Changing the Face of the City. The name of this large-scale project driven by Kimberley Rehabilitation Development (KRD) says it all.
Affordable building materials already being made available to individuals and construction companies is merely the start – if one considers the nearly 13 000 new housing units envisioned for the growing middle class in Kimberley with the rehabilitation of three unused and abandoned mine dumps in the city, the establishing of two industrial sites, as well as the creation of 1 500 direct job opportunities, 22 000 indirect job opportunities and prospects for SMMEs, solely aimed at local people.
These are just some of the initiatives of this extensive project and unique concept by KRD to be executed in the next 15 years.
The programme was developed over the past three years, with Fernando Garcao as director.
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“This programme liberates unused land for development in the city and includes the environmental cleaning up of land currently used as dumping sites and for criminal activities,” Garcao says.
Garcao, who has been living in South Africa for the past 36 years, has a background in, amongst others, agricultural engineering and mining.
Affordable building materials
KRD, as a newly licensed supplier, already offers aggregates, gravel and other building materials such as brick and pavers at affordable prices.
At KRD’s premises at the old Supermix outlet next to Barkly Road in the vicinity of Roodepan, a variety of cement bricks and pavers, amongst others, can be purchased.
Here, stock worth more than R1 million is already available and can be bought in any quantity.
“We can produce 110 000 bricks in one shift of nine hours. The shifts can be doubled, if needed,” Garcao says.
At KRD’s quarry and crushing operation site at the old Vooruitzicht shooting range next to the R31, an extensive offering including screened red soil and gravel (G5, G6 and G7) are already available for loading. Mining on this site commenced in February.
More products will consistently be introduced at both these sites and the offering will include clay bricks; lintels, roof and floor tiles; ready mix; several grades of aggregate stone; crusher dust; ballast; gabions and pothole mix.
Discount is offered on quantities and continuity, and transport can be arranged.
All KRD products comply with the standards of the relevant authorities, such as the South African National Accreditation System (Sanas), and are continuously subjected to independent laboratory testing.
The materials testing facility Cermalab, for example, conducted tests on the clay bricks, and all tests done show compliance with Sanas standards when it comes to plaster, foundation and face brick quality.
Also, consultation took place with various role players to determine the best technology for the applications and products manufactured.
“But this programme is much more than just a brick project,” Garcao emphasises, saying it rests on the four major components of rehabilitation, quarrying, manufacturing and construction.
From mine dumps to housing
Three unused mine dumps in the city area, which was donated by De Beers to the Sol Plaatje Municipality, are the backbone of this rehabilitation project by KRD.
These dumps, Collville, St Augustine and BMW, have been unused for the past 80 years.
“We are talking about overgrown areas no one wanted, and that are currently hotspots for crime such as rape and drug dealing, and where illegal dumping triumphs,” Garcao explains.
Kimberley’s burdens, says Garcao, are unemployment, poor services, a lack of housing and areas scattered around the city with transport challenges for commuters.
KRD identified this problem, while realising the possibilities of these three areas once rehabilitated.
A long process and a comprehensive feasibility study covering every aspect were done by professional roleplayers, who reached the conclusion that these mine dumps can be rehabilitated, with enriching results for residents and the municipality.
“The mine dumps mostly consist of Kimberlite, which is clay. You can not build on clay. It must be removed and be replaced with a certain type of gravel.”
Once rehabilitated, it will be perfect areas to build missing middle houses.
The mine dump in Collville covers an area of approximately 45 ha. According to the feasibility study, 8 002 units can be built here. This area is close to the CBD, next to the AR Abass Stadium and close to schools.
St Augustine, in close proximity to the historical Big Hole, consists of 12 ha, and after rehabilitation can carry 2 315 units.
“The houses next to these dumps are loosing value and are struggling with crime. Another add-on for these residents is that this project will improve the value of their homes,” Garcao says.
The mine dump known as BMW, opposite the Kumba Skate Plaza, covers 20 ha. Apart from 2 577 residential units, it is also envisaged that this site can offer prime office location, with potential underground parking.
The mining debris to be removed from these dumps will be used to fill up the Roodepan quarry.
Part of this quarry, approximately 70 ha in size, will be developed for community activities, while an industrial site for clay brick manufacturing will be set up on another part.
Once operational, it is expected that tiles, bricks, pottery and other products from clay will be manufactured here.
All the bricks needed for the housing will be manufactured at KRD’s Supermix outlet, while the gravel will be mined at Vooruitzicht.
At Vooruitzicht another industrial park will be established, which will provide ideal opportunities for SMMEs to manufacture products like window and door frames, and be involved in joinery and cabinet making, with a plumbing and electrical warehouse on site.
Renewing bulk infrastructure
A further demand of, and opportunity created by, these developments are that the bulk infrastructure of the city be renewed or upgraded.
The outcome of research done by engineers suggests a 1 200 mm diameter steel pipeline of 25,5 km from Riverton to the Newton Reservoir to replace the existing bulk supply pipes. From there reticulation will take place.
Regarding the bulk sewer system, it was found that sufficient spare capacity exists, but that the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Works needs refurbishment.
Additional electrical capacity needs to be developed.
Regarding transport, it was found that there is sufficient road capacity, but 11 intersections need to be upgraded, with road maintenance required.
Another level of people transit will be added in a designated services and transport corridor.
This will be done in the unused bypass area.
This bypass was planned in 1969 on the outskirts of the city, but was never built.
Due to the development of the city, it is now surrounded by developed areas, and stretches roughly from the Kalahari Lodge to the Flamingo Casino. It is 13 km long and an average of 10o m wide.
Apart from being a perfect area to carry the new bulk service lines underground, it is also envisaged that this can be developed into a recreation area for walking, running or cycling, with public transport possibilities.
- A specialist team of civil, structural, electrical and traffic engineers; urban and development planners; quantity surveyors; market and socioeconomic researchers; environmental and geological impact services; legal services and conveyancing; as well as ground and quantity surveyors are involved to successfully implement the project.
- Dial 083-441-3532 for more information, or follow the Facebook page Kimberley Rehabilitation Development.
