Green Projects

Green Projects

"to make a major difference to quality of life"

Basil Read Developments has gone beyond creating work for its operational divisions through the development of mixed-use, integrated housing projects; it now stamps its footprint on the environment as well. Basil Read Developments has gone GREEN and will in future replace the natural vegetation lost due to the provision of housing with trees and shrubs through its Green Projects Programme – otherwise known as BR-GP.” says Des Hughes Managing Director of Basil Read Developments.

Cosmo City was the fi rst, highly successful fully integrated housing project completed by the developer, Codevco – led by Basil Read (Pty) Ltd and appointed by the City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Department of Housing. Cosmo City is a sustainable development that has successfully included low Income (RDP), Financed Credit Linked, Social (Rental) units and Bonded housing, as well as community centres, clinics, churches, commercial areas and parks. What is remarkable about the Cosmo City development is the emphasis on environmental awareness and recreational areas.

The area is filled with parks and green areas where residents can enjoy recreational activities. Basil Read now plans to continue creating these Breaking New Ground (BNG) developments at Doornkuil (Midvaal) and Phakisa Estate (Free State) as well as the New Klipriver Business Park on the R59 in Gauteng. Basil Read Developments recognises that the provision of sustainable housing in South Africa is sacrosanct but the success of these projects also depends on factors such as providing employment for the local community, the creation of resident associations and providing a complementary natural environment. “It is inevitable that in the development process, large tracts of natural vegetation will be lost. Our objective is to replace the natural conditions that existed prior to construction by planting avast amount of trees and shrubs to compensate for the vegetation that was previously lost,” says Hughes.

Basil Read has established a pilot nursery at Cosmo City that will experiment and train its staff with the necessary skills to propagate trees and shrubs for the Basil Read-Green Projects programme. The lessons learnt at this particular site will then be utilised in the upcoming developments that are due to begin in 2009, after the Town Planning and Environmental Impact Study processes are completed. “In Doornkuil alone for example, we intend to plant over 100 000 trees and shrubs,” says Hughes. “Growing trees from seedlings takes at least three to four years so we are starting now before work on the new developments begin.” The pilot nursery at Cosmo City is already utilising world-class methods and best-of-breed technology to foster trees and shrubs. The use of Effective Micro-organisms, which is “brewed” on site, is used in order to help the trees grow faster and studying how the use of shrubs contribute towards oxygenating storm-water and assists with drainage thereof are all being explored.

The staff are also exploring Earthworm Farming as earthworm compost is perhaps the most valuable, yet expensive natural fertilizer available. To assist with the running cost of the Basil Read-Green Projects, a commercial nursery will also be run simultaneously, where the community will be able to purchase trees and plants at discounted prices. The local Cosmo City community has become actively involved in becoming environmentally aware. Annual Garden Competitions where cash prizes and vouchers can be won – provide a great deal of encouragement and inspiration for the locals. Justan Mangwe of Basil Read-Green Projects heads up regular training for the local community where they are taught to grow plants and vegetables. One example is the establishment of Eco-Circles in the residents’ gardens. “Growing Eco-Circles affords the home gardener the opportunity to create an interesting garden design with circular veggie patches arranged along pathways and interspersed with herbs and fl owers. This provides colour, diversity and creates a feeling of abundance. Neighbours are able to feed each other, share and compare progress,” says Justan.

“Basil Read’s Green Projects programme is also investigating ways of introducing alternative energy sources into its developments such as solar heating and street lighting. This is particularly challenging in the integrated housing market – but this is the market that would most benefi t from our initiatives – so we will persevere until we fi nd the solution”, concludes Hughes.