Eco-friendly development is the trend
2006-10-12
AS the government cracks down on lifestyle developments in concern over their ecological effects, an eco-friendly breed of developer has emerged who is investing and assisting in preservation of wilderness areas.
Lifestyle estates, particularly those of a golfing nature, have come into question recently for putting local water resources under pressure and disrupting natural areas within SA.
The latest Absa residential property perspective for the second quarter of this year, showed that about 32 proposed residential estate projects were awaiting final government approval.
On the R2 billion Val de Vie Polo and Wine Estate, situated in the Berg River Valley between Paarl and Franschhoek, agriculture and mining altered and destroyed much of the natural vegetation of the valley prior to the development's commencement.
Developer Martin Venter brought environmentalists on board who discovered a number of rare and endangered plant species within these areas. Their preservation immediately became high priority and a conservation area has been put aside within the estate.
The Environmental Control Officer at Val de Vie, Johan Neethling, says, “A search and rescue exercise was launched before construction commenced to locate and remove indigenous plants for replanting in the conservation area. Close to 3000 plants and bulbs were thus rescued and replanted and Sour Fig cuttings were planted to help stabilise the area.
“An environmental management plan to protect and manage these natural assets during the current construction period is in place to ensure environmental compliance throughout the development process and beyond this period.
Here plots are selling at between R2.4 and R4 million and already nearly 80% of the estate has been sold.
To ensure their world class polo facilities use minimal amounts of water during the irrigation process the developer has brought in state-of-the-art drainage as well as an automated irrigation system, the second of its kind in the country, to ensure precise and homogenous water distribution.
This will minimize wastage and take weather conditions into account automatically before watering.
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