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June 2015
Housing
and leisure component, 20 ha of park
areas including a bird sanctuary and
5 000 residential units. Services infra-
structure is scheduled to commence
within the 2015/2016 financial year.
The development has been split
between residential and commercial.
The residential component will be be-
tween 20%to 25%of the development
with the balance commercial and re-
tail. This will includemunicipal offices,
law courts, government departments
and other services to address the
housing development’s requirements.
A requisite of the southern
corridor is that it must be environ-
mentally sustainable and promote
the creation of liveable cities. Vaal
River City will have green buildings
that are designed and constructed to
reduce the overall impact of the built
environment on human health and
the natural environment. They will
be designed to efficiently use energy,
water and other natural resources,
protect occupant health, improve
employee productivity, and reduce
pollution. The development aims to
incorporate energy-efficient heating,
cooling, lighting and water systems,
including high-performance insula-
tion, windows, doors and appliances;
sustainable construction materials
such as thosemade from recycled and
recyclable materials with reduced-
emissions; and water-saving site
design and landscaping.
The development will reflect South
Africa’s rich cultural themes, historical
artwork, cultural sites and architec-
ture. The unique location will offer
a lifestyle experience near the water
through bird parks, vast walkways and
picnic spots accessible to all. It will
combine a distinctive residential and
commercial development, with road
infrastructure and investment that will
capture economic value and stimulate
economic activity.
Nishal Mistry, one of the DBM
architects working on the project
said that, “The architectural plan
is to create a thriving metropolitan
centre with wholesome, safe, family
orientated living that is properly inte-
grated into the existing neighbouring
communities. The architecture will be
uncluttered and contemporary with
no unnecessary or gratuitous refer-
ences to any particular regional style.
Work precincts will be functional yet
not sterile or devoid of social interac-
tion; and equally residential precincts
will be wholesome places where
families will enjoy rich, colourful and
interactive lives with each other.”
Makhura said, “The provincial gov-
ernment and municipalities must do
their part to ensure that the rebirth
of Sedibeng into a new economic gi-
ant in the south of Gauteng succeeds.
The private sector has also done a lot
by catalysing this development of the
Vaal River City using their own land
and own resources. We must crowd in
more private and public sector invest-
ment leveraging state-owned land
– municipal, provincial and national
government land. The era of random
sale of government landmust come to
an end. We need to use our own land
strategically for industrial develop-
ment and mega human settlements.”
To reignite the economy in southern
Gauteng, the Vaal River City Metro will
capitalise on its potential for water-
linked industries and transform itself
into a logistics and heritage centre.
Shifting the economy of this cor-
ridor away from its overreliance on
the steel industry, it will diversify to
include entertainment and logistics
and anchor itself around river tourism
and agro processing.
To revive, modernise and re-indus-
trialise the southern corridor and in
order to build a seamlessly integrated,
socially cohesive, economically inclu-
sive City Region, the development of
the new Vaal River City (hydropolis)
aims to unlock the potential of thewa-
terfront developments in the Emfuleni
and Midvaal
The development is estimated to
be worth between R7 bn to R11 billion
and will create approximately 7 500
jobs during the construction phase
alone. The interchange at the R59 and
the R42 will have a slipway into the
development.
Almost R500 million has been set
aside for a new on- and off- ramp
linking the R59 from Alberton into
Sharpville for commuter ease, roads,
water and sewer pump station.
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