula Mountain Chain, Rietvlei near Tableview, Langebaan and the Magaliesberg.

The society was formed in 1980 with the sole objective of finding a means to conserve the Lourens River and its environs on a sustainable basis and maintain the river, as far as possible, in its natural state as an asset to the entire community. The committee of the LRCS succeeded in gaining the confidence and finally agreement of all three local authorities - the Regional Services Council, Somerset West and Strand Local Councils - as well as that of Cape Nature Conservation and the major riparian owners.

According to the judges, the integrity and single-minded dedication with which the society has pursued its conservation objectives, makes the LRCS a worthy recipient of the 1997 Award.

Electrostatic percipitator for township smoke pollution

Brett Venter and Danielle Bekker, final year students in chemical engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, presented an innovative alternative for reducing smoke pollution at a World Environment Day exhibition at the university.

Smoke emissions, the result of residential coal combustion, are one of the least well quanitified pollution sources. While it may represent a small fraction of total coal usage in South Africa, residential combustion has a significant impact on the health of the poorer sector of the population as the emissions are released into densely populated areas at low altitudes.

RDP electrification initiatives have brought little relief to pollution problems because, even after electrification of large portions of metropolitan areas, residents continue to burn coal for cooking and the heating of their homes.

The aim of Venter and Bekker’s project was to conduct a preliminary investigation into the effect of using an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), re-designed to fit into the common domestic chimney, as a method of reducing the residential pollution problem.

The electrostatic precipitator acts as a filter that removes dust from the air by charging the particles using a high-voltage electrode, and then collecting them by virtue of their charge using an earthed electrode. The precipitated dust is simply removed from the electrodes by washing.

From the extraction efficiency, it was concluded that the ESP is a viable option for reducing the smoke emissions from residential coal combustion but more detailed experiments are required.
Contact Brett Venter or Danielle Bekker at WITS, Tel: (011) 716 2413

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OPINION POLE

Keeping watercourses unspoilt

I appreciate the copies of your publication which have come my way, and admire your objectives. It seems you are the right people to approach on a subject which concerns me seriously at present. You may have heard of ‘Cosmo City’ which is being developed between Honeydew and North Riding. This area has a watercourse flowing through it, and there is a dam, with the attendant bird life. How does one go about ensuring that these areas remain unspoilt?

- Annelise Stewart - Architect.

Compliments to The Urban Green File

Let me take the opportunity to congratulate you on an informative magazine that has an interesting layout.
- Tracy Davey - CAD specialist

The Wall of Remembrance

It was a bit insensitive of the youths who painted "Live for the moment" on The Star Wall of Remembrance. However, one must remember the history of the wall. During the apartheid era it was one of the only places where freedom of speech had an outlet in the form of graffiti.

This is what these youths must have felt when they wrote on The Star Wall of Remembrance. One of them commented in an article in The Star, "I felt I could relate to the photograph of a young man taped to the wall. I felt terrible. I find the Wall of Remembrance a great idea, but it’s a bit depressing."

Although there is a Wall of Hope at the Carlton Centre which would be a more suitable spot for the sign, "Live for the Moment," one has to donate money to put a message on this wall and this wall does not have the history of The Star wall. In my opinion these youths did not deface the wall. The wall should always be a changing medium for expression.
- Leaura Daniels - student

Choosing between a wall or forest of remembrance

The Star newspaper’s ‘Walls of Remembrance’ in Parktown and at Baragwanath in Gauteng have attracted a lot of attention over the past months. Pictures of victims who have died in the current crime wave have been painted on these graffiti walls. Recently, an advertisement for a rave was painted over the faces and met with a loud public outcry. Although the ‘walls of remembrance’ serve an important public function, they will eventually be repainted and possibly re-used as normal graffiti walls.

Perhaps, a concept discussed at a Truth and Reconciliation Workshop in Durban in February provides the answer. There it was suggested that a tree be planted to commemorate each person who had died during the struggle for change. A similar project was apparently carried out in Latin America where 700 000 trees were planted.
The Urban Green File suggests that an avenue of trees -Remembrance Avenue - be planted in Johannesburg’s city centre or in a disadvantaged area without trees, where it will improve the quality of the environment. - Ed

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INSPIRATION

Hi-tech sleek and with a timeless quality. The Urban Green File is inspired by Airways Park.

Project team:

Client: SAA

Development consultants: Protekon

Architects: Stauch Vorster, Consultium and Protekon Architects

Quantity surveyors: CP de Leeuw; Etsebeth Calits Drake & Piennaar and Thabo Senyalo & Partners

Electrical engineers: Bvi and BN Buziba & Associates

Structural engineers: Civil Projects and Protekon

Mechanical engineers: DLV inc. and BN Buziba

Main contractor: Stocks Construction

Landscape design and construction: Transnet (Horticulture Dept)

Interiors: Protekon and Stauch Vorster

South African Airways decided some two years ago to rationalise its various departments and to establish a single head office for the entire organisation. It was decided to relocate the old Braamfontein offices and to combine these with the existing technical and administrative facilities at Johannesburg International Airport.

The new building screens the existing buildings and due to its length (approximately 180 m) has been divided into two main blocks around a central pivot. The southern block is angled at 6 degrees in order to break the mass of the building. The internal volumes are exciting places to be in and contrast with the harsh urban environment of the airport.

The design of the new building promotes the use of stairs rather than lifts in the central atrium and main circulation areas and this, together with pause area’s, encourages maximum interaction between the various departments (a prerequisite of the client). The architectural language is simple - celebrating the open spaces and reinforcing the views and vistas of SAA’s core business - the aircraft and related services.

The architectural design emphasises the blending of interior and exterior spaces, creating a user-friendly working environment as well as spaces for relaxation.

As part of the development, the Airways Park surroundings will be landscaped in keeping with SAA’s environmental policy. Six hundred trees are to be planted on the road verges between the World Trade Centre and the airport. All the parking areas will also be planted with trees. The plantings will be mainly indigenous with Rhus pendulina as the dominant tree but low maintenance exotic species such as Populus simonii, Betula alba and ivy will also be used.

The hi-tech building, set in a landscaped environment is designed to create an exhilarating urban experience for the users.

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INSULT

Desert-like parking areas

In spite of the Greater Johannesburg Transitional Metropolitan Council’s regulations that all parking lots should provide a tree for each two parking bays, developers take advantage of the council’s inability to enforce these regulations. Two parking areas have recently been completed in the Fourways area - both without trees. Not only are tree-less parking areas an eyesore, but they are also responsible for increasing local temperatures, as sun rays are reflected off the cars, while the black tarmac or brick paving absorbs more heat. It is time for councils to take action against developers who are insulting the urban environment.

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BATTLE OF THE ‘BURBS

Both Observatory and Philadelphia in Cape Town, are popular ‘alternative’ suburbs to live in. Peter Dayson prefers Observatory’s urbanity to the rural lifestyle of Philadelphia.

The trend towards the independent upliftment and renewal of run-down suburbs (through the efforts of individual home owners as opposed to ‘government sponsored’) normally on the periphery of city centres, has been an established phenomenon for close on twenty five years. A more recent development has been, and this is especially true of the Western Cape, the re-population and concomitant upliftment of small country hamlets - with people choosing a rural lifestyle and commuting to the city. Franschoek, Riebeeck Kasteel, Darling and, for the purposes of this analogy Philadelphia, are amongst numerous examples, all of which were established originally to serve the surrounding farming communities, but which have now become havens for those seeking tranquillity and a ‘quality of life’ perhaps not achievable within a city.
Observatory is one of Cape Town’s oldest suburbs - never very affluent and, like most peripheral inner city suburbs, one which had degenerated almost to the point of becoming a ghetto by the early seventies. Both Philadelphia and Observatory have been adopted by the trend setter and are slowly transforming themselves into ‘the’ places to live.

Land use

Accesibility

Development potential

Sense of community

Environmental quality

Conclusion

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TREE OF THE ISSUE

Acacia sieberiana var. woodii - Paperbark thorn

This is a medium to large acacia with a flat-topped, spreading crown and very distinctive bark which flakes off vertically exposing the yellow stem underneath - hence its common name, Paperbark thorn. It is a deciduous tree, producing masses of yellowish-white, pom-pom florets in November/ December.

Carol Knoll asked horticulturist and landscape contractor Brendon Dooley of Real Landscapes to comment on the value of this tree in the urban landscape and particularly on its use in the parking lot at the Siemens’ headquarters in Midrand. "I think this is the up-and-coming tree for the urban landscape. I favour it above all our other acacias because it is quick growing and hardy and transplants more easily than other acacias at a mature stage. Acacia sieberiana with its flat top is the quintessential southern African tree - its shape is superior to Acacia galpinii which is another excellent, hardy tree.

"A. sieberiana is good in parking lots because it doesn’t mind reflected heat. It doesn’t require staking beyond an early stage as it has an inherently strong stem structure. It does drop little thorny twigs and requires a fair bit of pruning underneath the canopy to keep it clean and attain a really nice shape," was Dooley’s comment.

Landscape designer Patrick Watson chose A. sieberiana as the tree for the parking lot at Siemens and Real Landscapes installed the trees. They cored through the compacted sub-base of the paving, using industrial piling machines, to the existing earth underneath and then, using large augurs, dug two overlapping holes for each tree to allow a greater area for root growth. Each ‘oblong’ hole was then immediately filled up with a suitable planting medium and the tree planted with fertiliser and compost deep (2-3 m) down in the hole. The medium was slightly mounded above the surface to counteract any possible sinkage and the necessary irrigation line installed with a bubbler on each tree. Shade cloth was erected over the parking spaces as a temporary measure, until the trees attain the necessary height and breadth to provide adequate shade. "In eight to ten years, we will certainly be able to dispense with the shade cloth," said Dooley. "We created ‘eyes’ or windows between the pieces of shade cloth that were larger than usual to allow the trees to grow through these openings and start their spreading growth above the shade cloth. The trees have shown remarkable growth over the 18 months since they were planted, with the only problem being the high water table in the area - few trees like wet feet."

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Metro-GIS uses innovative technology

"The vision to integrate planning and GIS technology has become reality with the development of a totally integrated and computerised town planning scheme, which is currently being developed by a consortium for Lethabong TMC," says Dawie van Vuuren, director of Metro-GIS, a company formed in 1995 which focuses on the application of true GIS principles in the management of information associated with the planning process. Another innovative technological development is that Metro-GIS is able to integrate aerial video photography with existing GIS data bases. This technology is very useful in town planning projects, for example to determine the location of informal settlements in relation to existing urban development. Metro-GIS is an authorised dealer for Autodesk World and offer GIS training courses (Van Vuuren also lectures at the University of Pretoria).
Contact Dawie van Vuuren Tel: (012) 332 1836

Autodesk launches AutoCAD Release 14

Autodesk launched AutoCAD Release 14 at the Autodesk ‘Design your world’ Expo ‘97, held in Midrand at the end of June.

AutoCAD Release 14 runs on Windows NT and Windows 95 and contains long awaited enhancements that include faster performance, built-in tools for publishing original drawings on the World Wide Web, quicker access to frequently used commands, sharper presentation drawings and better tools for customisation. The product also marks the second generation of Autodesk’s widely used object-orientated technology, ObjectARX.

ObjectARX technology represents a significant leap in the application’s performance and is the foundation for building intelligent applications using real-world objects. Using ObjectARX technology, a door, for example, is an object (not just a set of lines and arcs), as is a bolt in mechanical CAD, or a contour line in geographic information systems (GIS).

AutoCAD Release 14 is the result of feedback from more than 16 000 AutoCAD customers, developers and dealers world-wide who have been using and testing the product - some since as early as mid 1996.

The newly integrated internet features of AutoCAD Release 14 make it easier to share, view and publish drawings over the internet and corporate intranets. Photo-realistic rendering tools let users create ‘real-life’ presentations of design ideas and capabilities.

For the first time, AutoCAD software includes raster support capability, enabling customers to use hybrid raster and vector drawings.
Contact Linda at Silgraph Tel: (011) 315 3102

Caddie exhibits at Computer Faire

The Q Vector Group exhibited its latest 32 bit Caddie software at the annual Computer Faire in Midrand. The eagerly awaited new release, Caddie for Windows, runs with Windows 95 and NT version 4.0 operating systems and features several significant performance enhancements. Athol Phillips, managing director of Caddie, commented on their success at the show: "Apart from architects, who make up the bulk of Caddie’s share of the market, a strong interest has come from civil and structural engineers as well as from companies in the electrical and mechanical engineering fields."
Contact Alison McDonald Tel: (011) 805 2564 or e-mail: alison@vector.co.za

Innovative Urban Modelling Software

Design professionals working in the town planning and urban design fields will soon have a unique software tool at their disposal. Developed by Cad Solutions, a Durban based computer company, the product has been created to meet the specific requirements of the planning domain - as opposed to being adapted from engineering and architectural software.

The software package known as inSITE allows the designer to test two dimensional layouts within a three dimensional context with minimal extra effort. It facilitates a re-iterative design process so that the end result has been tested ‘on the ground’ and ‘it works’ from the built environment, construction and cost perspectives.

Specific features of the package include the following:

• The ability to calculate cut and fill platforms for a variety of topographical and soil conditions.
• To suggest site sizes for specified platform or building sizes.
• To optimise the position and orientation of platforms and top structures on the site.
• To evaluate the impact of the layout at the micro-scale of the individual site.
• To evaluate the urban fabric created by multiple sites, roads and infill panels at a macro-scale, in other words the total visual effect of the design. Views may be created in perspective or orthographic mode.
• To test and evaluate climatic influences on the designed built environment in terms of sun exposure and shadowing.

The programme is easy to use and requires little previous computer experience. All that is needed, once the layout has been entered electronically, is the ability to enter information in the dialogue box and to ‘click’ on the site to generate a 3D model of the layout.

The software has been designed as an ADS application within AutoCAD, so it is necessary to have AutoCAD 13 or 14 installed. Hardware requirements to run the package are a minimum of an Intel 400 or Pentium 90 or better, 16MB of RAM minimum, but preferably 32MB RAM and at least 100MB free hard disk space.

InSITE is truly unique and has the ability to transform the level of accuracy and visual format in which technical information is communicated - making the urban environment legible to a wider audience, in particular end-users.
Contact Tracey Davey Tel: (031) 464 0052 or e-mail: alexa@iafrica.com

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URBAN RIVERS AND WETLANDS THREATENED

A visit to the Jukskei and other rivers and wetlands in South African cities illustrates the disrespect that exists in this country towards our water resources. In a water-scarce country, conserving water should be an absolute priority. Gerald Garner reports on some threatened urban rivers, and both natural and artificial wetlands in Gauteng.

Since the earliest times, water has played a significant role in human settlement patterns. Most cities are built on the banks of a river - which provides drinking water, water for agriculture, for industry and for recreation. Yet, most of these cities have been responsible for the gradual degradation of their rivers. This holds true in South Africa. In Pretoria, the Apies River was canalised in 1910 and in Johannesburg, the first section of the Jukskei river, from its source to Bruma lake, has been canalised over long stretches.

Although many rivers are degraded because of insensitive development, water forms an important part of many developments - endless office parks have water features as a focal point and commercial waterfront developments are very popular (Randburg, Bruma Lake and Centurion Lake are examples - and many more, such as Sunnyside and Bayside in Pretoria and Loch Logan in Bloemfontein are planned). However, most of these developments tend to dam the water in a concrete lined structure, ignoring the natural processes, even to the point of destroying wetlands - while water features in office parks rely on unnatural treatment such as chlorine to keep them clean, instead of utilising natural processes and bio-filters to allow birds, plants and fish to survive.

The Jukskei River

Johannesburg is situated on the continental watershed (the Witwatersrand) - a natural ridge which drains either south into the Orange River system or north into the Limpopo system. This prime location at the source of many streams and spruits means that the city has an impact on the two main river systems of South Africa. The source of the Jukskei river, for instance, is in the heart of Berea / Hillbrow, right behind the famous Ponte City. Any pollution that occurs here, could impact on an entire river system - from the Jukskei into the Crocodile, into Hartebeespoortdam and eventually into the Limpopo.

Not only is the Witwatersrand a significant source of water, but many dams which are used for recreation by urban dwellers are also sited here. According to Mark Freeman of Bohlweki Environmental, two thirds of the 50 urban impoundments in the country are located within Gauteng. (An urban impoundment is a man-made or natural body of water within an urban area which is accessible to the public.)

The editor spent a day along the banks of the Jukskei River, starting at its source and concluding his journey where it passes underneath the N1 highway in Midrand. Well known places along the river are: Ponte City near Hillbrow, Bruma Lake, Gillooly’s Farm, Alexandra, and an off-road motor cycle track in Midrand. The Jukskei is probably one the best examples in the country of ‘how not to manage a river’. Ad hoc development has occurred along the river banks since the last century with no river or catchment management plan in place.

The source spring is hidden in a small pump room behind Ponte City. From here the water flows in a covered concrete canal past Ellis Park rugby stadium. East of the stadium, in areas such as New Doornfontein, Bertrams and Bezuidenhout Valley, industries built within the flood plain pollute the river (here it is an open, completely fenced in, concrete canal).

Bruma Lake is the first place where the public has access to the river. The lake, constructed in the late eighties as the first major ‘waterfront’ development in Johannesburg (the very first was Verwoerdburg near Pretoria), was built without any Environmental Impact Assessment being done. Not surprisingly, the environmental problems today are numerous: the lake silts up because stormwater from the heavily urbanised upper catchment area drains into it. It is the first point where the water comes to a stand still, and the lake therefore acts as a big sedimentation trap. From here the river passes through Gillooly’s Farm, a regional recreational park. The water has, by now, a neon-green colour.

A tributary, comprising mainly stormwater, enters the river after it has passed through an artificial lake in the park. This differs from Bruma Lake with its concrete edge, as it has a natural edge planted with indigenous plants and reeds. A smaller dam traps some of the sediment before it enters the bigger dam. Designed by Graham Young in conjunction with Dayson de Villiers and van der Merwe landscape architects, this artificial ‘natural’ lake gives some indication of how urban water bodies should be handled.

From Gillooly’s Farm, the river follows the N3 highway and passes through Alexandra, where squatter shacks overhang the banks. Such a high population density within the flood plain causes many problems, not the least of which are deaths resulting from flooding. According to Lee Boyd of Cydna Laboratories (part of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council (GJTMC)) the faecal bacteria counts in the Jukskei are extremely high (refer table). While the counts in the Alexandra area are considerably higher. These have, however, improved since October 1995 when the counts were almost double. This decrease could be attributable to the supply of chemical toilets in the area and should improve even further, as the stormwater exiting Alexandra will be pumped into the sewer system in the near future. However, Alexandra is not the only area contributing to the faecal coliforms in the river, as sewer blockages in other areas also pollute the water.

North of Alexandra, the river passes a Ready Mix Materials quarry and then an off-road motor cycle track. This track has been constructed recently and all the vegetation on the river bank has been removed. Although small in area (people might argue that the impact of sediment added to the river by topsoil being washed into the water in such a small area is negligible), this is just one more sediment source and it illustrates that no overall catchment policy is followed. Many such ‘small’ impacts result in a major disturbance to the river.

However, some initiatives are in progress to improve the water quality in the Jukskei. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) formed the Jukskei River Catchment Steering Committee during November 1992 due to concerns about the water quality of the river in terms of microbiological contamination, general water quality deterioration and littering. The committee’s aim is to "develop a water quality management plan that will lead to the upgrading and protection of the Jukskei River Catchment in order to ensure the maintenance of the fitness for use of the rivers in the catchment on a sustainable basis." In October 1993, a water quality monitoring programme was implemented involving various local authorities and industries in the catchment. The poor state of the river is evident from the following table.

From Midrand, the Jukskei flows through a more natural area in Rivonia and Sunninghill. Eventually, it passes the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works, where treated effluent is discharged into the water - it must be noted that the water quality, according to Boyd, actually improves here, indicating the diluting effect of the effluent. The river eventually meets up with the Crocodile River, flowing into the Hartebeespoort Dam - where so many Jo’burgers go to relax, away from the polluted city - only to swim, ski and sail in the same water that has been polluted in their backyards.

Problems

The problems most often found in South African urban impoundments are:

• Sedimentation or silting-up caused by erosion in the catchment or the washing down of urban surfaces.
• Bacteriological contamination caused by inadequate sanitation systems and dog or waterfowl faeces.
• Eutrophication caused by high levels of nutrients in the water which lead to excessive growth of water weeds or algae, leading to oxygen depletion and resultant fish kills (the source of these nutrients could be treated domestic or industrial effluent or stormwater run-off or even garden fertilisers).
• Aesthetic problems caused by litter, flotsam, algae scums and odour problems.

Rehabilitation

David Lindley of the Rennies Wetland Project is of the opinion that a river such as the Jukskei can and should be rehabilitated. "One needs to study the history of the river to determine where flood plains and wetlands occurred before. Where possible these should be rehabilitated or alternatively artificial wetlands should be constructed." A starting point would be to prepare a management plan for the entire catchment. "It won’t help to get individual industries to clean up their act next to the river, if the ‘bigger picture’ is not clear. ‘Catchment management’ has become the buzz word in environmental planning circles in the late nineties. All the landowners and role players within a catchment should be involved in the river conservation and rehabilitation," says Lindley. The biggest threat to urban rivers, according to Lindley, is canalisation, followed by effluent pollution and alien or invasive plant species. In a river such as the Jukskei, the embankments should be cleared of all exotic and invasive plants (wattle, eucalyptus and kikuyu) and replanted with indigenous grasses and trees (hydro-seeding is an option), while effluent should be strictly controlled and canalisation prevented at all costs. Alan Batchelor of Environmentek at the CSIR agrees: "Our rivers are threatened by canalisation as is happening in Midrand at present. Strategic management plans should be in place to prevent crisis management of our rivers where canalisation is seen as the only option."

Artificial wetlands

Artificial wetlands, constructed and managed properly, could also be considered as a way of improving the water quality. Some of the principles that could be incorporated into an artificial wetland are:

• Install sediment traps in the form of a series of weirs or separate small dams. (It will be necessary from time to time to remove the silt.)
• Plant reedbeds to trap suspended solids and to clean the inflowing water of contaminants.
• Use aerators to mix air into the water. This can also be achieved by a series of waterfalls or cascades.
• Install litter traps to collect rubbish discharged through the stormwater system.

The Johannesburg Zoo wetland

The Johannesburg Zoo wetland provides an example of how a constructed wetland can be utilised to improve the quality of waste-water. Until recently, the wastewater generated by the regular washing of animal enclosures flowed directly into Zoo Lake. As part of its policy to improve the water quality in its urban impoundments, the GJTMC, commissioned consultants to design a wetland system to cleanse the water, before it was discharged into Zoo Lake. Building of the wetland commenced in 1994. However, due to problems with the waterproofing of the structure and the allocation of TMC funds, the wetland will only be operational later this year.

Mark Freeman of Bohlweki Environmental* explains the principle on which the wetland will operate: "A level weir, located in the stormwater culvert, diverts approximately 1 450 m³ of polluted water per day into a raw water pump station. From there it flows through two settling tanks and into three reedbeds in order to remove suspended and organic matter, bacterial pollutants and small amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous. The cleaner water is eventually discharged back into the stormwater culvert feeding Zoo Lake."

The three reedbeds comprise an impervious bentonite layer, 600mm of gravel and evergreen reeds. According to Boyd of Cydna Laboratories, fish may be introduced into two of these ponds. "The wetland system will not only deliver cleaner water to Zoo Lake, but will also promote awareness amongst visitors to the zoo of the value of wetland systems," says Freeman.

CSIR Wetland

The CSIR in Pretoria utilises an artificial wetland to purify contaminated water from its laboratories before it is used for irrigation. According to Alan Batchelor who was responsible for the design of the wetland, 13 new birds associated with water habitats settled in the area within a year of its completion. The wetland functions as a series of cells, each with a different function. Polluted water enters an ‘anaerobic pond’ which encourages precipitation of heavy metals, from here it flows through an ‘aerobic pond’ where other metals are oxidised and then through vegetated filter strips until it eventually reaches an ‘open water pond’.

Blesbokspruit

Rand Water has embarked on a Work for Water campaign to promote the principle of conserving water. In Gauteng, the Blesbokspruit is of particular importance to Rand Water as it is situated in the Vaal Barrage - a potable water reservoir used for supplying water to more than 12 million consumers in and near the Gauteng region. Blesbokspruit is the river and wetland area near Springs which made headline news during 1996 when the Grootvlei Mine was responsible for its pollution. This river has had to cope with extensive and rapid development over the last few decades. Industries, informal settlements and agricultural activities contribute to the heavy loads of poor water discharges.

"The Blesbokspruit is under serious threat in terms of poor water quality and excessive water quantity (discharged by the mine) which in turn has had an affect on the animal and plant life of the area," says Marc de Fontaine, pollution control officer at Rand Water. The ‘polluter pays’ principle should be enforced, but that could take a few years to become law. In the meantime, it is hoped that all those responsible for impacting on the river will be made to feel part of, and have ownership of, the entire system in order to develop a well thought-out management strategy towards pollution prevention and control.

Fontaine heads the drive to conserve the wetland with the help of the Blesbokspruit Forum. The Forum’s aims are to involve as many interested and affected parties as possible to develop a cohesive mechanism to monitor and manage the water quality of the spruit and to put pressure on any organisation responsible for polluting the river.

"Should the water in the Blesbok be polluted, Rand Water will have to expend additional resources in treating and purifying this water, the extra cost of which will unfortunately be passed on to the consumer," says Fontaine. However, cost is not the only motivating factor in this clean-up of wetlands and rivers, Rand Water also sees it as its responsibility to prevent pollution as well as to assist the people of Gauteng with managing water quality so that they can benefit from a healthier and cleaner environment. "In terms of our Water Wise campaign, Rand Water aims to make each and every citizen, within its area of supply, water conscious to the point that water conservation becomes part of their everyday lives."

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1997 EPPIC AWARDS - RECONCILING CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The finalists for the 1997 EPPIC (Environmental Planning Professions Interdisciplinary Committee) National Premium Award presented their entries at the World Environment Day Symposium held in Midrand on 4 June. This feature focuses on the three finalists: Lesotho Highlands Delivery Tunnel North: Alusaf (Pty) Ltd: Hillside Smelter Project; and Kronenzicht: Sandy Bay Development. These projects have made every attempt to reconcile development with the environment.

Alusaf Hillside Smelter – EPPIC National Premium Award Winner 1997

Client: Alusaf

Environmental consultants: Pelican Joint Venture (UCT Environmental Evaluation Unit and CSIR Environmental Services)

Architects: RFB Consulting Architects

Landscape architects: Gouws Uys & White

Landscape contractor: Leitch Landscapes

When Alusaf proposed the development of a new aluminium smelter in Richards Bay during 1991, adhering to the core value of excellence in Integrated Environmental Management was a major priority. Through the use of a site selection process, public participation, the expertise of environmental consultants, environmentally friendly technology and a sound environmental monitoring programme, the developmental vision became a reality in the form of a project manifesting environmental sensitivity.

Conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment for a project of such magnitude is a major task. The Department of Environmental Affairs’ and Council for the Environment’s Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) Guidelines provided a framework for the study executed by Pelican Joint Venture (PJV) - a combined team of consultants from the Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU) at the University of Cape Town and the CSIR Environmental Services (now Environmentek).

Many changes, sometimes at high cost, were made to the original plans in order to adhere to the recommendations of the EIA. Although Alusaf originally preferred Site E as the most cost effective location, Site D was the one eventually selected to accommodate the environmental concerns raised in the EIA. Alusaf also selected the Pechiney Technology used in France for its smelter as this is regarded as the most efficient and environmentally acceptable aluminium smelting technology available in the world.

Impacts

The EIA report identified all the possible biophysical and socio- economic impacts and classified them according to ‘impact magnitude’ and ‘impact significance’, while also giving alternatives to mitigate the identified impacts. ‘Impact magnitude’ refers to the size of the impact (usually quantifiable) and ‘impact significance’ is an assessment of the importance of an impact. ‘Impact mitigation’ is a way of reducing negative impacts by not undertaking, or modifying, certain actions; rehabilitating the affected environment; or providing substitute resources or environments. The size of an impact (‘impact magnitude’) was firstly identified, then the possible mitigation measures were investigated and finally, depending on whether appropriate mitigation measures were found, the significance of the impact was determined.

The consultants identified four types of biophysical impacts: solid waste treatment and disposal, liquid effluent disposal and treatment, emissions to the atmosphere and impacts on fauna and flora. Most of these impacts were found to be of low significance should the necessary mitigation steps be taken - for example fluoride fall-out from atmospheric emissions could contaminate stormwater run-off. However, available information showed that the first 16 mm of run-off from industrial sites contains the highest concentrations of pollution. As a mitigation measure, Alusaf has constructed a retention dam to catch the first 16 mm and dilute any chemical contents in the first flush of stormwater, before the water is discharged into the natural water courses.

Gaseous fluoride and sulphur dioxide emissions to the atmosphere posed the most important potential impact and the level of atmospheric emissions was therefore one of the most important factors in determining the preferred site. The existing smelter was also contributing to emision levels and had to be upgraded to prevent the cumulative impact from being severely high. Although gaseous fluoride emissions cannot affect human health, they could injure vegetation (leaves could develop yellow edges) which would have had a negative effect in residential areas. Emissions would have exceeded the guidelines set out to prevent injury of plants in residential areas around Site E (the site preferred by Alusaf), however at Site D (the selected site) only industrial areas would be affected.

In terms of vegetation, the loss of the swamp forest (of high conservation status) and wetland habitat on Site E was considered to be significant sub-regionally. On Site D, the loss of swamp forest also posed a problem - however, this wetland area was conserved in the final construction.

Socio-economic impacts included, amongst others: visual impact, noise levels, odours, accident potential, traffic congestion, increased competition for resources, pressure on housing availability and increase in social disruption.

The visual impact for Site D (the selected site) was considered highly significant from certain roads, but of medium significance from residential and commercial areas. In mitigation Alusaf had to use suitable colours for cladding, develop a landscaping and tree planting plan and design a plant lighting system to minimise glare.

The value of the IEM process is illustrated in this project, where Alusaf selected an alternative site which meant higher construction and operational costs, but which was more sustainable in being less harmful to the environment.

Monitoring guidelines

Integrated Environmental Management does not stop at site selection and the EIA also provided monitoring guidelines which were used to ensure that both the construction and operation of the smelter would adhere to certain environmental standards. These include monitoring the sulphur content of raw materials arriving at the smelter, the design of buildings to provide for instrumentation to monitor airborne emissions, the quantity and quality of water effluent - and on-going social well-being. The results of the environmental monitoring programme are recorded in an appropriate register and summarised in an annual report. An external environmental audit has to be done and the results made available to interested parties.

Kronenzicht–Sandy Bay – EPPIC National Premium Award finalist 1997

ABSA Devco achieved a 'win-win' situation between conservation and development

The environmental team:

Client: ABSA Devco

Town and regional planners, landscape architects and facilitators of IEM procedure: The Planning Partnership

Civil and Electrical Engineers: V3

Main contractors: Power Construction

Landscape contractors: Real Landscapes

Kronenzicht-Sandy Bay, a 266 ha site, extending from the white dunes of Hout Bay, over the neck to Sandy Bay beach and the slopes of the Karbonkelberg, has been the subject of controversy for more than 30 years. Development applications have ranged from a holiday resort in 1958 to a township of more than 2 000 units in 1975 for which development rights were granted. However, these lapsed as they were not exercised.

During 1990, Bankorp Properties (now ABSA Devco) resolved to finalise the issue by preparing a final development proposal and commissioning The Planning Partnership to provide input.

The project team submitted the first rezoning application to construct 300 houses on the dunes above Hout Bay in December 1992, but as in so many previous cases, the proposal was met with resistance (mainly because interested and affected parties had not been asked for input). A public meeting in February 1993 convinced the developers to withdraw the proposal. They then embarked on a consultative public participation process, comprising seven meetings over a six month period, and decided to undertake an EIA which would be included in the final development application. The public meetings focused on a whole list of issues, but in retrospect it is clear that there was only one main issue - the visual effect of the development on the dunes. Most other concerns tended to be forgotten once the main issue had been resolved.

The functioning of a headland by-pass dune system presented a significant ‘secondary’ concern - to conserve the dunes. Historically, a migratory dune-field had existed between Hout Bay and Sandy Bay. Under the influence of the dry summer south-easterly winds, this dune-field moved past the Karbonkelberg mountain headland. Portions of the original system were also blown up against fairly steep slopes of the mountain, which led to this system being classified as one of only seven ‘climbing-falling’ dune systems on the South African coast (Tinley. 1985. Coastal Dunes of South Africa, CSIR)

Development of the Hout Bay harbour and North Shore area led to the dune system’s source of sand being cut off. Eventually invasive Acacia species stabilised the dune-field as sand movement became less. Today the open sand represents only 20% of the original system and the CSIR has confirmed that the headland by-pass system had been de-activated. Although sand could still get past the township development and vegetated areas of Hout Bay, Sandy Bay has reached its own equilibrium and no longer relies on a land-based source of sediment to replace losses caused by storms and high-tide wave action.

A number of alternative development options were listed and assessed after the main issues had been identified. Many groups insisted on the ‘no development’ option, but it was clear that a ‘limited development’ option would offer the only reasonable path to a ‘win-win’ solution. When the developer, consultants and public agreed to develop only 16,5ha below the sand dunes and to donate the balance of the property to an appropriate conservation body for the benefit of the public, all opposition fell away.

In order for the project to be approved in December 1994, the consultants prepared a development plan, comprising a layout plan, an architectural design manual, landscaping plan and an Environmental Management Plan, together with the EIA - which comprised a record of the public participation process, specialist studies and review reports as well as an environmental contract, including the appointment of an environmental control officer.

ABSA Devco donated the remainder of the property to the WWF(SA) and provided close to R2 million for the management of the site. The practical management of the nature area will be undertaken by the National Parks Board.

According to The Planning Partnership, a number of valuable lessons were learnt during the project, amongst others:

• To identify the primary issues of concern (in this case the preservation of: the nudist beach, the integrity of the Cape Peninsula mountain chain and the Hout Bay dunes - the remains of a headland bypass system)
• That the developer should attend meetings to be exposed to the feelings of the community
• To limit the size of meetings to no more than 30 persons
• That IEM should remain a flexible set of guidelines to be adapted to specific circumstances
• To take accurate minutes of meetings in order to compile a comprehensive record of proceedings. These serve to bind the parties to their undertakings and assist the authorities in decision making when the final proposal is submitted.

It was difficult to determine which criteria to use to assess the relative importance of input from different stake holders in the public participation process. What weight should the opinions of the silent majority carry against those of certain vocal individuals? And what about those left out of the process? Christo Kannenberg of The Planning Partnership believes that it is the responsibility of the elected local councillors, representing the public, to take the decisions by attempting to take a balanced view of all the conflicting interests and concerns expressed. The guiding ethic must be the goal of IEM: to ensure that the social benefits of a proposal outweigh the social costs.

Kannenberg summarises the success of the project: "The ‘win-win’ situation achieved between conservation and development can only serve to reassure business that sound environmental management need not necessarily affect the bottom line, but can in fact enhance the profitability whilst also improving the corporate image and promoting conservation of the environment.

Highlands Delivery Tunnel North – EPPIC National Premium Award finalist 1997

The spirit of the Delivery Tunnel North was to leave a net impact on the environment, rather than merely to limit the damage

The environmental team:

Client: Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority

Consultants: HDTC (Highlands Delivery Tunnel Consultants) - a consortium of Keeve Steyn, Ninham Shand, SRK and VKE

Main contractor: HMC Tunneling Venture

The planning of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project started in 1982 and Phase 1 has been under construction since 1986. Its objective is to supply water from the water rich Lesotho Highlands to the urbanised and ‘dry’ Gauteng Province, where 60% of the available water goes to domestic use. At the same time, the scheme provides hydro-electric power to Lesotho. The Delivery Tunnel North, one of four such tunnels, comprises the last component in a system that transfers water from the Katse Dam basin in the Malibamatso River valley to the Ash River - a tributary of the Vaal - just north of Clarens. Construction of the tunnel began in February 1991 and was completed in September 1996, with the rehabilitation of the site areas completed by March 1997.

In 1988 the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of its ‘total approach’ to the environment, comprising what is now known as Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) procedures. This initiative was undertaken four years before the publishing of the guidelines for IEM procedures. Rob Fraser, project manager with the Highlands Delivery Tunnel Consultants (HDTC) - a consortium of four engineering companies comments: "Environmental considerations played a major role in the planning and construction of this tunnel. Commitment of finance to the environment totalled some R4,7 million, or nearly 1% of the construction cost, or 4% of the surface works expenditure."

The engineering consultants prepared an Environmental Management Plan at the start of construction, which served as an authoritative document throughout the contract to combine all relevant documentation, evaluate environmental performance, define environmental monitoring, strategy and remedial procedures and provide a basis for environmental auditing. Aspects that were dealt with ranged from protection of palaeontological remains (fossils and dinosaur bones) to the monitoring of tunnel effluents, water treatment and air pollution.

Public participation played an important part in the project through meetings with interested groups such as farmers and local councillors. In the local towns of Fouriesburg and Clarens/Kgubetswana, the TCTA improved the local infrastructure by providing permanent sporting facilities in accordance with the spirit of the Delivery Tunnel North which was to leave a net positive impact on the environment rather than merely to limit the damage.

The TCTA also involved the public and local interest groups in the formal environmental process through an independent Environmental Monitoring Committee (EMC). The EMC met quarterly and gave input into the critical assessment of the site management during construction. Professor Manie van der Schyff, who was residing in the area, served as chairman and gave input into all aspects involving flora, including the selection of appropriate plants and grass types for rehabilitation purposes. Furthermore, Barend Smit, the full time environmental officer, monitored and controlled all site activities in accordance with the EMP.

The integrated environmental approach facilitated development for the benefit of the people of Lesotho and Gauteng as well as the affected local communities, while at the same time conserving the environment. These are some of the positive results:

• almost no lasting adverse impact was caused during the construction stage
• palaeontological remains near the sites were removed by specialists prior to work commencing
• water quality in the rivers was maintained through proper and expensive treatment of effluents in formalised and controlled ponds
• air pollution and dust was significantly reduced through the use of high quality equipment and water sprays
• noise hazards were monitored - which persuaded workers to be more diligent in the use of ear protection
• extensive groundwater monitoring has shown restored water levels following initial losses to tunnel inflows, achieved through comprehensive tunnel grouting programmes
• the tunnel boring machine’s water was 97% recycled
• topsoil was effectively stockpiled for later rehabilitation processes
• spoil dumps were properly designed and landscaped to blend in with the natural topography and typical landforms of the area
• rehabilitation of cut and fill slopes was undertaken progressively throughout construction, ensuring that by the end significant vegetation had been established, which also prevented early erosion of such slopes
• HMC Tunnelling Venture - the main contractors - fenced off their construction areas and these were progressively rehabilitated.

Rehabilitation at the Delivery Tunnel North was so successful that even the informed observers’ reactions were: "We cannot believe that there was a major construction site here!"

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WATERFORD ESTATE - COMFORTABLE URBAN LIVING

Waterford Estate in many ways provides an example of how a mixed use urban area should be planned. Gerald Garner visits this estate which manifests the 90’s dream of comfortable and secure urban living.

Professional team:

Client: Nedcor Properties

Architects and urban designers: Archimedia Architects; (Crèche and future office park): ARC

Town and regional planners: EVS

Quantity surveyors: Schneider & Dreyer

Landscape architects: John Drummond

Main contractor: P+R Construction

Landscape contractor: Countryline Landscapes

Waterford Estate, a landscaped township development next to the Klein Jukskei River in Fourways is a ‘small city’ in its own right. Comprising a mix of land uses - 200 residential stands, townhouses, a nursery school, an office park, commercial and recreational facilities - the estate presents an opportunity for the entire family to live, relax and work within its boundaries. Various products and price ranges enable elderly parents to have a carefree lifestyle offered by cluster homes, whilst living within the same secure neighbourhood as their families and grand children. Similarly, the young student or professional may choose to live near the family home.

In concept, houses and other buildings are placed to either overlook tree-lined avenues or green open spaces (the Klein Jukskei River, an adjoining stream, or a tree-lined park area which is a visual extension of the entrance road). The main axis, leading from the entrance gate terminates in Stonebridge Park - complete with picnic tables, a tennis court, an entertainment ‘pavilion’ and an equipped playground - which overlooks the river. This park serves as the main public space and forms part of a continuous strip of open land between the river and river frontage stands. Residents can access a nature trail next to the river through a pedestrian gate in the steel palisade fence. Nedcor Properties have funded a programme to remove the invasive trees and litter from the river in keeping with the natural and indigenous theme of the development. The nature trail forms part of a regional trail, managed by the Northern Metropolitan Local Council, which connects with the main Jukskei River. Landscape architect John Drummond explains that the developers acted on the ‘good neighbours’ premise in cleaning up the river. However, the problem lies in the management of urban rivers - it doesn’t help to remove the litter downstream, only to have more litter washed down from upstream during the next flood.

The development is significant in that the developer included landscaping as part of the initial infrastructure phase. Steven de Klerk of Nedcor Properties comments: "The landscape adds value to the development, it creates a tranquil atmosphere and a positive first impression for potential buyers." The landscaping complements the existing vegetation in that mainly indigenous plants have been used. However, Drummond has experienced some problems with the availability of indigenous plants. The nursery industry could not supply all the required indigenous plants, and although he agrees that landscape architects should try to give nurseries advance warning concerning the plants they require, more indigenous plants need to be grown so that they are more widely available. Emphasis has also been placed on retaining existing trees, especially near the river.

In order to ensure that individual developments do not detract from the overall tranquillity and beauty, the Waterford Estate Homeowners Association (WEHA) oversees the ‘architectural guidelines and estate rules’. WEHA has to approve building plans before construction on any property within the estate can commence. Residents must pay a R2000 sidewalk deposit before building commences, which is used by the WEHA to cover costs such as replanting of grass and trees damaged during building operations, or the removal of building rubble and the repair of kerbing and roads. This ensures that the landscaping, which was implemented at high cost, is properly maintained.

Certain stands are classified as ‘environmental stands’ - normally those with river frontage. Trees on these stands are protected and the land owner must get special permission to remove any of them. A building line of 15 meters between the river and any structures must also be adhered to.

Another architectural guideline, meant to enhance the quality of the urban environment, is the ‘treatment of stand boundaries’. Fences are generally seen as a negative urban element, hiding attractive facades from the public eye and reducing street surveillance from houses, thereby creating unsafe streets. Although Waterford is a completely fenced in security village due to the current crime problem, it is at least possible to do without six feet high walls around individual properties. The architectural guidelines therefore discourage solid walls higher than 1,2 m and prefer ‘low picket-style’ steel palisade or trellis fencing. Owners are encouraged to use indigenous vegetation in their gardens. The sales brochure even contains a list of suitable plants for Waterford.

Although Waterford is exclusive in essence, breaking down the greater urban fabric by creating a fenced off barrier in the urban environment, the main principle applied in the planning and construction is significant, even for low income neighbourhood developments: create meaningful public open spaces and work with nature, not against it.

Landscape construction wins SALI Award

Countryline Landscapes, the landscape contractor at Waterford Estate won a South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) Merit Award in 1997 for the installation of the landscape. Richard Wynberg of Countryline describes the clearing of the alien vegetation and preparation of a walking trail next to the river as the biggest challenge of the project. Because it was impossible to plan every detail of the trail beforehand (the alien vegetation had to be removed first), the contractor had to use a lot of initiative in establishing the route.

A crèche with a difference

In keeping with the approach to cater for the entire family, a crèche facility is available at Waterford Estate. The crèche, designed by ARC Architects, is built around a central courtyard - not only to create a safe area for the children to play in, but so as not to obstruct the sewage servitude which crosses through the middle of the site. Architect Sharon Sindlay describes the design approach as "little architecture - relating the spaces to little people." Mosaic paving patterns, colourful walls and ‘miniature toilets’ cater for the specific needs of small children. Windowsills are also lower than standards to enable children to see through the windows.

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ROODEPOORT SPORTS COMPLEX - A RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Roodepoort Sports Complex, set in a landscape of ‘rolling’ embankments, a stream and lake, against the backdrop of a natural ridge, is a multi-functional facility.

Project team:

Architects: Celliers Greyvenstein (earlier Celliers Pretorius)

Civil engineers: BKS

Mechanical engineers: IPES

Electrical engineers: A van der Walt

Quantity surveyor: Swart Coetzee

Landscape architects: Gouws Uys and White

Main contractor: DW Construction

When the Roodepoort Town Council decided to relocate the existing Rand Reefs Sports Stadium in 1991, Ruimsig was chosen as the most appropriate venue. Located next to the existing Country Club golf course, the 100 ha site presented the opportunity to design a multi-functional sports complex, based on a holistic sports plan catering amongst other uses for rugby, athletics, soccer, cricket, tennis, netball, equestrian activities and water sports.

Wikus Celliers, the project architect, Hendri Gelderblom, the civil engineer, and Eugene Albertse of the Roodepoort Council toured to various sports stadiums overseas to decide on the most appropriate type of development for Roodepoort. The client was particularly impressed with the soft and free flowing lines and forms of the Munich Olympic Park.

The masterplan reflects the residential character of the surrounding neighbourhood. At the centre of the masterplan is a curving 10 m wide boulevard which serves as a directional element, orientating visitors as to their location. The boulevard which serves as a pedestrian, cycling and equestrian route, can also be utilised for a mini-public transport system during big sports meetings. "A tractor with a few trailers could transport spectators between the various venues," says Lucas Uys, landscape architect on the project.

At present, only the main rugby / athletics stadium and lake have been completed. However, the footprints of all the sportsfields are in place as all the earthworks have been completed as part of phase 1. Subsequent phases will see the completion of the other sportsfields and also an indoor stadium. Free flowing curved lines and forms on a two dimensional level and grassed berms on a three dimensional level create the relaxed recreational atmosphere that the client specifically requested after visiting Munich. Strong defined entrances, created by tree-lined avenues, further emphasise the identity or sense of place and provide a memorable experience for any visitor.

Celliers of Celliers Greyvenstein Architects (then Celliers Pretorius) explains the design approach for the grandstand: "The structure reflects the rural atmosphere of the surroundings. The roof profile, for example, is broken up to appear like that of a residential building and relates to the design of the nearby Roodepoort golf course clubhouse."

The grandstand is built in an L shape and spectators have a wonderful view over the track and field as well as the ‘blue strip’ or lake which caters for watersports such as canoeing. "The stadium is placed right on the edge of the water so as to emphasise the recreational atmosphere," says Uys. A wetland system cleanses the water before it enters the lake.

A tower gives identity to the main pavilion and directs visitors to the main entrance. The stadium is ‘spectator friendly’, as is the trend with many stadiums these days (Centurion and Pilditch Stadiums in Pretoria), with grassed berms making it possible for a family to have a picnic while watching the athletics and to relax for the whole day. A ‘moat’ between the grandstand and the athletics track provides space for photographers and television crews without obscuring the views of spectators.

The grandstand will eventually be linked to an indoor sports stadium, possibly with a 200 m indoor athletics track as no such a track exists in South Africa at present. Facilities such as toilets, change rooms, press and entertainment areas will be shared between the two linked buildings. This maximum usage of infrastructure ensures massive cost savings as facilities do not have to be duplicated in the two buildings.

The masterplan provides for housing on site to make the development commercially viable. "This concept is based on examples such as Palm Springs in California where 85 golf courses exist with housing villages incorporated into the developments," says Celliers. The concept is to establish various villages such as a tennis village with tennis courts surrounded by houses. The tennis courts form central multi-purpose squares with a soft landscape surrounding the houses. The same concept can be applied to a bowling village or with equestrian activities where houses overlook a show jumping arena. The whole site works as a multi-functional park with jogging, cycling and horse riding routes intertwined with sports facilities creating what Celliers refers to as a ‘landscape arena’.

Celliers attributes the success of the project to the close co-operation between the architects and landscape architects - the buildings aren’t designed in isolation, but are placed in the landscape to form focal points in the park-like surroundings.