R1-billion for Umhlanga mixed-use development
Nedbank will invest R1-billion in a mixed-use office and retail development in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal. The Park Square development, currently under construction, is located in the Umhlanga Parkside node opposite the Gateway Theatre of Shopping Centre. It will have a 4-star Green Star Design and As-Built rating. The development will include 40 000 m2 of lettable area, 4000 m2 of which is earmarked for retail, while the remaining 36 000 m2 is set aside for commercial space. Some 18 000 m2 of this will be A-grade offices. The office component spans five blocks along the perimeter of the development site, and the retail space is at ground level, together with a public piazza. At pedestrian level will be a 16 m wide public arcade linking the piazza to the adjacent CJ Saunders Park. Occupation is scheduled for the last quarter of 2018. Approximately 600 jobs will be created during the construction of the buildings, while permanent employment opportunities will result from post-construction management and facilities maintenance.
Multi-purpose sports centre for Soweto
A R34-million new multi-purpose sports centre, the Soweto Sports Arena in Nancefield, Soweto, forms part of the Nancefield Transit Oriented Development, which aims to bring development opportunities to attract investment, including business development. A need has been identified to integrate the Maponya Mall and the new Soweto Nike Centre to create an activity hub. The project will include a sports centre, two outdoor basketball and netball pitches, a splash pad and play equipment, parking, seating and landscaping. The 100% black-owned main contractor, Shomang Construction, is contractually obliged to ensure that the local community benefits from the projects. Over 40% of the project will be subcontracted to 100% black-owned SMMEs. Some 80 local labourers are being trained in steel fixing, scaffolding, plumbing and other disciplines.
Solar water heater roll-out at Ethekwini
A national solar water heater programme will be initiated in KwaZulu-Natal’s eThekwini municipality. The Department of Energy-funded programme will see solar water geysers installed on the roofs of low income houses. This forms part of the department’s job creation initiative. A previous solar water heater (SWH) project which ended in 2012 saw the installation of some 30 000 SWHs in eThekwini homes. According to the municipality most installations were successful. The SWH roll-out will include a social components, as well as a load reduction programme, which will target higher income homes and will be subsidised partially. The social programme is fully subsidised. Work will be done by local labour and contractors trained by the DoE. Integral to this programme is a skills development plan which will be offered to local communities affected by this programme.
Lanseria transformed into airport city
Speaking at the opening of the control tower and fire station complex at the Lanseria International Airport, Gauteng premier David Makhura noted the role of the airport in the development of the north-west quarter of the province. He described Lanseria as a new economic node in Gauteng. Some R9-billion is to be invested in developments around the airport, in addition to an injection of about R1-billion by the airport’s shareholders. Together, these developments, which include industrial, commercial and residential projects, will form the Lanseria Airport City. Makhura said that, faced by steady decline in mining on the West Rand, Lanseria Airport City would provide the region with an economic alternative.
8900 affordable apartments for Gauteng
Balwin Properties and the Transcend property fund are developing 8900 affordable apartments worth R6,4-billion over the next six years. The venture will involve five projects in Gauteng. Balwin will be responsible for design and construction. Green Park is the first development earmarked for this project. Located in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, the 1200 apartments are expected to be completed in early 2018. The development will use solar energy and provide high-speed fibre connectivity. Rentals are expected to range from R4000 to R8000 per month.
R825-million substationfor Sebenza
Johannesburg power utility City Power is spending over R824-million to build a new substation at Sebenza, northeast of Johannesburg, to increase capacity and strengthen power supply to one of the fastest-growing areas in the city. The areas to benefit from the multimillion rand infrastructure investment are Alexandra, Gresswold, Sandringham, Athol-Oaklands, Rosebank, Melrose, Parkhurst, Midrand and Modderfontein. Work on the substation is being done by Conco Energy Solutions, a division of Consolidated Power Projects. According to Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure Services and Environment, the timing was crucial as growth in the area had increased significantly. On completion of the project, an extra 1000 MVA is expected to be added to the utility’s current capacity. Mfikoe says the Sebenza Substation project will stimulate economic growth in Johannesburg. Part of the project’s initiative is to move some of the load at Prospect Substation to Sebenza Substation. The new substation will allow City Power to construct new substations to relieve load on existing ones, allowing the utility to undertake preventive maintenance with minimal outages. A similar project was being mooted for the south of the city.
