| |
Contents
of June 1999
EDITORIAL
NEWS
INSPIRATION
INSULT
BOOK REVIEW
TREE OF THE ISSUE
FEATURES
Townscape Millennium
Public Spaces Competition
The 1999
South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) Awards
Irrigation dam at the George Golf
Course
Environmental
Rehabilitation at Prince's Grant Estate
Environmental issues at the Welkom
Raceway
-----
EDITORIAL
A number of
the articles in this issue deal with the eradication of invasive alien plants. Invasive
plants have an enormous negative impact on both the environment and the economy. Although
figures are not yet available for South Africa, estimates show that plant invasions cause
losses the equivalent of some R10, 5 billion to the Australian economy, on an annual
basis, and of almost R35 billion to the economy of the United States. The most serious
negative impacts of these invasions are reductions in available water supplies; loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem resilience; loss of potentially productive land and grazing
land; increased damage by fire because of increased ‘fuel load’; erosion
following fires in heavily invaded areas; and the siltation of dams.
The DWAF
alien clearing initiative, Working for Water, was originally instated to conserve water
resources but has grown into a remarkable integrated conservation and development
programme with significant social benefits. Guy Preston of the Working for Water
programme, and special advisor to Kader Asmal, gave a talk at the Vaal Branch meeting of
the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIAsa) in May, where he said that
Working for Water was by far the biggest programme of its kind, in relation to GDP,
worldwide. He commented on the astonishing energy and drive of Kader Asmal who was the
architect of and is the driving force behind Working for Water.
Preston said
that some 10 million hectares of land were infested with invading aliens in SA - the
equivalent of an impenetrable stand about the size of Gauteng and doubling every 15 years.
He called this the most serious environmental problem not only in SA but throughout the
world.
This issue
of the journal reflects a visit to urban areas along SA’s renowned Garden Route -
Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay - and further up to the north coast of
KwaZulu-Natal. Coincidentally, golf courses seem to dominate the issue but their
importance to the urban environment in the form of open space and preservation of
biodiversity can never be underestimated, which is why it is so heartening to see many of
the courses now taking environmental matters seriously - particularly, the eradication of
invasives.
The last of
our Townscape Millennium Public Spaces Competition finalists are in this issue and there
is a final opportunity for our subscribers to help us with the judging of this important
competition, the results of which will be announced in the next issue.
-----
NEWS
SEA Guidelines available for comment
To ensure
that all stakeholders and role players have an opportunity to participate in the
development of the Strategic Impact Assessment (SEA) guidelines, the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) invites comment on the ‘Guideline Document’
for ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment in South Africa’ issued by the CSIR,
which is now in its first draft. In the Guidelines, SEA is defined as a process of
integrating the concept of sustainability into strategic decision-making.
The SEA
Guideline Document is intended to assist practitioners, decision-makers and interested and
affected parties involved in undertaking and reviewing SEAs in SA. The aim is to promote
best practice in SEA - to ensure that SEA is effective and benefits communities and the
environment.
Robberg declared
a National Monument
In the
Government Gazette of 5 February 1999, the Robberg Nature Reserve, including all the
archaeological sites, Plettenberg Bay District, were declared to be a National Monument.
According to Joanna Marx, assistant regional manager of the National Monuments Council,
Western Cape, the Council makes a practice of declaring sites of natural value that also
have an important cultural aspect so that they can be ‘preserved, protected and
maintained in the national interest’. Declaration as a National Monument was proposed
by Dr Janette Deacon. The nature reserve is well managed by Cape Nature Conservation (CNC)
and the infrastructure provides ideal conditions for monitoring and management of the
archaeological sites. The Communications section of CNC is preparing a leaflet about the
peninsula.
The
archaeological sites on the Robberg Peninsula comprise an exceptionally rich concentration
of open sites and at least 20 caves and rock shelters. They contain evidence of occupation
dating back to the Earlier, Middle and Later Stone Age. The sites on the peninsula and
adjacent to it include the largest concentration of painted stones so far reported in
Africa; a rock shelter with rock paintings on the wall (rare at coastal sites); the
burials of more than 50 individuals; the name site (first site where artefacts of a
particular type were described) of the ‘Robberg Industry’ of the Later Stone
Age; evidence of lower sea levels in the Last Glacial Maximum; and a large number of bone
and shell artefacts and ornaments.
One of the
largest sites, Nelson Bay Cave, was excavated during the 1960s and ‘70s by Ray
Inskeep and Richard Klein. The Cave has been developed as a tourist and educational
facility with displays and a boardwalk. One of the significant aspects of the long
sequence of Later Stone Age deposits found in the cave, is that the faunal remains
associated with the artefacts are particularly well preserved and are of special
importance for the reconstruction of the environment of this part of the coast during
glacial times.
The new
National Heritage Resources Act, No 25 of 1999, was published in the Government Gazette on
28 April 1999, while the date of implementation will be published within a year. This Act
will replace the present National Monuments Act.
I&Aps lodge
objection to development on Thesen’s Island
The
Interested and Affected Parties sent a letter of appeal, concerning the marina development
on Thesen’s Island in the Knysna lagoon, to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(DEAT), Pallo Jordan. The result of the appeal was that a meeting was held between
representitives of the DEAT, Cape Planning and Development, Cape Nature Conservation and
South African National Parks.
The results
were as follows:
•
The rezoning of the
island (from industrial to residential) stands; but, because the area is so sensitive, the
DEAT has insisted that developers halt any further progress until they have completed a
satisfactory new set of environmental impact data.
•
As building has not
yet started, the development is subject to both Section 21 of the Environmental
•
conservation Act and
the Outeniqua Sensitive Areas extension.
•
The developers must
re-advertise and focus on the fact that there will be massive canal construction involving
dredging both under and above the high tide mark in a sensitive lagoon system.
•
The developers must
allow enough time for the public to comment.
Norms and
standards of permanent residential structures
The
introduction of national norms and standards in respect of permanent residential
structures, based on the increased subsidies, was announced by the Minister of Housing in
December 1998 with the implementation date being set as 1 April 1999.
Under the
section entitled: ‘Environmentally efficient housing’, it is stated that: The
design of the water supply and the specification of devices such as taps, showers and
toilets must be in accordance with the aims of the National Water Conservation Campaign.
This will
not only reduce the householder’s use of a scarce resource, it will also reduce the
monthly bill for the water used. Reference should be made to the document entitled A to Z
of Water Saving Devices published by the SABS and JASWIC, for information on appropriate
devices such as: water conserving taps, low flow rate shower heads and dual flush toilet
cisterns.
"Special
attention should be paid to the water saving potential of toilet suites that are designed
as a unit to operate efficiently and safely on a standard flush of 4, 5 litres instead of
the current norm of 9 litres. Those suites that are covered by an Agrément Certificate
can be specified with confidence."
The Norms
and Standards also take thermal efficiency into account stating that there are several
principles that if followed will enhance the thermal efficiency of a dwelling at minimal
cost:
•
The longer axis of the
dwelling should be orientated so that it runs as near east/west as possible.
•
The dwelling should be
compact in plan with the rooms that are used most and the major areas of glazing, placed
on the northern side of the building, to allow solar heat to penetrate the glazing during
the winter months.
•
The roof overhang to
the northern wall should be sufficient to shade the windows from midday summer sunshine.
•
Windows facing east
and west should be limited in number and confined in area to the minimum required for
daylight and ventilation.
Mossel Bay Golf
Estate
The site of
the old Mossel Bay Golf Course is exceptional with its undulating landscape, its sea and
mountain views and large tracts of undisturbed coastal limestone fynbos. The course is
elevated above the sea and there are, in fact, sea views from every tee. Inside
Investments recently won the municipal tender to develop the land around the course into a
housing estate of 300 erven, facing the course and the sea, and 70 townhouses. As part of
the project, the existing golf course is being upgraded emphasisng the characteristics of
a links course. The golf course architect is Danie Obermeyer of Golfscape. The Clubhouse,
dating from 1905, will be renovated in the near future.
Landscape
architects Brian and Liesel Stokes of Brink Stokes Marais and Moolman are responsible for
the environmental planning. There is an Environmental Management Plan in place and this is
overseen by an Environmental Management Committee comprising representitives of the golf
club management, the Wildlife and Environment Society, Cape Nature Conservation, the
municipality and the developers.
Large tracts
of undisturbed fynbos are being retained. It is largely areas of the site that were
invaded by Port Jackson that have been cleared for the housing. The Port Jackson has been
chopped out and removed from the site and this has provided job opportunities and a fuel
source for local people. The topsoil is being stockpiled during building operations and
any noteworthy plants on the building sites have been removed to a holding nursery, while
areas of senescent fynbos have been burnt to regenerate the vegetation.
Amongst the
plants in the holding nursery that will be returned largely to the communal areas of the
site, such as the road verges and out-of-play areas on the course, are a variety of Buchu
species, Erica species and a great many Restios with Thamnochortus spp dominating, coastal
Phylica spp, Gnidia squarrosa, Passerina rigida and a large variety of bulbs including
Brunsvigia orientalis and Albuca spp.
Liesel
Stokes commented that the breeding patterns of the guinea fowl, duiker and tortoises on
site had quite clearly not been disrupted by the development, in fact they were loving the
larger availability of water provided by the new irrigation system. The project links in
with the coastal nature reserve on the sea boundary and the landscape architects have been
asked to assist in the management of this area which will also involve the construction of
boardwalks.
A tree for each
home
The National
Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency (NURCHA) plans to put a garden tree within reach
of every family on every project backed by NURCHA guarantees. Developing housing means
more than simply constructing housing units. NURCHA's intervention goes beyond financing
guarantees to include quality of life issues.
The
Vosloorus community is leading the way in a national programme, organised by NURCHA, Trees
for Africa and the respective developers, to bring colour and shade to affordable housing
developments. Two hundred trees were planted by the householders at the first tree
planting ceremony and a further 410 at the Vosloorus Ext 14B project completed by Aura
Developers and Nu-Way Developers.
Trees for
Africa provides indigenous shade trees at exceptionally low prices. NURCHA and Trees for
Africa each contribute R10 per family, leaving the householder to find only R10. Some
developers have decided to pay the householderŐs R10 as a contribution towards greening.
Aura
Developers have years of experience in involving communities in their developments. This
takes the form of organising and monitoring emerging local contractors; creating
employment opportunities for the unskilled and
handicapped
members of the community; and making financial arrangements necessary to stimulate the
economy.
Kirstenbosch
National Botanical Garden, Cape Town
Kirstenbosch,
established in 1913, is situated on the slopes of Table Mountain and forms part of the
recently proclaimed Cape Peninsula National Park. The total area of Kirstenbosch is 528 ha
with 36 ha developed as a garden and the remainder managed as a floral reserve with a
variety of walking and hiking trails which are well-constructed and signposted. The garden
has magnificent natural assets in the form of imposing mountain backdrops and numerous
mountain streams. Plants indigenous to southern Africa (more than 6 000 species) are grown
in informal layouts with hard landscaping elements dominated by dry stone walls and
sandstone cobble walkways. Plantings are done according to chosen themes, which gives
individual character to each section of the garden and ensures diversity. A Water-Wise
demonstration garden has recently been completed - funded by DWAF. All building
development is being restricted to the urban fringe along Rhodes Drive.
Six plant
species in the garden are extinct in nature and 115 are endangered, while a further 156
are classified as rare. The estate provides a habitat for a variety of smaller animals
such as the rare Cape Fox, Rooikat, Genet and Grysbok. A historic feature in the garden is
Colonel Bird’s Bath which was built in the mid 1800s.
Kirstenbosch
receives extensive support from the Botanical Society of SA and major capital projects
such as the recently completed Botanical Society Conservatory is an example of their
fund-raising abilities. The members also run a highly successful annual plant sale. An
active hacking group assists with the control of alien vegetation. The Rotarians organise
the annual Carols by Candlelight which is attended by 20 000 people.
The estate
is visited by 600 000 people annually. The garden offers an extensive outreach programme
through the Goldfields Environmental Education Centre, which is dedicated to improving
environmental awareness amongst less privileged communities. Many well-supported events
take place in the gardens such as the Appletiser Summer Sunset Concerts which extend over
a four month period and attract 50 000 people per season. The memorial bench system is
strongly supported by the public and has provided the garden with 250 high quality teak
benches.
Kirstenbosch
has a staff complement of 170, which includes 10 horticulturists. All maintenance work is
done by the garden staff and the characteristic sandstone wall and cobble work is done by
the gardenŐs own stonemasons. Aside from the Water-Wise garden which promotes gardening
with minimal use of water, irrigation of the Protea, Erica and Restio gardens has been
reduced to a minimum. All public and staff facilities have been retro-fitted with dual
flush toilet cisterns and all the waste generated in the buildings is processed through
the garden’s own recycling depot.
Tee-Up for Green
Environmental
programme for golf courses
Environmental
considerations are a fundamental part of the development and management of golf courses.
The golfing industry has the opportunity to conserve the biodiversity with which it is
entrusted. Vegetation and animals in the out-of-play areas of some clubs are of high
conservation value - the Kaffrarian thicket with cycads of the Fish River Sun golf course;
the coastal forest of the Richards bay and East London golf courses; antbears on the Royal
Port Alfred golf course and ‘ouvolk’ on the Petrus Steyn golf course - to name
but a few. Vegetation such as grassland or fynbos on a number of courses may comprise
plant communities that are rare or highly threatened due to urban and agricultural
development.
The
environmental consulting practice, Ecosense, has adapted the ‘Committed to Green’
environmental management programme of the European Golf Association into a South African
version called ‘Tee-Up for Green’. The programme comprises two elements: an
Environmental Management System which allows the greenkeeper to integrate environmental
management with the day-to-day running of his course; and a golf course nature reserve
system, through which conservation-worthy attributes of the club’s out-of-play areas
may be registered and managed as a nature reserve.
The Wildlife
and Environment Society in the Cape has appointed a representative to investigate the
environmental issues associated with golf courses and has expressed the opinion that
Tee-Up for Green may provide a solution. WWF SA is evaluating the programme and the
Botanical Society has expressed a desire to become involved in the development of the
programme. The SA Golfing Tour has endorsed the idea of an Environmental Management System
for golf courses.
-----
INSPIRATION
‘Sizzler on the Roof’
Penthouse
restaurant on industrial building
This ‘Rooftop
Garden Restaurant’ has been built on top of Photoscan’s building in Bertram’s
Road, near Ellis Park in Doornfontein, Johannesburg, by the owner of this colour
reproduction house, Willie Petersen. The architects commented that it was nice to have a
client who wanted something a little different. They decided on a Victorian building
largely because there are many old Victorian buildings in the Doornfontein/Troyeville part
of town and the architects did a lot of research into Victorian buildings. A number of
their ideas came from Johannesburg’s old Park Station.
The existing
building structure determined the positioning of the penthouse columns and the thin
building envelope dictated the interior design. The architects complimented the engineers,
Norman Kaplan and Steve Mackie, on their understanding of Victorian buildings saying that
all the steelwork was structural, in keeping with Victorian times. The architects were
insistent on rolled corrugated iron sheeting for the roof and they had difficulty sourcing
the old aluminium profile columns, but succeeded in the end. Dark green and Burgundy are
the typical colours of Victorian times. The idea of having blinds rather than more solid
walling was the client’s and it means that the facility, cleverly, becomes an outdoor
restaurant, taking advantage of Johannesburg’s marvellous weather, when the blinds
are rolled up and the narrow perimeter gardens become part of the ambience.
Although the
steelwork is not intended to be ornamental, the roof trusses make a striking statement but
the rather fussy clutter of ornamental elements throughout the restaurant detracts
somewhat from what would otherwise be a really inspiring interior. The idea of an open
penthouse restaurant on an existing building is certainly a good one!
-----
INSULT
Bugweed on renowned tourist route
The narrow
gauge, steam train (known as the Choo Choo), that traverses a highly scenic route between
the towns of George and Knysna on the Garden Route, is well-used by both overseas and
local tourists. The start of the trip just out of George station, however, is a serious
disappointment. The train travels through an unsightly forest of Bugweed which blocks the
view completely for a number of kilometers.
Bugweed
(Solanum mauritianum), a native of South America, is a declared noxious weed in South
Africa and a major menace, in the form of dense infestations, which spread rapidly as a
result of extensive seed production and dispersal by birds, to agricultural lands,
forestry plantations and conservation areas. Gardeners in the suburbs of Johannesburg seem
totally unaware of the fact that they have it in their gardens - sometimes it has already
reached the height of a reasonable shade tree and is being retained as such - although it
is certainly not sold by nurseries.
A serious
problem is that certain bird species have developed a preference for the fruit of the
Bugweed, which is so readily available that they no longer extend themselves to find the
fruit of indigenous species and the seeds of the latter are, as a result, not being
distributed.
Although
effective, chemical and mechanical controls are very costly and rapid re-invasion follows
on clearing operations. Permission has very recently been granted to release a biocontrol
agent in the form of a leaf-sucking, lace bug (Gargaphia decoris). Trial releases have
been done in the area around Pietermaritzburg, in the Sabie area and in Pretoria. This
lace bug has a high feeding rate and sucks chlorophyll out of the leaves, causing leaf
drop and stressing the plant. According to Dr Stephan Neser of the Plant Protection
Research Institute, the bug has only been found in the sub-tropical, humid areas of South
America and there is no certainty that it will survive our winters. If the lace bug
manages to establish itself, Working for Water are mass rearing the insect and will be
ready for a big release in spring.
Solanum
mauritianum, the Bugweed, is a declared noxious weed in South Africa.
-----
BOOK REVIEW
‘Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa’
(newly
revised and extended)
Author: Frits van Oudtshoorn
Photographs: Eben van Wyk and Frits van Oudtshoorn
Publisher: Briza Publications
This newly
revised and extended book, available in both English and Afrikaans, is an excellent field
guide to our veld grasses. More than 300 southern African grasses are described and 800
photographs, largely with black backgrounds so that the grass and its various parts are
clearly silhouetted, make it far easier to learn to identify grasses than any other book
has done before this.
The grasses
are grouped according to their inflorescence shape and the identification key (on page 44)
divides the grasses up into 13 different groups each clearly illustrated with a line
drawing showing the type of inflorescence. The book starts with ‘false panicles’
which are branched inflorescences where spathes (modified leaves) protect the younger
parts of the inflorescence - the well-known Rooi Gras, Themeda triandra, which is a climax
grass and an indicator of veld that is in a good condition, falls into this group. The
last group on the chart comprises only one grass, the exotic Kikuyu (Pennisetum
clandestinum) which has no visible inflorescence but instead white filaments appear during
the flowering season. Four different colour codes, each with drawings of the different
inflorescences in this broader grouping, are used to make it easier to page, immediately,
to the right section of the book to identify, for example, a grass with a rounded
unbranched inflorescence such as (pictured above) Stiburus alopecuroides (terracotta
colour code).
Under the
photographs of each grass are a number of botanical and ecological icons. These indicate
perenniality, leaf blade and ligule shape, grazing value, grazing status and plant
succession. The only slight crticism here is that the page which gives the meanings of
these icons is positioned (page 46) so that it cannot be easily found. Both the ‘identification
key’ and the ‘meaning of icons’ would have been better placed, for the
wanderer in the veld, either at the very start or the very end of the book. They are,
however, logically placed for the reader in the section that describes the structure of
grasses.
The habitat
of the plant is carefully described; "Natal Red Top (Melinis repens subsp repens)
grows in disturbed places such as roadsides and old cultivated lands or in sunny dry
places (subsp grandiflora), in all soil types, but especially in well drained soil."
The uses of the plant are described under a separate heading: "Rhodes Grass (Chloris
gayana) is also the perfect grass for stabilising disturbed soil and is generally used to
stabilise exposed soil along new roads."
Again, one
small criticism - the book mentions those grasses, particularly exotics, that have
invasive tendencies – "Kikuyu is unfortunately (because it is such an excellent
lawn, pasture and anti-erosion grass) also an important exotic invader and is encountered
more regularly in natural veld" - and yet there are photographs of one of our most
notorious invader species, Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana), describing it as a popular
ornamental grass, without any warning about the fact that it is encroaching heavily into
river courses, particularly in Gauteng, where it was used, up until recently, to stabilise
mine dumps - and the fact that it is very difficult to eradicate.
The
distribution maps depicting southern Africa, a common aspect of modern field guides, are
always useful - but Van Oudtshoorn has gone a step further and describes the occurrence of
the grass in other parts of Africa and the world. Cynodon dactylon, our common Kweek or
Couch Grass, for instance, occurs in all the parts of the world that have moderate
climates. The features of the grass are in point form and boxed so that they are easily
used when identifying in the veld, as are the careful measurements of culms,
inflorescence, leaf blades, etc.
Everything
has been done to create a user friendly manual and to interest the farmer, hiker or
amateur botanist, who has always avoided the idea of learning about grasses as being too
complicated, in the world of the most important plant family on earth.
-----
TREE OF THE ISSUE
Canthium mundianum
Commonly
called the Rock Alder
Landscape
architect Liesel Stokes of Wilderness has chosen the Rock Alder, Canthium mundianum, as
the Tree of the Issue. Its natural habitat is forest, largely along the eastern and
southern coast of South Africa, where it is an under-storey tree - but it is also found
amongst rocky outcrops in grassland. It is very similar to the Velvet Rock Alder, Canthium
gilfillanii, which is well-known on the Highveld, except that the leaves of the latter are
densely covered in hairs.
Liesel
favours this tree because it is small and upright in stature - between 4 - 7m is its
typical height - and, as she says, there are not many small, upright, sculptural trees
around. "It makes a nice specimen in the home garden with its slender gestalt.
Because it is not a heavy tree, it is ideal for the courtyard garden, with its attractive
white trunk," says Liesel. It also makes a very attractive grouping of five or more,
as can be seen from the photograph taken of this sidewalk planting, done by Liesel about
ten years ago, in the suburb of Fernwood in George.
"When
it is watered and fertilised and planted in well drained, good garden soil, the Rock Alder
tends to grow fast - between 1 - 2m or more per year. The heavy winds and wet soils of
George might cause it to topple and it will not grow in heavy clay, although in well
drained, rocky clay it will be all right. It withstands a considerable amount of frost.
One of its nicest characteristics in the garden is that it fruits prolifically and the
berries (drupes) are favoured by birds. The birds also like its open twiggy structure,
with almost horizontal branches. In George, it is semi-deciduous and grows in semi/full
shade or sun. In colder areas, it is totally deciduous," comments Liesel.
Liesel says
that Canthium mundianum is not readily available and that she has bought the tree from
Witfontein State Forest Nursery in the past, but that has, unfortunately, closed down. She
says that it is still available from Diepwalle State Forest, near Knysna but comments that
commercial nurseries should consider growing the Rock Alder.
In
conclusion, Liesel tells a story from the book ‘Kringe in die Bos’ by Dalene
Mathee. Canthium obovatum (now Psydrax obovata) is another species found in the southern
Cape. It has the common name of ‘Quar’ and is a tall forest tree with a very
straight trunk. Mathee refers to it in her book saying that when the elephants are after
you, you need to look for a Quar. Liesel debates that it might be the almost horizontal
branches that make it easy to climb - or maybe they are very common in the Knysna forests.
Canthium inerme, also found in the coastal forests of the Garden Route, is a spiny tree,
small to medium sized, which is highly favoured by the Knysna Lourie.
-----
FEATURES
Townscape Millennium Public Spaces
Competition
Witwatersrand
National Botanical Garden, Roodepoort
This
exclusively indigenous garden with its adjoining nature reserve (300 ha) was proclaimed as
a Botanical Garden in 1982 and opened to the public in 1986. The garden is open from 08h00
to 17h00, seven days a week. A small entrance fee is charged in an effort to become more
self-sufficient and provide a better facility. There is no charge for members of the
Botanical Society and children under six. Every effort has been made to make the garden
accessible to the disabled. In 1997, 139 021 people visited the garden.
The
Botanical Garden conserves the horizon of the ridge and is an integral link in the major
green belt which comprises the ridge system running from Northcliff to Krugersdorp. The
nature reserve portion is of major conservation importance as it is a classic
representation of a threatened vegetation type which is rapidly being encroached upon by
urban development. Many of the plants in the cultivated areas of the garden are threatened
with extinction in their natural habitat. The garden is rich in birdlife and is home to
the only breeding pair of Black Eagles on the Witwatersrand. The renowned 70 m high
Witpoortjie Waterfall has been a favourite recreational destination since the 1800s.
Dramatic geological events shaped the topography of the garden and in collaboration with
the Geological Society of SA, the 3,5 km JCI Geological Trail has been developed through
the nature reserve. A Water-Wise theme garden has recently been completed with funding
from DWAF and Rand Water.
The garden
is supported by the fund-raising activities of the local branch of the Botanical Society
of SA. This community based organisation also assists in the management of the garden by
leading school and other groups on educational tours and organising the annual plant sale
and the popular winter picnic concerts. Another community-based project which is active in
the garden is the Black Eagle project of Roodekranz whose volunteers monitor the Black
Eagles and educate the public on subjects relating to raptor conservation.
The entire
property is maintained by a fulltime horticultural team comprising 39 staff. Secure
parking and 24 hour armed security ensures the safety of the public. The safety of
structures and surfaces is ensured by on-going inspections and NOSA compliance.
The main aim
of the garden is to educate the public about our massive natural wealth and the benefits
of conserving this.
Tswaing Crater Museum
Tswaing is located 40 km north of Pretoria and the museum site has more than
two million people as its neighbours, living in Soshanguve, Nuwe Eersterus, Kromkuil and
Winterveld. The crater with its saline lake is the most outstanding feature of the 2 000
ha site and it has a unique composition of floral species, while serving as the habitat
for many animal species. The crater was formed by a meteorite impact about 220 000 years
ago and is one of the best preserved meteorite impact craters in the world. Its plants,
animals and soda and salt deposits have been attracting people for thousands of years.
Stone Age people, thought to be ancestors of the Bushmen, lived on the site some 120 000
years ago and many of their stone tools and weapons have been found on the site.
The museum
complex comprises a reception area, offices, toilets, an open shed and stores. The 7,2 km
Tswaing Crater Trail can be walked in the company of a trained, interpretive, local guide.
Environmental education at Tswaing involves the interdependent learning processes of
social reconstruction through community-centered learning actions in the environment. An
environmental education programme, with ten outdoor classrooms around the crater, has been
developed in conjunction with UNISA, Vista, Pretoria and Soshanguve Technikons, teachers,
museum personnel and the local community.
The slogan
of the museum is ‘for the people by the people’ and, at its inception, the
Tswaing Crater Museum Forum was established in order to involve all interested and
affected parties in the decision-making process. The development and management of the
museum, which is done according to Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) procedure, is
a team effort by representitives of the local communities and community based
organisations, with input from specialists such as museum scientists, botanists,
geologists, environmental educators and many others. Van Riet & Louw Landscape
Architects were responsible for drawing up the development plan based on public
participation. The project strives for environmental protection through public
participation and empowerment.
Maintenance
is funded from the Tswaing budget which is controlled by the National Cultural History
Museum. Groups from the local communities have been working with DWAF to clear the
invasive growth of Sickle Bush and Queen of the Night from the crater. Individuals from
the community, called information officers, patrol the Tswaing site and explain the
objectives of the project, and the fact that it belongs to the community, to any
trespassers. The museum is an integral part of the Greater Pretoria Metropolitan Open
Space System.
-----
The 1999
South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) Awards of Excellence
The SALI
Shield, awarded for the highest standard of excellence in landscaping, went to Evergreen
Gardens for the re-turfing of the Lost City Golf Course, while the Parks & Grounds
Floating Trophy was awarded jointly to Young Garden Designs for House Braby and Marina
Landscaping for House Thompson. This year the national judge was landscape architect Peter
Dayson, while nurseryman and landscape contractor Gordon Smith and ex-Johannesburg Parks
official Dennis White were the judges in Gauteng; landscape contractor Pam McGlone and
landscape architect Lucas Uys judged in Kwa Zulu-Natal; and Raymond Falck, lecturer at
Peninsula Technikon and landscape architect Deon Badenhorst, in the Cape. There were 50
entries received and 20 of these received Gold Awards, eleven Silver and four, Merit
Awards.
At the
awards ceremony, Peter Dayson said that the general standard of projects entered,
throughout the country, was an affirmation of the high standard of work with which SALI
had become associated. He added that there would, however, always be room for improvement.
Commenting on the In-house Design Category, he said that there was an absence of what he
called ‘Africanisation’ in both design and planting and that the trend still
tended to be very Eurocentric in nature with formal designs, out-of-character exotic
planting and even a lack of ‘indigenous’ building materials. "A start can
be made, relatively easily, by
taking a
very critical look at the type of plants being used - indigenous plants are more freely
available now than ever before and there were, admittedly, some superb examples of
indigenous gardens entered. However, the majority still tended towards the old Eugenia,
Viburnum and Ivy syndrome."
In
conclusion, he suggested that a general simplification of planting on commercial and
industrial projects - a move away from masses of beds packed with botanical collections of
shrubs and groundcovers - would not only allow more money to be spent on the ‘structure’
of the landscape but would greatly reduce maintenance and would go a long way towards
making these projects sustainable.
Gold Award winners
Lost City Golf Course - SALI Shield
Gold Award to Evergreen Gardens in the Specialised Turf Category
The project required Evergreen Gardens to lift and remove the existing Bayview
(Cynodon dactylon var.) grass on the fairways at the Lost City Golf Course and replace it
with instant Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) lawn. According to Evergreen Gardens, this
project is the largest one of its kind ever undertaken in South Africa and, possibly, in
the world. A total of 335 000 m2 of Kikuyu sod, to cover an area of 33,5 ha, was prepared
for this project - a process that began as early as October 1997.
The course
was closed so that work could begin at the end of May 1997. The reason that sodding was
chosen as the method for re-doing the fairways was to minimise the time that the course
would be out of commission. The programme called for 5 000 m2 of sod to be laid each day
and Evergreen Gardens, with the assistance of their sub-contractor, Lesedi Gardens, was
able to average 6 800 m2 a day. The deadline was the end of September and Evergreen
Gardens was able to hand over one month ahead of schedule.
The Urban
Green File asked Hantie Cloete of Evergreen Gardens why Kikuyu had been chosen to replace
the Bayview. He replied that it was predominantly a matter of playability, although
durability had also been a consideration - saying that the winter dormancy of Cynodon
grasses was lacking in ‘carpet’ and the ball speed was, as a result, too fast.
Asked about the water usage rates of the two grasses, Cloete replied that Johan van Vuuren
of Potchefstroom University had done trials and released documented data in 1996, proving
that Bayview required more water for optimum growth than Kikuyu. He went on to say that
Bayview had a shallower root system than Kikuyu and would have to be watered more often,
although with less water. He said that putting 15 mm of water onto grass at a more
frequent rate would waste more water, through evapotranspiration, than deep, less frequent
watering of 25 mm that was effective on Kikuyu because of its deeper root system.
He added
that course manager Dave Hutchinson had already been through a summer season and had
reported that there was no noticeable difference in water consumption. Cloete said that he
was very aware of the need to conserve water in South Africa and he pointed out that there
was no impact on fresh water supplies because effluent water from the hotel complex was
being used to irrigate the course.
Judges’
appraisal: Although the project consisted essentially of the replacement of lawn (Kikuyu
with Bayview) - a simple sounding task - the judges were unanimous in their opinion that
the contractor had shown an incredibly high standard of professionalism in programming,
logistics, client liaison and the protection of the existing infra-structure of the
course.
House Braby -
Parks & Grounds
Trophy
Gold Award to Young Garden Designs in the
In-house Design and Construction (Residential) Category
Judges’
appraisal: The contractors’ professional installation, their passion for gardening
and their obvious rapport with their client, have resulted in a stunning garden which
proves the value of soil preparation in achieving a really good rate of growth and a
flourishing garden.
House Thompson - Parks
& Grounds Trophy
Gold Award to Marina Landscaping in the In-house
Design and Construction (Residential) Category
Judges’ appraisal: An excellent standard of design, in scale and empathy
with the architecture. The simplicity and timelessness of the planting and the standard of
finishes has meant a highly professional end result and a wonderfully peaceful garden that
is certain to endure.
Thandanani Office Park,
Nedcor IT and Isle of Houghton
Three Gold Awards to All Scape in the
Maintenance Category
Judges’ appraisal: The standard achieved in the maintenance of these three
projects clearly shows the level that can be obtained by a specialist maintenance
contractor. All Scape is acknowledged particularly for the rehabilitation work on
Thandanani, the realising of the original design intent on a low budget project at the
Isle of Houghton and, in general, for their training of specialised personnel, feeding
programmes and attention to detail.
House Botha
Two Gold Awards to Art Landscaping in the Design
by Others (Residential) and the Hard Landscaping Categories
The project was designed by DDV Landscape Design Group.
Judges’ appraisal: Art Landscaping are acknowledged for their clear
understanding of the design intent, the integration of finishes with the architecture and
the excellent plant growth achieved in a relatively short period. In the execution of this
geometric design, Art Landscaping has achieved a particularly high standard of
hardscaping, linking to the existing finishes of the house. A clear and knowledgeable
understanding of the technical aspects of the design is also evident.
House Minton
Gold Award to Blok Designs in the In-house
Design and Construction (Residential) Category
Judges’ appraisal: Blok Designs are recognised for achieving an excellent standard,
not only in the simple understated design but also for the exceptionally high standard of
construction - especially of finishes, as well as the choice of plant material. All these
aspects give a timelessness to a garden that will continue to improve as it matures.
Isidleke
Gold Award to Ecofocus Gardens in the In-house
Design and Construction (Residential) Category
Judges’ appraisal: Ecofocus Gardens are acknowledged for their exceptional
knowledge of and use of indigenous plant material. Whilst the design of the garden may be
criticised, especially for the over-use of artificial rock, it was extremely refreshing to
see a project where the basis is horticultural rather than ‘design orientated’.
Brand Engineering
Gold Award to Gardenscapes in the In-house
Design and Construction (Commercial) Category
Judges’ appraisal: A striking project both in terms of architectural and
landscaping design - especially impressive in an industrial environment. Simplicity of
planting complements the simplicity of the architecture which, together with the high
standard of maintenance, makes this an excellent project.
Old Mutual Centre,
Durban
Gold Award to Gardenscapes in the In-house
Design and Construction (Commercial) Category
Judges’ appraisal: Gardenscapes are recognised with this award for the
excellent sourcing of material, choice of material and logistic planning of a project
which has produced a strong and vibrant statement, enhancing the downtown environment of
Durban.
House Harris and House
Dippenaar
Two Gold Awards to Greenacres Landscapes in the
Design by Others (Residential) Category
The projects were designed by Christine Cilliers.
Judges’ appraisal: Greenacres Landscapes are acknowledged, on both these
projects, for excellent interpretation of the design intent of the landscape architect,
attention to detail in structural elements such as boardwalks and water features, sourcing
of unusual plant material and the protection of the indigenous trees and bush during
installation.
Holiday Inn Garden Court, Pretoria
Gold Award to Real Landscapes in the Design by
Others (Commercial) Category
The project was designed by Landmark Studios.
Judges’ appraisal: Due to the attention to detail both in the construction
and planting, Real Landscapes have, once again, displayed their professionalism. The
successful transplanting of trees, the clear and defined areas of planting, the quality of
growth achieved, as well as the finishes to structural components, have all contributed to
a highly successful project.
Emnotweni Casino
Gold Award to Real Landscapes in the Design by
Others (Commercial) Category
The
project was designed by Landmark Studios.
Judges’
appraisal: This project is recognised for the high standard achieved by the contractor in
the sourcing of plant material, the installation, the interpretation of the design and the
understanding of the design intent evident in the development and subsequent maintenance.
Westcliff Hotel
Gold Award to Real Landscapes in the Design by
Others (Commercial) Category
The project was designed by Environmental Design Partnership (EDP).
Judges’ appraisal: Real Landscapes are acknowledged for their handling of
an incredibly difficult and dichotomous site. Small spaces, steep slopes, poor soil
conditions and having to work in confined areas, presented problems which were solved in a
professional manner, resulting in an excellent project.
Chislehurston Office Park
Gold Award to Stubbs Landscapes in the In-house
Design and Construction (Commercial) Category
Judges’ appraisal: Stubbs Landscapes are to be commended for achieving a
very high standard of design, as well as excellent execution of work on a restricted
budget. Excellent attention to detail in both the resolution of levels and the planting.
Ocean View Guest House
Gold Award to Top Turf Cape in the Design by
Others (Commercial) Category
The project was designed by Tanya de Villiers of Cape Natural Developments.
Judges’ appraisal: Top Turf is commended for the quality of construction
and planting, as well as the interpretation of levels, placing of rocks and boulders and
the care taken with existing indigenous trees.
Vodaworld Chip and Putt Course
Gold Award to Top Turf In the Design by Others
(Recreational) Category
The project was designed by Rob O’ Friel Design Company.
Judges’ appraisal: This project is an excellent example of how a
commercial success can be achieved by a high standard of installation backed by a
professional design. Top Turf have, hopefully, set a precedent for other developers of
private recreational projects showing that commercial viability is attainable from this
type of venture when the right designer, right contractor and right budget are brought
together on one project. (See article in The Urban Green File Mar/Apr ‘98 issue pg
24.)
Silver Award winners
Two Silver Awards went to Real Landscapes for the maintenance of Holiday
Inn Crowne Plaza and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Gardenscapes won an award in
the Environmental Category for House Esterhuizen and for Phoenix in the In-house Design
and Construction Category. Landscape Enterprises won an award for Druggists Park (See The
Urban Green File Jan/Feb ‘99 issue pg 10) - the design was done by Environmental
Design Partnership. Thornhill Office Park won an award for Stubbs Landscapes in the
In-house and Construction Category. Langverwacht Landscaping won an award, in the In-house
Design and Construction Category, for Stellenbosch College Campus. Two awards went to Blok
Designs, in the In-house Design and Construction Category, for Musgrave Road and Camp
Orchards. Ilse Garden Design won for House Fritz van Heerden in the In-house Design and
Construction Category. Ecofocus Gardens were awarded a Silver for In-house Design and
Construction at 25 Dale Lace Avenue.
-----
Irrigation dam at the George Golf Course
Under the
new environmental impact regulations, the building of an irrigation dam on the George Golf
Course required a scoping procedure. Consulting engineer Retief Kleynhans who was
responsible for the hydrological survey called in landscape architect Liesel Stokes to
assist with the initial scoping exercise and the rehabilitation work. Kleynhans undertook
the scoping of the adjacent landowners, while Stokes approached Cape Nature Conservation
(CNC), the Wildlife and Environment Society and the Botanical Society.
A small
stream flowing through the course and some stormwater discharges from the town (the course
is within the parameters of the town) were considered to be an adequate source of water
for the new dam. The primary reason for the dam was the irrigation of the golf course. The
proposed site of the dam was in a natural hollow which was infested with invasive species
such as Wattle, Sesbania, Bugweed and Blue Gum, so the area could be flooded without
damaging indigenous vegetation. There were numerous marsh plants such as the geophytes,
Zantedeschia aethiopica and Wachendorfia thyrsiflora, along the banks of the stream and
the decision had to be made whether to remove these by hand, which would have been very
labour intensive, or whether simply to push the topsoil containing the bulbs to the side
during the excavation of the dam.
The dam was
excavated and the shell 'blackened', as consulting engineer Koos Sieberhagen explained,
with topsoil that has a high content of decaying material. This process, which is done for
aesthetic reasons, covers the yellow scars left by the excavations into the clay material
and gives the water in the dam a deep brownish black colour. The capacity of the dam is 55
000 m3. At the start of the excavation, it was decided that a topsoil layer would be
pushed aside by a bulldozer and retained to save the bulbs and, when the excavation was
completed, the edges of the dam were shaped with this material. As Stokes said: "You
revegetate as you shape. Nothing was planted along the banks and yet they are covered -
proving that this is a good option." Bracken fern is also coming back, naturally.
Every six months, the seedlings of any alien species will be weeded out by hand.
The large
Blue Gums in the deep areas of the dam were simply left standing and flooded. This
decision was made because the removal of such large trees, which would involve digging out
their root boles, would be a very expensive exercise - and an unnecessary one, because the
trees would be killed by the flooding and could be retained for roosting purposes. If the
dead trees were to fall over, they would fall into the water without any threat to the
safety of the golfers. Existing fynbos adjacent to the dam was cleared of invasives and
retained, and the construction team kept well away from these areas to ensure that the
fynbos remained undamaged. Stokes commented that Sieberhagen was very amenable to
suggestions of this nature and a great deal of care was taken with the shaping of the dam.
It was less
expensive to construct a straight dam wall and this harsh line is being softened with
planting including nodes of bulrushes, while below the dam, the natural sweep of the
existing bush line will be extended to create different habitats. Here the plantings will
comprise only plants that grow naturally in the area such as Halleria lucida, the Tree
Fuchsia, which is at home in the spongy, peaty earth and is the dominant species in this
bush, Rhamnus prinoides, the Dogwood, which prefers slightly drier areas, as do Diospyros
lycioides, the Bluebush and Curtisia dentata, the Assegaai Wood, while Nuxia floribunda,
the Forest Elder is happy in wetter areas. These plants are grown commercially by New
Plant Nursery in Victoria Bay.
At the
request of the golf club, an area of the dam was deepened so that the water could be
brought into play. Golfers now hit across this portion of the dam from an adjacent
existing tee and this has become the signature hole of the course.
Stokes
commented that the ambience of the golf course is created by mixed indigenous and exotic
plantings. She pointed out the beautiful autumn colours of the Liquidambers and Pin Oaks
on the course, saying that these exotics seemed to tolerate the clay soils and wetter
areas adjacent to the dam better than the locally indigenous forest species. She commented
that the plantings on the course included both roses and fynbos but said that the area
around the dam would be kept natural and supplementary plantings of fynbos species that
grew naturally on site would include Erica gracilis, Helichrysum petiolare, Brunia
nodiflora and the coastal variety of Protea cynaroides along with a number of species of
restios.
In the six
months that the dam has been in existence, many aquatic bird species have come in
naturally - such as Yellowbilled Duck, Moorhen, Egyptian Geese and Cormorants. Stokes
commented that CNC has been impressed by the numbers and the variety of species.
Guidelines provided by CNC state that exotic species may be kept on the dam, providing
that they are not on the 'Black List' of the southern Cape and will therefore not
interbreed with any of the local birds - should exotics be brought in, they will need to
be pinioned. CNC required that the fish that were introduced to the dam should be local
species and they are doing a study of the fish species in the Malgas River which is below
the dam to ensure that, should the dam overflow into the Malgas, no species that are not
already present in this river will be introduced.
Project team
Consulting engineers:
Retief Kleynhans & Partners
Sieberhagen & Zaaiman
Landscape architects: Brink Stokes Marais & Moolman
Contractors: Constructive Civil
Golf Course Manager: Philip Basson
-----
Environmental Rehabilitation
at Prince's Grant Estate
The bulk of
the 160 ha site of Prince’s Grant, on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal near Zinkwazi,
had been under sugar cane for the previous 30 years, when work began on the new golf
course and housing estate in 1992. Only a few patches of indigenous vegetation remained in
the form of coastal dune vegetation on the sea frontage; coastal forest dominated by the
False Cabbage Tree, Schefflera umbellifera, on the steep slopes of the Mdlotane lagoon;
and a healthy portion of swamp forest, dominated by the Powder-puff Tree, Barringtonia
racemosa and the Wild Frangipani, Voacanga thouarsii. The closed Mdlotane lagoon is a
prime feature of the site and the deepest lagoon system on the north coast stretch between
Durban and the Tugela River.
Jeremy
Stubbs of Stubbs Landscapes was briefed by the client to return those portions of the site
that were not scheduled for golf course holes or housing to, as near as possible, their
original state - dense bush in the valleys, thinning into savannah and then to grassland
along the dune ridges. A series of north/south trending dunes divides the property into
four distinct ridges, resulting in moderately steep slopes across a large portion of the
site. The site comprises soils which are highly susceptible to erosion, the annual
rainfall is high and the area is subject to heavy storms, while strong prevailing winds
have also influenced the topography.
Soil erosion
During road construction and the earthworks phase of the golf course, silt in
runoff water was of particular concern because the sensitive Mdlotane lagoon, which is a
closed system, is particularly vulnerable to siltation. Silt traps made of bundles of
sugar cane tops tied to a framework of poles were installed in all the water courses.
According to
Stubbs, soil erosion, in areas that were denuded of sugar cane during the earthmoving
operations, was "dramatic and very frightening". Advice was sought from several
farmers in the area who understood the soils and had dealt with erosion problems over the
years. Several strategies were used to curb erosion: contour drains with a shallow profile
were excavated, leading to constructed, grassed watercourses; drains and swales were
seeded with grasses and sprigged with either coastal buffalo grass, Stenotaphrum
secundatum, which is a good stabiliser of sandy soils, or with local Cynodon species;
Vetiver grass (a non-invasive exotic), obtained in clumps from a local farmer, was planted
in rows on the contours in potential erosion areas - it is a good stabiliser because of
its deep, vast, fibrous root system which forms a solid mat; and extensive use was made of
the bushy shrub Chrysanthemoides monilifera, commonly known as Bietou, which is an
excellent plant for consolidating sand in coastal regions because the seed is very viable
and the plant covers quickly.
An
embankment of fill material, immediately below the Clubhouse (Lodge) on the eastern side,
was subject to particularly bad erosion and a system of zig-zag paths, planted with
Cynodon dactylon, was devised to double up as contour drains, collecting stormwater and
feeding it into gullies which led to stormwater pipes.
Stubbs also
commented on the wind erosion: "In all the areas where the vegetation had been
stripped off during earthmoving operations, wind erosion was horrific and huge amounts of
sand would migrate over- night." Several unsuccessful attempts were made to combat
the wind erosion with wind barriers and, eventually, after advice was sought from Richard’s
Bay Minerals, hessian wind barriers (1,6 m in height) erected at right angles to the
prevailing winds and spaced at an average of 15 m apart, were successful. The areas
between the barriers were then fertilised and seeded with a mix of indigenous grasses -
including the exotic annual, Eragrostis tef, in summer and Saia Oats in winter, as
temporary cover in areas that were totally bare.
Strip
sodding was attempted to curb wind erosion on the embankment of the road overlooking the
sea but this was not successful as the areas between the sods eroded away. Hydroseeding
was used on the steep cut slopes of this road and the mix included seed from plants on
site which helped to speed up the cover. The most successful seed that was used in the mix
was Chrysanthemoides monilifera.
Grassing
One of the first priorities of the brief given to Stubbs was that the balance
of the site, that had not been cleared for the golf course or roads and was still covered
in sugar cane, should be converted to indigenous grassland as quickly as possible. It was
originally proposed that the cane should be removed in strips to avoid soil erosion but it
was realised, again on the advice from neighbouring farmers, that the sugar cane in fact
provided the best anti-erosion measure. A visit to Ian Garland’s riverine catchment
rehabilitation project at Mtunzini, demonstrated that if sugar cane was cut to a height of
± 450 mm, the remaining woody stalk soon attracted borers and other insects which helped
to kill the plant very rapidly. This method was put into practice, as opposed to the idea
of cutting the cane very short which simply encouraged new shoots to spring from the base.
A mix of indigenous grasses was sown between the rows of cut sugar cane by means of an
inter-row, tractor-drawn, seeding machine which was adapted for the purpose. The slashed
cane was left on the land to act as a mulch. It was noted that if grasses were cut at an
early stage, it proved very detrimental to the cover.
"We
found out from the neighbouring farmers that Panicum maximum, one of the grasses we
intended using in the mix, was one of the cane farmers worst weeds - and that if the cane
was left uncultivated, this grass would soon take over," explained Stubbs. The grass
mix comprised: Chloris gayana, Rhodes Grass, an annual tufted grass used to stabilise
exposed soil; Digitaria smutsii, Smuts Finger Grass, a robust perennial; Panicum maximum,
Guinea Grass, a persistent weed in sugar cane fields; Eragrostis curvula, Weeping Love
Grass, a sub-climax grass and one of the best grasses to stabilise new soil; and Cynodon
dactylon, Couch Grass (Kweek), a creeping, pioneer grass and excellent soil stabiliser.
Annual legumes such as Cow Peas and Desmodium were included in the seed mix to help with
nitrogen fixing. In some areas, Sunflower, Millet and Babala seeds were added to encourage
seed-eating birds which would, in turn, introduce the seeds of local indigenous plants. A
mixture of local tree and shrub seeds was included with the grass seed mix, in random
patches, to create the tree thickets of a savanna land.
Stubbs
commented that, at a later stage in the grassing programme, they had cut the Eragrostis
curvula in the mix down considerably because they found that it was inclined to dominate
other species and become moribund rather quickly, instead they had stepped up the quantity
of Chloris gayana and Cynodon dactylon seed.
Dune rehabilitation
Blow-outs in the primary dune system, created by four-wheel drive vehicles,
making their way through to the beach, have been rehabilitated with the use of local
plants and the assistance of hessian wind barriers. Plants that grow naturally along the
beach are Aloe thraskii, Brachylaena discolor, Carpobrotus species, Ficus burt-davyi,
Gazania rigens and Chrysanthemoides monilifera and these have been used for dune
rehabilitation. A ‘fence’ of sleepers was used for the initial stabilisation of
the sand until the plants established.
Alien invaders
Exotic invaders were in evidence on the site and continue to pose a serious
threat particularly along forest margins. The worst are Cestrum laevigatum (Inkberry);
Chromolaena odorata (Triffid Weed) - a major perennial weed in the coastal region of
Natal; Lantana camara, one of the world’s ten worst weeds; Opuntia vulgaris (Prickly
Pear species) - which has been treated with the cochineal insect on site; Solanum
mauritianum (Bug Weed - see ‘Insult’ on page 7); and Pereskia aculeata (Barbados
Gooseberry). These are being treated on a slash/cut and spray basis with appropriate
herbicides. Spot treatment is often necessary to curb regrowth. Xanthium spinosum (Spiny
Cocklebur) and Xanthium strumarium (Large Cocklebur) were in evidence throughout the old
cane fields and still appear in disturbed areas. These are either pulled out before they
can make seed or the individual plants are sprayed.
Stubbs
mentioned that the naturalised species Paspallum vaginatum, known in golfing circles as
Durban Country Club Grass, is the turf that has been used on the bulk of the golf course
and that it is highly tolerant of saline conditions. When the local Cynodon dactylon,
which is inclined to be invasive, encroaches onto tees, fairways or greens, it can be
killed with sea water. This natural control leaves the Paspallum vaginatum unharmed.
Aside from
the battle with the invasive species, Stubbs commented that nematode infestations,
resulting from cultivation of cane over the years, had occurred in the newly planted
trees. Nematodes inhibit the saplings ability to take up water. As the soil structure
improves, so the nematode problem decreases.
Tree planting
To date 35 000 trees have been planted on the estate. All these trees and
shrubs are indigenous to the immediate area, except the plants in one valley of the golf
course where it was decided, on the suggestion of Ian Garland, to create an arboretum of
trees from the Tongoland region. Dense riverine forests have been restored in the valleys
and along streams, in out-of-play areas. Moving up out of the valleys, the planting
changes to forest fringe species and coastal thickets. Open wooded grassland extends up
the hillsides.
Saplings,
either propagated in the nursery on site or imported from outside nurseries, were planted
in a soil mix which included the soil moisturiser, Terrasorb - and Filter Press, a
by-product of the sugar mills used by local farmers as a compost and to improve the
structure of the soil. The by-product is the pulp of the sugar cane and, according to
Stubbs, it not only works well as a soil ameliorant but helps to combat soil erosion
because it is fibrous.
Damage from
salt laden winds near the sea proved to be a problem, even with species that are normally
tolerant of these winds. This problem was exacerbated for the newly planted trees on the
fringe of the golf course where the grass was mown short. Success was, however, achieved
when dense plantings of pioneer species, such as Brachylaena discolor (Coastal Silver
Oak), that have a high tolerance for salt winds, were planted around other immature trees
for protection.
Trees in
high profile areas, such as the parking areas and paths leading to the beach and the
lagoon, have been tagged for identification purposes. Each street can be identified by
means of an indigenous tree - such as the Red Milkwood, which is Mimusops caffra and is
abundant on site. A formal avenue of Syzigium cordatum, the Waterberry, demarcates the
road to the clubhouse and, generally, there are linear plantings along the roads, breaking
up at nodes to incorporate fingers of natural vegetation.
Soil fertility
At the initial stage of the project, soil samples were taken throughout the
site. Generally, the soils were found to be severely deficient in nitrogen and potassium
resulting, in all likelihood, from the years of cane farming. Stubbs said that a decision
was made not to over-fertilise but to attempt to restore the fertility levels to those
occurring naturally in areas on site. Soil samples taken from the pristine bush areas were
analysed and these results were used as benchmarks for the fertility levels on site.
In 1995,
Stubbs Landscapes was declared the overall winner in the 1995 SALI (South African
Landscaper’s Institute) Awards, for their environmental rehabilitation at Prince’s
Grant. The judges gave the following appraisal of the project: "A really good example
of environmental rehabilitation. A challenging site where wind, salt-spray and soil
erosion were serious problems - and these have been well-managed. Revegetation has been
undertaken with the carefully researched use of indigenous material - sound horticultural
and arboricultural principles have been used. This project should serve as a point of
reference for similar projects in the future."
Project team
Developer: Prince’s Grant Holdings
Environmental evaluation: GW Begg of Environmental Advisory Services
Surveyors: Tarbotton Holder Ross & Partners
Project managers: GMS Projects
Civil engineers: Bradford Conning & Partners
Architects (urban guidelines): Bruce Stafford, Erasmus Rushmere Reid, GAPS (now GAPP)
Quantity surveyors: Lang Binney Associates
Rehabilitation and landscaping: Stubbs Landscapes
Horticultural and rehabilitation advice: Ian Garland, Geoff Nichols
Golf course design: Matkovich & Hayes
Civil contractor: Afrocon Construction
Golf course contractor: Matco Struct
-----
Environmental issues at the Welkom
Raceway
Due to a
very tight planning and construction schedule, the consultants for the Welkom Raceway
compiled a detailed scoping report, which provided sufficient information for the project
to be approved, instead of the usual scoping report, followed by an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA).
"An
example of how government, developers and consultants can co-operate to ensure that a
project meets the necessary environmental requirements." This is how Russell
Gillespie, environmental consultant at L&W Environmental describes the recently
completed Welkom Raceway Project. Due to the urgency of the project, a detailed scoping
report (as provided for in the EIA regulations), instead of a scoping report followed by
an EIA, was submitted for the project to be approved. Gillespie states that this did not
compromise the process as all environmental issues were taken into account.
The
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations of April 1998 define the construction or
upgrading of racing tracks as an activity that requires an EIA before the project can be
approved. The Welkom Raceway was to be built on the same site as the previous Goldfields
Raceway and L&W Environmental - an association between Loxton Venn & Associates,
Wates Meiring Barnard and Manyaka Greyling Meriting - were appointed as environmental
consultants.
Due to the
urgency of the project and the potential economic benefits on a local and regional level -
the project was seen as a possible catalyst for new development in the Goldfields area -
it was not possible to follow the usual process for Environmental Impact Assessments
(first a scoping phase and then an assessment phase). L&W, however, opted for a ‘detailed
scoping report’, as provided for in the EIA regulations, to provide sufficient
information for the Free State Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Free State
DEAT) to approve or refuse the project.
From project
initiation L&W maintained ongoing communication with the Free State DEAT and undertook
to:
*
critically review the
design of the raceway
*
undertake a detailed
biological survey of the raceway site
*
compile an
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for implementation on site
*
provide an
Environmental Site Officer to oversee the implementation of the EMP
*
meet and communicate
with the department, regularly, to keep them informed of the process and project.
Based on
this agreement, L&W submitted four initial reports to the Free State DEAT: a
biological survey, a design evaluation, an EMP and a review of the public participation
process.
The process
which was followed combined the requirements of the scoping phase with elements of the
Impact Assessment Phase. L&W included impact assessment and mitigation as part of the
scoping phase and ran these components in conjunction with public participation and
consultation. Information that would usually only be presented in an Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) was included in the scoping report. The detailed scoping report comprised
details of the proposed project and was followed by the public participation process, an
assessment of potential impacts and suggested mitigation measures for the identified
impacts - all of which was supported by an EMP - as well as a site officer to oversee
implementation of the EMP.
Gillespie
believes that this illustrates that developers can meet strict construction deadlines
without shunning government regulations and environmental issues. The solution is to
co-operate with the authorities and inform them of your plans right from the beginning. He
also points out that they did not have to provide an environmental site officer or an EMP,
but proposed this to the Free State DEAT to ensure proper management and mitigation of
potential environmental impacts.
The detailed
scoping report assessed the impacts during the construction phase, as well as during the
operational phase of the raceway. Both the impacts and the causes of these impacts were
identified. Each potential impact was rated according to probability (improbable to
definite), duration (immediate to permanent), scale (site restricted to international) and
magnitude or severity (minor to very high / uncertain) for two scenarios: before
mitigation and after mitigation. By means of this semi-quantitative approach, it was
possible to determine the significant impacts and to ensure that these impacts were either
avoided or properly mitigated.
One of the
‘discoveries’ of the scoping exercise was the presence of the Red Data species
(status: vulnerable) Cordylus giganteus - the sun gazer lizard or ‘Ouvolk’ -
that has been living on the existing raceway for many years. Gillespie organised, with the
help of specialist ecologist Neal Jacobson and Johan Hardy of Free State Nature
Conservation, to relocate the lizards to another suitable site. They were removed manually
from their burrows, prior to the contractor working in an area. The entire lizard
population was relocated to a new site so as to ensure its continued viability.
Cliff
swallows (Hirundo spilodera) nest on the site during summer and migrate to central Africa
in winter. Until recently, they built their nests under the existing concrete grandstand,
which has since been demolished. In order to cause minimal impact on the birds, the
scoping report recommended that the nests should be removed as soon as construction
commenced (September 1998), before the start of the breeding season. Another breeding site
- an existing underpass - was retained to maintain their habitat.
An increase
in the volume of stormwater from hard surfaces represented a potential negative impact on
an adjacent wetland. The scoping report recommended the construction of energy breakers at
the entrance to the wetland, to prevent erosion. The engineers’ stormwater design
provided grease traps at the pits to prevent oil from reaching the vlei and subsoil
drains, buried under gravel beds, to reduce the amount of sediment.
Design and build
In a departure from the usual way of appointing design and planning consultants
and then putting the construction out to tender, Phakisa opted for a ‘design and
build’ approach. The entire project was tendered for, including the design and
operation, and Basil Read, with the help of a team of specialist consultants, was awarded
the tender. Chris Grundy, construction contract manager of Basil Read feels that this
approach has many advantages - the total budget is known to the client from the beginning,
and there are no ‘add-ons’ as the project progresses. The client only deals with
one company - the contractor - as opposed to a whole team. The contractor then liaises
with the consultants.
Project team:
Client: Phakisa Major Sport Events and Development Corporation
Main contractors and project coordinators: Basil Read
Specialist consultants:
Engineers: V3 Consulting Engineers, LMV Inc Consulting Engineers
Architects: Johan Beukes & Partners, Cilliers Greyvenstein, Mostert van den
Berg & Leeuw
Environmental consultants: L&W Environmental (an association between Loxton
Venn & Associates, Wates Meiring Barnard and Manyaka Greyling Meiring)
Legal advisors: Bell, Dewar & Hall |
