August 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
34
The longwait for housing is finally
over for over a thousand shack
dwellers who are now proud
home owners as the Happy
Valley Phase II Housing Project
gathers speed in Cape Town.
projects & contracts
SINCE ITS INCEPTION
in November 2011,
716 units have been completed and handed
over to beneficiaries. South African consulting
engineering company, GIBB has been at the
forefront of the project in providing a turnkey
solution for the implementation of this much-
needed, low-cost housing project in the infor-
mal settlement area. This approach ensured
that the top structures could be constructed
as soon as possible. The project aims to build
up to 1 452 formal houses by October 2013 for
the identified beneficiaries.
Breaking NewGround (BNG) is an initiative
for the roll out of low cost housing in South
Africa and the Happy Valley project is an ex-
ample of such a top structure with additional
enhancements – such as a longer roof over-
hang and a small stoep at the front door - that
aim to improve the aesthetics and insulation
of the units, at no extra cost to the beneficiary.
The R200-million injection into the project
is a joint collaboration between the City of
Cape Town and the Western Cape Provincial
Government. The project is a sterling example
of the successful implementation of the Up-
grading of Informal Settlements Programme
(UISP), which supports the conversion of an
informal area into a formal serviced township.
The land on which these houses were built
was previously home to approximately 1 300
informal structures.
The project funding was approved by
provincial government in January 2006
and the planning component started in
2007 with design initiated early in 2008.
GIBB was appointed as the project manage-
ment team in March 2011 and subsequently,
for the site monitoring and contract adminis-
tration component.
According to GIBB’s general manager:
integrated infrastructure, Sean Molloy, the
project illustrates GIBB’s expertise in finding
“WE ARE CURRENTLY
busy with the concept design for the upgrad-
ing and it has been proposed that the upgrade is achieved through
phases,”says GIBB’s technologist and project leader, Gerald Smith.
Smith reports that the project’s first phase, which is expected
to begin during the course of 2013, is aimed at addressing service
backlog issues, after which it is expected that the new inlet works will
be constructed. The last phase is anticipated to take place towards
2020. The project value is estimated at R130-million.
GIBB’s appointment by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
came after the company’s environmental study recommendations.
GIBB was commissioned by the municipality to evaluate the risk
that the migration of the Noordhoek dune field had on the Cape
Recife WWTW and other infrastructure in the region.
Themandate fromthemunicipality stipulated that two alternative
management methods be investigated, one being the stabilisation
of the Noordhoek dune field and the other, the relocation of the
infrastructure in the area.
However, during the course of the study, another option emerged
from the research. While abandoning of the existing maturation
ponds had considerable advantages, a proposed upgrade of the
WWTW presented the opportunity to extend the existing delivery
of treated effluent for irrigation purposes to more users than just the
nearby NelsonMandelaMetropolitan University and the Humewood
Golf Course. A return effluent scheme supplying water to inner city
and beachfront lawns, flower beds and trees has long been on the
cards. The improvement in quality rendered this a safe and highly
desirable option.
Remarking on other projects that GIBB is currently undertaking in
Port Elizabeth, Smith says that the company is busy repairing water
leaks at schools and indigent households.“We are also busy with the
construction of township services as well as construction of services
at the Walmer Park Shopping Centre.”
●
Cape Recife WWTW on track
The Cape Recife Waste Water Treatment Works
(WWTW) Project is on track, says consulting
engineering company, GIBB which was appointed
by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to carry
out the entire upgrading of the Cape RecifeWWTW.
Halfway mark
integrated solutions for the infrastructural
needs of South Africa.
“GIBB has once again demonstrated our
solid relationships with local government
and we look forward to the project’s comple-
tion in October this year when everyone on
the beneficiary list will be living in their new
homes,”he says.
Molloy added that there were many chal-
lenging issues that came with the project.
“Finding common ground with different
stakeholders means negotiation and rational
conclusions but together we havemanaged to
exceed expectations and meet critical dead-
lines.With the co-operation of the community
and other role players, we are confident that
we will make this project a success for the
people of Happy Valley,”he explains.
●
