Cm 05 06 2014 website by MWK Design

Contractor Magazine 05/06 Issue

Ghana Hope City to host Africa’s tallest tower Construction is expected to begin next month on Hope City – a planned US$10 billion technopolis outside Accra in Ghana. The ambitious high-tech hub that that aims to turn Ghana into a major ICT hub in West Africa will host Africa’s tallest tower. Hope City will be developed in an area of about 1.5 million square meters, located some 30 minutes west of Accra’s city centre. Designed by Italian firm Architect OBR, Hope City will comprise six towers of different dimensions, including a 75-storey, 270 metre-high tower that is expected to be the highest in Africa. A system of bridges at different heights will link the towers together, creating a circular connection between the buildings’ functions and public amenities. Hope City is the brainchild of Ghanaian businessman Roland Agambire, 39, owner of local technology firm RLG Communication s. The development will include an assembly plant for technology products, an IT university, a hospital, business offices, homes, among other facilities.

over the world can converge to design, fabricate and export software and everything arising from this country,” said Agambire. RLG Communications is financing 30 per cent of the project, with the remainder being funded by several investors and through a stock-buying scheme. According to Agambire, Hope City has already attracted several partners, including Microsoft, with Microsoft corporate vice president Ali Faramawy among the guests at the recent Hope City launch event.

after Kenya broke ground on its own technopolis – Konza Techno City – touted as Africa’s Silicon Savannah. The US$10 billion tech-hub will be constructed on a 5000-acre piece of land on the border of Machakos and Makueni counties – about 60 kilometres from Nairobi. It will be built in four phases over a span of 20 years. Konza Techno City, which is part of Kenya’s Vision 2030, is hoped to create over 20,000 IT jobs by 2015 and more than 200,000 jobs by 2030.

On completion by mid 2016, Hope City is expected to house 25,000 residents and create jobs for 50,000 people. The launch of the Ghana’s Hope City comes shortly

“The inspiration behind Hope City is to have an iconic ICT park where ICT players from all

PUBLISHER: CONTRACTOR MAGAZINE No.9, 1st Road, Kew, 2090 P.O. Box 1192, Randburg, 2125 Tel: +27 11 026 1500, Fax: +27 86 664 5551 Email: info@contractormagazine.co.za Website: www.contractormagazine.co.za The Publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or authenticity of the contributions contained in the Magazine and advertisements. Views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the Publishers.

LIBERTY SHOWCASES THE POTENTIAL OF JOHN ROSS ECO JUNCTION, ITS NEW INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT IN RICHARDS BAY The Liberty property portfolio has provided an outstanding 40 year record of stable, inflation beating returns, 28 of which have yielded double digits.

JOHANNESBURG - 14th June 2013 - The John

are appropriate for commercial workshops, light

Ross Eco-junction was officially presented by

industrial, motor dealerships, general showrooms,

Arctic Sun as land developer, and Liberty

office buildings, warehouses, wholesale and factory

Properties, as property developer and property

shops. A hospital, motor showrooms and a

manager, to stakeholders from the local

distribution centre are in the planning stage.

municipality, trade and industry with a positive forecast for Liberty's prime 195,000mÂ˛

Liberty Properties has been awarded the mandate to

development within the City of uMhlatuze. John

manage the development on behalf of Liberty Group.

Ross Eco Junction is identified as a 'Special Zone

Maurice Mdlolo, Managing Director at Liberty

Business Park 1' development, which allows for a

Properties says: 'What makes this parcel of land so

greater variety of mixed commercial land use.

attractive is its road frontage on the main route

Prospective tenants are able to consolidate sites

between the economic powerhouses of Richard Bay

within the greater development for larger land use.

and Empangeni, and the N2 highway linking Durban

Amelia Beattie, Chief Investment Officer of

and Pongola. John Ross Eco Junction presents

STANLIB Direct Property Investments said that

accessibility to a road network that sees an intense

the Liberty Property Portfolio is exploring exciting

movement of people, goods and services. We hope

new opportunities in retail and industrial property

that this project will make a significant contribution to

that have potential to grow and enhance the yield

job creation in northern KZN.'

of the portfolio over time. The John Ross land acquisition gives the fund welcome exposure to the industrial property sector, which has historically delivered strong capital growth and higher yields. The exposure also improves the diversification of the portfolio, not only by sector, but region as well. Beattie said that the portfolio's investment philosophy is based on investing for the long term, in quality assets and economically growing nodes. High growth rates and exceptional development opportunities characterise the uMhlatuze node. Given the planned infrastructure spend in this area by Transnet over the next seven years, investment in this region is expected to increase significantly, and with this, demand for real estate. The 30 sites

Beattie said that John Ross Eco Junction will be

The Liberty property fund is one of the prime funds in

developed as an eco-sensitive, energy-efficient

Africa and represents one of the only investment

space, with emphasis on sustainability. 'It is our intention that this development will be one of South Africa's first Green Star industrial parks. Careful attention will be given to the conservation of the

options through which individuals can gain access to some of Southern Africa's most iconic shopping centres and commercial assets. Additional information can be found at www.libertyproperties.co.za or www.stanlib.com .

rehabilitated wetland areas on site. Sustainable elements such as rainwater capture, permeable paving, indigenous plant life and renewable energy sources will be incorporated. We are conscious of our impact on the environment we invest into.'

About Arctic Sun Arctic Sun is a land development company specialising in the development of growth nodes on land holdings previously farmed by Mondi South

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:LIBERTY PROPERTIES: Tatiana Dinwoodie Internal Communications Specialist 011 408 5043 tatiana.dinwoodie@lib erty.co.za

Africa. The Arctic Sun consortium comprises Mondi NOTES TO EDITORS:

Zimele, Laurusco Developments and Tiawana

About Liberty Properties

Investments. Mondi Zimele is the enterprise

Liberty Properties is one of South Africa's top property management businesses with a goal to be

development arm of Mondi South Africa, and is

the leading property brand on the continent. The

involved in various SMME projects with the focus on

company operates within the broader Liberty

developing communities and assisting small

Holdings Group with two core capabilities: property

entrepreneurs to establish businesses in the timber

development and property management. Its R27 billion plus property portfolio includes six premier

industry. Laurusco Developments act as

super regional shopping centres, fourteen prime

Development Managers on Arctic Sun projects, and

commercial properties and thirteen hotels. This

is headed by well-known ex Tongaat Hulett director

prestigious list includes a number of leading brands with the flagship being Sandton City Shopping

Neels Brink, whose previous experience as part of

Centre with its adjoining Nelson Mandela Square,

the Tongaat Hulett team, includes the Zimbali

Eastgate Shopping Centre, Liberty Midlands Mall,

Coastal Resort, River Horse Valley Business Park,

Liberty Promenade Shopping Centre, Greenacres Shopping Centre, Sandton City Office Tower and

and development of the Gateway node, north of

Eastgate Office Tower, amongst others. The total

Durban. Tiawana Investments is represented by

gross leasable area of the portfolio is in excess of 1.1

Moses Tembe and Themba Ngcobo , two former

million square meters. Additional information can be

FLEISHMAN HILLIARD: Vanessa Sabbatini Public relations supplier 011 548 2000 / 084 666 3113 Vanessa.Sabbatini@fl eishman.co.za

LIBERTY HOLDINGS: Rae Tsotsotso Head of Public Relations 011 408 1500 / 083 374 2601 rae.tsotsotso@liberty.c o.za

Presidents of the Durban Chamber of Commerce,

found at www.libertyproperties.co.za. About STANLIB Direct Property Investments

both of whom have business interests in a variety of

Franchise

sectors across South Africa. Current Arctic Sun

In January 2012, Liberty Properties' Asset

projects (either in the planning approvals or

Management arm joined STANLIB, the Liberty Group's asset management business. The team

marketing phase) include the John Ross Eco

now forms the Direct Property Investment Franchise

Junction at Richards Bay, the Nkodibe Interchange

within STANLIB . The migration of the Liberty

Project at Mtubatuba and the N3 Hilton development

Properties asset management arm to STANLIB ensures that all Liberty Group's asset management

ARCTIC SUN: Neels Brink Arctic Sun Trading 17 (Pty) Ltd 031 3373460 / 083 255 4856

in the KZN Midlands.

capabilities are housed within STANLIB, as the Group's asset manager.

Mangaung – at the heart of it all. An amount of R436 million has been budgeted for roads and storm water, sanitation, waste management and water projects for the period 2012/2013. Through these projects and many others, 2 823 job opportunities have been created with 802 being permanent appointments between June 2011 and September 2012.

The year 2012 was a great year for Mangaung in the sense that we claimed our space as the heart of South Africa. The influx of over 120 000 people to Bloemfontein for the ANC Centenary Celebrations in January and the Macufe Festival in October proved that Mangaung can successfully host huge events. Businesses both large and small, ranging from hotels, guest houses and B & Bs to car washes, butcheries (chesa nyamas), fuel stations and supermarkets, benefitted from these events, which saw Mangaung business people and residents continually put their best foot forward. This attitude confirms us as a city that is friendly and hospitable, a city that people keep coming back to. As the City, we believe that it is our mandate to deliver excellent service to our electorate. Excellent service delivery depends on both our employees and other stakeholders such as service providers who job is to ensure that we get value for money through quality products. Our citizens are our ambassadors and it is through their friendship and hospitality that our tourism industry can grow. Our vision is to make Mangaung a city in which people can live, work and invest. This remains our cornerstone and we will continue to build on this vision. Like other municipalities across the country, Mangaung is faced with the challenges of service delivery backlog in areas such as housing, water, sanitation and unemployment. Our SDF has identified several interventions, like identifying pockets of land in Vistapark, Ceciliapark, at the airport and Hillside View to accommodate the rising demand for housing. The city is also losing a lot of revenue through water pipe leaks. However, the Minister of Water Affairs has committed to assisting the Municipality in financing programmes to help reduce the problem and ensure an end to the underground pipe leaks that are making the city lose millions of Rands in revenue. As with any major city in the world, Mangaung is also privy to crime, especially in the booming CBD. To ensure the safety of our people and visitors, we have installed CCTV cameras at strategic points in the three towns and at some entertainment hot spots. Together with our established law enforcement centres and continued traffic police visibility, this has helped in our fight against crime.

extensive Spatial Development Framework which is aimed at improving the lives of Mangaung residents, whilst also attracting investors and those seeking better opportunities – from business and school, to pleasure and leisure pursuits. The projects earmarked under the SDF include the N8 Corridor Development and the Bloemfontein Airport precinct development. New industrial development and human settlements will predominantly be taking place towards the east of Bloemfontein, especially along the vicinities of N8 Development Zone. The N8 Corridor Development Project promises to be one of the most significant investment opportunities that will guarantee jobs to many residents and contribute towards building a better life for all. The envisaged development at Naval Hill will undoubtedly be one of the Municipality’s world-class recreational facilities and tourism destinations that will give the local economy a great boost. Similarly, through the ongoing development of the Bloemfontein Airport, Mangaung is positioning itself as one of the emerging aero-cities in the country. The proposed Bloemfontein Airport precinct, to the south of the Airport entrance, is a multibillion Rand infrastructures and property development project that has kicked off with implementation of the first phase. The project comprises of the development of an international convention centre, a government complex, a regional shopping mall, and an array of sustainable housing typologies. This is an opportunity for discerning property investors to widen and improve their investment portfolios. It should be noted that youth are the core of our economy; hence their development is a priority for us. Whatever we plan, we have to ensure that these plans do not exclude young people, as well as women and children. Some of the projects will include a new furniture factory run by youth, fire fighters training at Ehrlichpark Fire Station and youth centres. To augment our vision for the city, we have already begun with some huge water and sanitation projects. We are also improving our road infrastructure, which is particularly important because Mangaung is a central link for South Africa. These projects include:

The declaration of Mangaung as a metropolitan means that people are watching us and acknowledging the area’s opportunities.

Construction of the Naval Hill Water Reservoir to supply water to the east of Bloemfontein. The project commenced in April 2012 and is expected to be completed in November 2013;

In our strides to make Mangaung a city where people can live, work and invest, we have developed an

Extension of the capacity of the Longridge Reservoir which will be completed in August 2013; and

Road rehabilitation, construction and maintenance of major roads including Andries Pretorius, Eeufees, Church, Haldon and Fort Hare Streets. To this effect, R470 million has been set aside for the upgrading of roads and storm water; R500 million for water services; R370 million for sanitation, which includes sewer bulk and sewer connections; and R37 million for landﬁll site management. We are also proud that since the dawn of democracy, we have provided more than 176 000 stands/households with access to sanitation, while more than 155 000 stands have access to basic water supply in Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. One of the objectives in terms of housing developments is to deracilaise the city for social integration, eradicate informal settlements and consolidate dysfunctional settlements. Currently, the city’s ﬂagship housing project is the soon to be occupied Brandwag Housing Project, a mixed housing project for middle income earners who are not eligible for state housing but cannot access bank loans. Land has also been earmarked in certain areas in and around

Mangaung for future mixed development initiatives which will encompass residential units ranging from low income and rental to social and commercial initiatives. The city’s tourist attractions include Naval Hill, whose status was further elevated upon the unveiling of the Nelson Mandela Statue in December and an overhauling of the area to make it even safer. Naval Hill gives tourists a bird’s eye view of the sprawling city of Bloemfontein.

Mangaung has prioritised water and sanitation programmes across its three areas, with particular focus on Botshabelo, the largest Free State township, and Thaba Nchu, the home of former ANC chairperson Dr JS Moroka.

There are also numerous places of interest and historical signiﬁcance which portray the role Mangaung played in the formation of political parties like the African National Congress and the National Party. These include Waaihoek, Maphikela House, Dr JS Moroka Residence, Onverwacht House and Phahameng Heroes Arc. Through all these programmes, Mangaung will continuously work to fast-track service delivery and grow the economy of the city. We will ensure that all the strides we made in 2012 do not fall away and that 2013 will be even better.

Fabricated Accommodation Halogenix Container Conversions provide shipping containers for all kinds of customers and applications due to their immense versatility. The options for our shipping containers are unlimited.

All of the above container conversions can obviously be offered in various combinations of each other, up to the level of luxury accommodation that will include everything from a bed to the kitchen sink! Even double volume, and double story installations are possible with our shipping container conversions

accommodate any size or scale of storage requirement. Besides offering our clients standard steel shipping containers, refurbished or non-sea worthy shipping containers, we also do shipping container conversions into all possible configurations according to our customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements: Site offices Ablution Facilities

Used shipping containers are a safe, entire weather withstanding, supremely secure outdoors storage solution for when your permanent fixtures are failing to accommodate your equipment and products effectively without diminishing their worth or appearance. You can choose from a vast array of used shipping containers to ensure that the ones you purchase will cater for all of your needs. From the storage of domestic gardening equipment to the temporary containment of tables and chairs in a commercial office setting; used shipping containers will never fail under pressure and will happily

Site accommodation Kitchen / Canteen Standard Storage facilities Chemical and Hazardous material storage units Cooling / Fridge / Freezer facilities. Security / Turnstile entrances Shelters The advantages of choosing Used Shipping Containers are endless; they provide excellent theft protection and are proven to deter criminal activity through their secure appearance and furthermore, because used shipping containers are extremely easy and efficient to deliver from the time of placing an order; your used shipping containers can be with you at breakneck speed within a matter of days. Time and cost-effective, there's no need to invest more money into buying new containers, when used shipping containers are just as safe and just as foolproof. Whatever used shipping containers you choose to invest in, Halogenix- South African leading supplier of used shipping containers and renowned container conversions service provider- are a company whose extensive range of stock means that they will have the perfect container to suit all budgets and requirements. Halogenix- since their inception as a reliable company seeking and distributing used shipping containers some years ago- avidly invest their time in maintaining customer satisfaction through regularly updating their already, vast range of products and services. And, believing that used shipping containers are a superb, cost-effective method of high security storage, where goods exceed a certain cost; they believe in remaining competitively priced and unbeatable on price

GCIS New Head Office at Hatfield programmes for citizens, businesses and other partners. Media Engagement's purpose is to lead and drive interaction and communication between Government and the media. Key to its mandate is the promotion and facilitation of mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understanding of governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agenda to foster an environment Property and Facilities Management is responsible for the procurement of office space for the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). It oversees the planning, coordination and execution of the relocation of the department from old offices to the new offices and also serves as an agent for the GCIS by interacting with various stakeholders to ensure timeous project execution. The chief directorate provides advice and assistance to the department, including the regions in all office accommodation-related problems and is responsible for reaching the goals and fulfilling the purposes of the project and ensuring adherence to project timelines. This Chief Directorate comprises four directorates that are responsible for a range of communication platforms created and operated by Government Communications (GCIS).

that encourages an active and engaged citizenry, one that is well informed, knowledgeable, politically literate and confident of asserting its right to equitable service delivery.

Finance, Supply Chain and Auxiliary Services is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 [PDF] 647 kb, the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 [PDF] 86 kb, the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, 1993 [PDF] 114 kb and Management Information Security Standards (MISS).

The overarching mandate of Internal Audit is to provide support to the Audit and Risk Committee as an oversight structure in helping GCIS Executive

These platforms are part of our commitment to keeping South Africans and stakeholders elsewhere informed about the policies and activities of government and the opportunities arising from these Management manages the organisation's reputation. Internal Audit achieves this by evaluating and making recommendations that materially contribute to the improvement in the system of governance, risk management and control to provide reasonable assurance that GCIS strategic goals and objectives and a clean external audit report will be achieved.

The Real Cost of Carbon Pricing As the heated debate over Labor’s proposed carbon tax begins to smoulder, we are poised to discover just how strong an impact the controversial legislation will have on Australia’s already hard-pressed construction industry. With its 1 July introduction, the government hopes to use carbon pricing to encourage consumers and producers alike to be cognisant of the effects of pollution on our environment and ultimately more responsible by utilising cleaner processes. “When you purchase a product that relies on carbonintensive materials or manufacturing processes,” explains a Daily Wire publication, “the price you pay does not represent the cost incurred by the environment. The iron ore used to create the product could be sourced from the highest polluting mine in the world, the electricity used to power the manufacturing plant could be provided by the dirtiest coal mine in the world, and the trucks used to transport the product to its final destination in a supermarket could run on the dirtiest fuels in the world, and it would make no difference to the price. With a price on carbon, this equation would change.” The introduction of carbon pricing, of course, will require construction businesses to factor these additional costs into jobs which will run past – or start after – 1 July 2012. This presents a complex situation for many builders, with the cost impact varying in accordance with the specific materials used, the size of the building and its location, as just some of the numerous factors at play. While all efforts have been made in modelling the impact of the carbon price using estimates, builders must be careful that they do not overestimate the impact of the carbon price when quoting clients – else they may face severe penalties under the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) and may even run the risk of breaking the law. “You would think it is straightforward to pass on these additional costs,” comments Master Builders Director of Housing Policy, Paul Bidwell. “However, unless they are very confident of their estimates and can attribute the cost increase directly to the carbon tax, they cannot increase contract prices with the explanation that the increase is to cover the carbon tax. Understanding and factoring in these additional costs are both challenging tasks given that many suppliers, manufacturers and distributors are still not sure how the carbon tax will affect their prices post 1 July.” Climate Change Minister Greg Combet, responsible for the introduction of the carbon tax, insists though that the way forward is clear because “pricing pollutions was the right thing to do.” He has also stated that for the “overwhelming majority” of companies it would be business as usual once the $23-a-tonne cost was imposed – as only three hundred major emitters would be required to pay the tax.

Despite Minister Combet’s assurances, a recent survey of the building and construction industry has revealed that an astounding eighty-eight per cent of those polled believed that their business would be negatively impacted over the next year by the introduction of the carbon tax. The survey included more than five hundred builders and contractors currently operating in the commercial, residential and engineering construction sectors throughout Australia. “The Federal Government has tried to assure the building and construction industry the carbon tax will have little to no impact. This is at odds with consumer behaviour and consumer confidence – and it is at odds with Treasury’s own modelling,” said Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO of Master Builders Australia in a media release published by the industry’s peak organisation. “Treasury’s carbon tax modelling indicates that the carbon tax will reduce the gross output in the building and construction industry by 5.6 per cent by 2050. This impact is considerably higher than negative impacts on mining and manufacturing, which are anticipated to go down 4.3 per cent and 2.8 per cent respectively.” Although that percentage reduction might sound slight, in lost output it cumulatively equates to just over twenty-four billion dollars from 2013 to 2020. “The Federal Government response so far has been to downplay the negative impact of the carbon tax on the building and construction industry,” claims Mr Harnisch. “We call on Minister Combet to be open to dialogue and work with industry during the transformation period.” Furthermore, Mr Harnisch asserts that the carbon tax introduction this month could not come at a worse time for the building industry, which is already facing pressures from an overextended economy. “Industry is trying to come to terms with a host of unknown factors,” he states. “This includes how to deal with supply cost increases and how they can be recovered in new and existing building contracts. New homebuyers are delaying their decisions as they assess the impact of the carbon tax. This confirms other surveys that show consumers are already exercising even greater caution over fears of increased cost of living. The increased cost of home ownership and of living flowing from the carbon tax will only make matters worse.” Mr Harnisch’s very real fears for the industry’s success have been echoed by the building and construction

community, confirming that work in the pipeline is at very low levels and profit margins are low to nonexistent. “Builders and contractors have no capacity to absorb any cost increases incurred as a consequence of the carbon tax,” he asserts. His colleague, Mr Bidwell agrees, saying that despite the concentrated media and political attention the carbon tax introduction has had, “Master Builders has been surprisingly unsuccessful in pointing the spotlight at the inevitable impact the carbon tax will have on the cost of building and, in turn, housing affordability. “Unlike some industries, the building and construction sector is in a unique position – it is neither emissions intensive nor trade exposed. However, despite direct emissions from the industry being quite low in comparison to other sectors, the price on carbon will have a significant impact because the sector uses many emissions intensive inputs, such as cement, bricks, aluminium, steel and glass.” He adds that this rise in the cost of construction will in turn impact both supply and demand. Mr Bidwell does, however, concede that the government’s plan for offsetting the carbon pricing does appear to have some potential for assisting with this potential crisis. “We know the government’s compensation package will offset some of the impact. Steel producers and other trade-exposed emissions-intensive industries,

along with around four million Australian households, are set to share billions of dollars in financial assistance for rising costs.” In fact, it is the long-term adjustment implications of the carbon tax which have caused the most concern for the industry, with the majority of work coming from other businesses and households who are meant to become more cautious by the very nature of the carbon pricing scheme. Estimates made by the CIE have indicated that overall, production could decline because of the carbon tax by 1 to 2.6 per cent – figures likely to increase over time as the carbon price steadily increases. “Any measures that will counter the rising cost of building and make the building industry less vulnerable are imperative to Queensland’s overall economic recovery,” says Mr Bidwell, noting that the existing First Home Owners Grant could be one of the numerous areas in which proceeds of carbon pricing could best be utilised. Ultimately, the real cost of Australia’s carbon pricing will remain conjecture for some time yet, forcing businesses throughout the construction and building industry to carry on and play by the rules with fingers collectively crossed for the best. And while all of this is so that we might sleep better with the knowledge that we are building towards a more conscientious future, some might ask, ‘in what buildings might we lay our heads?

Jozini Mall The R140 million retail investment located in KwaZulu-Natal, Jozini Mall is set to bring over a dozen of South Africa’s leading fashion retailers, meeting the needs of fashionforward shoppers from the fashion-famished community. When the first large one-stop retail centre opens in Jozini, North-Eastern KwaZuluNatal, retail-starved local consumers will enjoy more than comprehensive and convenient shopping. Jozini Mall, which opens in September 2013, will also forge a long-awaited fashion boost for the area. The 17,000sqm Jozini Mall corrects a large undersupply of retail in this community, which is severely restricted in meeting its daily shopping needs within its own town. Jozini Mall will comprise 45 shops – anchored by a

3,000sqm Shoprite, matched with a relevant mix of retailers including convenience, furniture and fast food - supported by over 400 parking bays, 36 taxi bays and eight bus bays. It also brings to town over a dozen of South Africa’s leading fashion retailers, finally meeting the needs of fashion-forward shoppers from this fashion-famished community. Introducing a exciting array of brands and ranges, Jozini Mall’s line-up of fashion retailers include Truworths, Identity, Jet, Edgars Active, Pep, Power Fashion and Rage. Jozini Mall’s ontrend fashion variety caters for a bouquet of styles and budgets. National furniture retailers at the mall include Joshua Doore, Ellerines, OK Furniture, Lewis and Barnetts. The eager demand from retailers to take up shops in Jozini Mall reflects the consumer potential in the community and both Standard Bank and Capitec have seized the opportunity to expand their business and have committed to the mall. Greater Atlantic Properties (Pty) Ltd is owner and developer of the new R140-million mall. Retail Network Services is crafting the retail dynamics for this project, which will benefit a worthy market of over 42,000 households in its primary and secondary catchment area. Nearly 106,000 people live in the primary catchment area and around 135,000 people stay in the secondary market zone. Gavin Tagg of Retail Network Services explains this small town plays a big role in the region. Synonymous with Lake Jozini, formerly Pongolapoort Dam, it is on the main route to Mozambique and provides a gateway into Maputaland. However, Jozini CBD faces space limits and hasn’t been able to expand with the town’s growing population. There’s little retail choice and limited national retail in Jozini CBD. Jozini Mall is on the main road to the Jozini CBD, about two and a half kilometres from the town centre, next to a housing development in one of the most densely populated areas of the region. This ideal position and visibility heighten its attraction to both shops and shoppers. Tagg says: “Jozini Mall is an excellent opportunity for a shopping centre development that truly connects this community with desirable, modern retail.” Retail Network Services, which is leasing Jozini Mall, is fullservice specialist retail leasing and development company. Retail Network Services has an excellence record of successes to its name, including Pan Africa Shopping Centre in Alexandra, Hemingways Mall in East London, Tsakane Mall in Springs, Jabulani Mall and Protea Glen Shopping Centre in Soweto to its name.

CHEMCRETE VRYBURG ROADS(HUHUDI COLERIDGE) Our location is selected to optimise transport expenses for our customers and is known in the industry for its easy access.

Our products are manufactured at and supplied from our facilities at Farm Vaalbrug near Orkney to meet or exceed the minimum NSRC (SABS) specifications. Tight quality control and batch control is maintained with regular laboratory tests at the NSRC to ensure that you can depend on our products to deliver your projects. To provide a wide variety of “top of the range” products at competitive and affordable prices to the construction industry in the North West and Free State provinces of South Africa, in strategic partnerships with other related industries, in order to provide customer satisfaction anywhere, anytime and delivering on all promises. We continuously seek to maximise returns to all our stakeholders through: Our ability to understand our customers and markets, which enables us to offer a focused range of products and services suited to the specific needs of each of these markets. Our mutually beneficial relationships with our suppliers, substantial buying power and ability to control costs, which enables us to offer quality products at the lowest prices to our customers at all times; Our progressive human resources practices, which promote a challenging and productive working environment and ensure that all our people develop to their fullest potential and are recognised and rewarded for outstanding performance; Optimally utilising all our resources thereby providing a superior, sustainable financial return to our shareholders.

Customer Advantages: Comprehensive range of services Technical service support Confidentiality A wide range of concrete products Products are subject to strict quality control procedures. We follow through to be successful. We strive to do it right first time, every time. We take responsibility in contributing to the company’s success. We recognise and reward outstanding performance. We listen attentively. We communicate and share all relevant information. We encourage people to seek ways to improve and innovate. We deliver exceptional service and total customer satisfaction. We show respect, honesty and integrity in all our dealings. We empower our people to develop to their fullest potential. We have pride in our work, our company and ourselves. We treat people fairly and equitably. Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) ROCHIN INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS CC t/a CHEMCRETE is independently verified as a Level 4 contributor according to the DTI’s BBBEE Codes of Good Practice (“DTI Codes”), with a score of 65.00. We provide a wide variety of “top of the range” concrete and related products at competitive and affordable prices to the construction industry in the North West and Free State provinces of South Africa, in strategic partnerships with other related industries, to deliver on our promises and ensure customer satisfaction anywhere, anytime.

Seshego receives facelift with new roads projects The mayor, Freddy Greaver officially launched two multi-million rand roads projects in Seshego last Tuesday. Greaver addressed the community, stressing the importance of communication: "As a municipality it is important to communicate with our communities and inform them on the developments and progress of the projects, so they can embrace and take ownership of all projects in progress". POLOKWANE - The mayor, Freddy Greaver officially launched two multi-million rand roads projects in Seshego last Tuesday. Greaver addressed the community, stressing the importance of communication: "As a municipality it is important to communicate with our communities and inform them on the developments and progress of the projects, so they can embrace and take ownership of all projects in progress".

Nelson Mandela Drive will cost around R16 million. The wider road will bring relief to congestion experienced during peak hours. The second project currently underway in Seshego is the rehabilitation of streets and road signs, which will cost almost R20 million.

The projects are expected to be completed by October.

Tebogo Matlala, a Seshego resident, said: "The road constructions will make the life of drivers easier and simpler. We can’t wait until it’s complete". Greaver officially closed the Nelson Mandela Drive (between New Era Drive and Stanza Bopape Streets) to make it easier for the contractor to work without traffic disturbances. The New Era, Nelson Mandela Drive intersection will be closed for construction until July.

Greaver told contractors they are not to compromise on the quality of service delivered. "We want this project to be delivered on time and with no compromise on quality. "We want you to make sure the road you are building is of good quality, and doesn’t fall apart in a year or two," he said. The first project, the upgrading and widening of

Upgrading of recreational and sport facilities at Meqheleng stadium, Ficksburg The nearby dorp of Ficksburg, just a 10minute walk from the township, does not offer much in terms of employment opportunities.

Residents of Meqheleng township have a spectacular view of the imposing 450m-high Imperani Mountain to the west and a breathtaking sight of great hills and mountains in the kingdom of Lesotho to the east. The township is located on the western banks of the Caledon River, which serves as the international border with Lesotho. Standing at the home of Andries Tatane, the man who was brutally killed by police during a protest march in Ficksburg this week, one can almost touch the Lesotho town of Maputsoe, which lies on the eastern banks of the Caledon. The beauty of Meqheleng ends, however, with the imposing mountains. Most of the streets, particularly in the old section of Masaleng, where Tatane lived, are unpaved, narrow and pitted with potholes. Some of the streets have been transformed into rivers of filth, raw sewage overflowing from burst pipes which residents say have not been serviced for years. The Tatane family home in Masaleng section was one of many whose water supply had been cut off. In some sections, residents say, the taps have been dry for almost three years. In the mornings scores of residents prowl the streets, carrying an assortment of containers, in search of water. Even in the town residents complain of constant water outages and electricity trips which damage appliances. There are hardly any sports facilities, with only one stadium – which is in a state of neglect. An enterprising group of youngsters have found better use for a tennis court which took years to complete – it now serves as a popular car-wash.

There are three public health-care clinics in the township, three high schools, five primary schools and thousands of unemployed youth and adults. It is literally a one-horse town whose only claim to fame is the annual cherry festival. The town itself looks forgotten, with streets which, though tarred, look to be in dire need of renovation.An influx of people from Lesotho, legal and illegal, has added to the growing frustrations of local residents. The Basotho citizens, most of whom have relatives in the border town and surrounds, have been blamed for the escalating levels of crime, particularly housebreaking and stock theft. In their memorandum to the Setsoto Local Municipality this week, residents of Meqheleng called for increased and regular patrols along the Caledon River, citing an influx of criminals from Lesotho. The township’s streets were transformed into a mini war zone, with mobs of youths facing police rubber bullets and tear gas as they protested against the death of their local hero, Tatane. However, the youths, in their quest to get officialdom to act on their demands, exacerbated the area’s lack of resources by burning down the home affairs building and library and breaking up roadside barriers to barricade the streets.

NEW DATA CENTRE - VODACOM Power consumption of a data centre is one of the most significant operating costs for such a structure, and thus energy efficiency was a high priority. The energy efficient design of the Vodacom centre was expected to deliver energy savings of about R1million a year. “Vodacom has reduced the space needed to host traditional servers in our data centre. We have also reduced power use to help reduce our carbon footprint. We will pass the benefits of cloud computing to our customers and enabling a truly flexible, agile and scalable cloud service,” said Vodacom commercial managing executive Chris Ross. “Since the establishment of our Business Services division just over three years ago, we are seeing business customers of all sizes demand more and more services to run and grow their organisations,” said Ross. Virtualisation, hosted services, such as hosted call centres, telepresence and increased acceptance of convergence have all been major factors in the investment in new data centres, he explained. Scalable cloud computing was said to play a vital role in any modern data centre and Vodacom has partnered with VMware and Novell in this regard.

The company said that the scalability of the data centre was a key design feature, and the data floor area was able to expand from an initial 1 552 m2 to an ultimate 2 862 m2. All major building works, and the envelope of the building have been completed in Phase I and further expansion could be easily introduced by connecting electrical and mechanical services as and when required. A water-cooled chiller plant was selected to cool the facility because of its energy efficiency. Low energy usage has been a key design goal. For example, some of the faclity features included air-cooled stepdown transformers with an efficiency of greater than 98%, which distribute power at the highest possible voltage as close to the source as possible, selection of T5 technology lamps, as well as LED lamps throughout the building, and lighting control which takes place through individual Lux and motion sensors being mounted to each fitting with a time delay to off.

Continuous cooling was provided for, mitigating the risk of overheating (thermal run-away) during utility grid power failures when the heating ventilation and cooling plant was starting up.

Use of service passages around the data centre floor areas improved thermal insulation, reduced the risk of water entrance to critical data floor areas and improved physical security.

Fighting Illegal Construction Dumping In addition to costing communities tens of millions of dollars each year in clean-up costs, illegal dumping creates hazards, is an eyesore, and undermines efforts by legitimate waste disposal companies. Illegal waste dumping carries fines of up to $5 million and up to seven years imprisonment.

The illegal dumping of construction waste is not new, but authorities are beginning to fight back on behalf of residents and the environment, stopping vehicles in their tracks when they suspect the drivers are about to dispose of construction and building materials improperly. Recently, ‘Operation White Squid’ was launched to crack down on illegal dumping in the Murrumbateman and Yass Valley area. The crackdown – an initiative of the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Environment Protection Authority officers, along with NSW Police and Yass Valley Council officers – stopped numerous trucks on the Barton Highway, near the NSW/ACT border. A number of vehicles suspected of being en route to an illegal dumpsite were stopped and turned back, while others were pulled over for traffic and safety violations. Although Operation White Squid is new, residents have faced the illegal dumping for years, a costly and dangerous eyesore. Until now, Yass Valley Council has paid for the clean-up, and came to an agreement with ACT Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) to clean up waste along the Parkwood Road dumping area. Much of the construction waste has been fill from Canberra demolition sites, broken chunks of concrete, along with non-construction junk such as old televisions, mattresses, and household waste. The agreement by authorities to deal with the waste has been months in coming, yet signifies a positive, coordinated effort between bodies on cross-border issues. With considerable recent expansion, residents living along Parkwood Road petitioned Council last year to demand something be done about the waste being dumped – in some cases – literally in their back yards. One long-time resident remembers the illegal

dumping going back to the 1980s when she moved in to the area, and said the situation had worsened recently because of increased construction and the switch to digital signals, which has seen some discard their old analog TV sets by the side of the road. A large part of the reason for dumping waste construction materials, said one representative from the Environment Protection Authority, was cost. Fees for legitimate disposal can be around $150 a tonne, and with some trucks able to haul 20 to 30 tonnes, waste fees can average $3000 to $4500 per load. “You add it up, and it’s quite a financial incentive for people to do the wrong thing,” said the EPA rep of unscrupulous companies looking for an illegal way to avoid hefty disposal fees In addition to costing communities tens of millions of dollars each year in clean-up costs, illegal dumping creates hazards, is an eyesore, and undermines efforts by legitimate waste disposal companies. Illegal waste dumping carries fines of up to $5 million and up to seven years imprisonment.

GPM Constructions Much like the tremendous growth seen in Australia’s construction sector over the past decade, GPM has expanded its project range since it was created. Initially taking on residential constructions and renovations, the company has diversified its offerings to include commercial projects along with marine construction, civil works, and plant hire. With a solid reputation for building excellence, the New South Wales based business attracts much of its work through word of mouth from satisfied clients throughout the Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, and the Lower North Shore. GPM Constructions is qualified and able to take on a broad range of projects. It addition to its own experienced staff, the company works with a select network of qualified, professional tradespeople. By combining strengths, GPM is able to ensure that clients across all construction sectors receive personalised, skilled service and the highest quality workmanship possible, with all projects completed within a nominated time frame and on budget. Along with the company’s own strict guidelines for quality in every project, GPM Constructions holds a number of important industry qualifications. In addition to being a member of both the Master Builders Association (MBA) and the Housing Industry Association (HIA), GPM also holds a current Builders’ Licence in New South Wales, along with a Master Security Licence, further enhancing the company’s commitment to all clients. Diverse Construction Sectors Committed to producing professional work for all its clients, GPM Constructions often takes on challenging projects, from commercial work to residential jobs, marine construction to civil works, and more. In the residential services sector, the company is able to take on a diverse range of new home constructions, renovations, refurbishments and additions. Working with architects and designers or directly with the residential property owner, GPM is able to design and construct unit blocks and townhouses, and work on specific areas of a home, such as bathrooms, decks and pergolas, garages, and even landscaping. Ranging in value to about a million dollars, the company has a portfolio of quality residential projects. One of them, Greenwich, stands as a testament to GPM’s many skills when it comes to working on heritage properties. With a project value of $900,000, the extensive renovation included the addition of an extra storey to the rear of the dwelling, which created a home with four bedrooms and five bathrooms. Additionally, the company executed

upgrades to existing living areas, including a formal lounge, a new timber staircase to the upper level, a modern kitchen, laundry, and bi-fold doors opening onto a paved patio / BBQ area. By seamlessly blending the original features of the heritage home with modern finishes and amenities, GPM Constructions was able to fulfil the client’s vision for of a space ideal for both day-to-day family living and entertaining. In the new homes sector, the company has delivered numerous projects on time, on budget, and to the complete satisfaction of the client. One of GPM’s new home constructions, a North Bondi two-storey semi, was designed and constructed in conjunction with Michael Folk of Campbell Luscombe Folk Lichtman Architects. With a project value of $500,000, the home’s contemporary design included three spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room, a new swimming pool – which required extensive works, including underpinning and sharing structures – and additional works, such as an external mechanical pergola and windows designed with concealed pelmets for blinds. Commercial Projects In the commercial sector, GPM Constructions has successfully created a range of projects, including retail and office fit outs, commercial constructions, industrial works, and a great deal more. With experience in restaurant and bar fit outs, the company regularly handles design and construction, refurbishments, remedial works, construction management, make-goods, and maintenance for its customers. Working closely with client Scope Project Management and a designer, GPM created an office fit out, including the refurbishment of 420 square metres of office space in Sydney’s CBD. The result was a modern, spacious, free-flowing and ergonomically friendly office.

With its own equipment, GPM Constructions in Sydney is able to provide a broad range of earth moving and construction equipment, predominately for the civil industry throughout NSW. With a stock of well-maintained, new and near-new equipment, the company prides itself on providing clients with earth moving and construction machinery, from front end loaders and excavators to rock breakers and rollers. With services delivered by a highly experienced team, GPM is able to meet the needs of all clients, and will continue to provide superior residential, commercial, marine, civil construction, civil works and plant hire for years to come.

With experience in the marine sector, GPM has taken on a number of projects for the Sydney Ferries Corporation. Some, like the $1,300,000 Circular Quay Wharf 3, required the construction of new wharf modular amenities buildings along with the refurbishment of revenue offices, with works scheduled in both night and day shifts to accommodate the needs of the clients and emphasise safe passenger egress and Sydney Ferries vessel movements. Another project for Sydney Ferries, the Balmain Shipyard Amenities, saw GPM handle the demolition and refurbishment of existing staff amenities. With a project value of $465,000, the company was responsible for the creation of a new commercial kitchen, bathroom, and locker rooms to accommodate over 100 staff of the Corporation.

GPM Constructions With its own equipment, GPM Constructions in Sydney is able to provide a broad range of earth moving and construction equipment, predominately for the civil industry throughout NSW.

Marine Projects Active in the marine sector, GPM Constructions specialises in a number of often challenging areas, including boat sheds, jetty / wharf construction and repairs, new sea walls and repairs, excavation, dredging, piling and slipways, design, engineering, plans and maritime approvals, marinas and rubbish removal. GPM utilises its own work boats, barges, excavators and machinery to complete these projects, and is able to offer cost-effective, professional services to all clients. One of the company’s most recent projects was Echuca. A historical port which recently saw $5 million in restoration works, the heritage-listed wharf dates back to the 1800s, and is home to Australia’s largest fleet of steam-driven paddle steamers. Working closely with Campaspe council, GPM completely disassembled and reassembled the port of Echuca, restoring it to its original state. To overcome natural obstacles in the Murray River, sheet piling was used, giving the project the highest standard of quality work otherwise unachievable through the use of divers. To improve economy and efficiency during construction, GPM used all of its own resources, minimising subcontractual agreements. Over the years, GPM Constructions has successfully completed a range of marine projects, including new jetties and slipways, new marina facilities (including extensive piering), repairing existing seawalls, excavation and pouring of new footings and supply and installation of sandstone seawall, building new boathouses, refurbishment of swimming baths, dredging works, construction of suspended boat ramps on piles and articulated pontoons, and more. For Merimbula, GPM was tasked by Bega Valley Council with the responsibility of carrying out $1.5 million of refurbishment works to the Merimbula public jetty, and with entirely rebuilding the local whale watching operator’s marina as the old wharf was kept open during works. At the site, the finger comes out 50 metres from shore to the head of the jetty, which is 300 square metres with a ramp and pontoon. Completely

demolishing the existing jetty, GPM’s own pile rig drove over 70 piles into the seabed, creating a new structure in the existing location. For aesthetic purposes, tops of piles were domed, and a speciallyordered mesh decking was sourced from Canada to provide the finishing touches on what is considered to be the pride of the town. Civil Works and Plant Hire In addition to residential, commercial and marine projects, GPM Constructions regularly takes on civil projects. With its own plant and machinery, the company is able to tackle works professionally and maintain a high degree of cost efficiency. Civil construction services include dredging, bulk excavation and detailed excavation, rubbish and rock removal, repairs and resurfacing, car parks and roadways, profiling and excavation, concrete and landscaping, road base and drainage, school grounds and games courts. Over the years, GPM has successfully taken on a number of civil works for councils, such as conducting dredging maintenance works on Clontarf Beach at the request of Manly council. Over the course of time, sand washing up on the beach rendered the pool enclosure unusable during low tide; to remedy the situation, GPM dredged and relocated a total of 3600 cubic metres of material, which also improved walkway accessibility at the southern end – where the material was relocated – since pedestrians were forced to detour back onto the footpath during high tide. With a stock of well-maintained, new and near-new equipment, the company prides itself on providing clients with earth moving and construction machinery, from front end loaders and excavators to rock breakers and rollers. With services delivered by a highly experienced team, GPM is able to meet the needs of all clients, and will continue to provide superior residential, commercial, marine, civil construction, civil works and plant hire for years to come.

Mall to Tower above Jouberton According to Kisten, construction is progressing at a rapid pace. “The professional team working on this project are very professional ,competent and are working diligently and tirelessly to ensure that this shopping centre is built to the developers' specifications and to open on time,” said Kisten.

The much-awaited opening of the Brand new Tower Mall will take place in October later this year. this unique mall is named after the distinctive group of water towers surrounding the buildings.This is another example of our commitment to developing meaningful and convenient shopping centres in underserviced areas nationally. Tower Mall 's position is in the heart of a Vital growth node, identified by the City of Matlosana administration, with significant long term community upliftment opportunities. This will be another quality shopping centre developed by Landmark and funded by ABSA CAPITAL.This is according to the executive director of LANDMARK , Lionel Kisten. He heaped praises on the local and experienced construction company, Ludick Construction, headed by Louis van Eeden, and said they are doing a “splendid job.”Ludick construction has employed local labour of approximately 126 people, they have also employed a security company from Jouberton to provide security control, surveillance and monitoring for the entire construction site. “ Keeping it local has been at our heart of what Landmark and Ludick construction have tried to do here in Jouberton, by empowering local small businesses and local people directly from the Jouberton region to maximise the amount being spent in the community that this new shopping centre will serve. It makes sense . We want the citizens who are going to use this resource to feel a sense of pride in what they have accomplished , says Lionel Kisten. Tower Mall will be the first,modern, attractive and dominant shopping centre measuring approximately 15 500 m2, including an on-site taxi rank.This rank was designed with the blessing of the local taxi associations and will make shopping trips to the centre ,simple straight forward and affordable for the community. The shopping centre will offer convenient shopping under one roof, with excellent exposure and easy access as it is situated on the N12 corner Jabulani Street- Ext 19- Jouberton. “It will be vibrant and serve as The social gathering place for the extensive communities of Jouberton , Alabama, Manzil Park with a population of approximately

200 000 people. Tower Mall will definitely enhance the

landscape of this immediate area the shopping centre is at least 93% (about 14 400m2) prelet. He indicated that they have reserved the best shops for last. Citynet , the leasing consultants is looking for local entrepreneurs to take up this tremendous opportunities offered by Tower mall in several different categories , for fast foods, footwear, paint 'n hardware, restaurants, sports bar/, entertainment and sports wear. “We wish to applaud the concerted efforts of the Executive Mayor, Kagiso Khauoe, municipal manager, Ross Motsemme, Sipho Mabuda and A.Khuzwayo from LED, Technical engineering services , Townplanning Department, Department of Labour and the department of Health and Safety and the Local ward Councillors for their continued support from inception and now during construction,” said Kisten. He said the mall has already created a number of construction jobs and should create meaningful permanent jobs post construction. The fact that major national tenants are represented , translates into the maximum potential for Tower Mall to achieve significant success from the outset. “Tower Mall will be the impetus in the growth of this local economy and will create a brand new commercial node , which forms an integral part of the City Of Matlosana “Spacial Development Plan” The following Household names who t have already booked their space at the mall include Shoprite ;Clicks; Tower Mall Pharmacy, Mr. Price, Pep Stores, Jet Stores, Fashion People, Ghetto Fashions, Standard Bank, African Bank, Capitec Bank, Old Mutual Bank, FNB, Biltong Hut, Khan Spices ,Cosmetic Connection, KFC, Fish n Chips, Stadium Foods, Cash Build, Morkels , Electric Express, OK Funiture, Ellerines, Bears, Fair Price, Lewis Stores, Chatz Cellular; Nizams and many others.

Klein Bottle House / McBride Charles Ryan The Klein Bottle House converts a complex math concept into a stunning structure. Using CAD technology, McBride Charles Ryan has employed the non-orientable surface of a Klein bottle for a holiday home in Mornington Peninsula. In mathematics, the Klein bottle refers to a surface without a distinct inner or outer side, in which the left and right, or top and bottom, cannot be consistently defined (imagine a Mobius strip with no boundary). A real Klein bottle would require a four dimensional universe to exist (as opposed to our three dimensional one), but the masterminds behind the Klein Bottle House have captured the essence of this intriguing geometric puzzle. Using walls with origami-like folds and facets, the Klein Bottle house bends into itself to become one continuous volume. The rooms rise with the trees in a spiral around a central courtyard, connected by a dramatic red staircase. Exploring the interior instills a sense of being wrapped within the curls of a conch shell, and other occupants seem strangely far away and nearby at the same time. The structure is designed to capture the lighthearted fun of holiday time while simultaneously blending into the surrounding trees and sand dunes. To emphasise the dramatic creases and angles, recesses are finished in varying yet subtle shades of white and gray, while the outer surfaces are boldly painted black. This black perimeter frames and accentuates the wild, scenic background, allowing the peculiar structure to merge effortlessly into the natural landscape, almost as though it has always been a part of the grass, leaves and sky surrounding it.

Australia’s forwardthinking architects have designed some of the most dramatic and innovative homes on the planet. Klein Bottle House, Cloud House, and Letterbox house by McBride Charles Ryan; HP Tree House by MMP Architects; and The Tree House by Jackson Clements Burrows are a few of the most remarkable recent examples

The home’s unique approach to architecture has been recognised internationally, and was named Best House at the 2009 World Architecture Festival Awards.

window-like openings in the adjacent branches. Subdued, natural colours add to the camouflage effect and complete the illusion that the home is a natural, almost expected, part of the surrounding forest. The home is airy and light throughout, and abundant canopy-level views create a relaxed, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The single level structure consists of three pavilions separated by breezeways. The main pavilion features stunning views through a full glass wall, and empties onto the outdoor living breezeway. The outdoor dining space overlooks the ‘tree house’ lounge, which is open to the forest on all sides and covered by a large canopy roof. The breezeway leads to the master bedroom, an ensuite pavilion boasting enchanting views of the adjoining rock face, which transforms into a private waterfall during the wet season. The third pavilion contains guest bedrooms and is separated from the living area by laundry facilities and the entry breezeway. Offering practicality as well as beauty, HP Tree House is carefully designed to be low maintenance and ecofriendly. The roof is flat to allow easy access to the PV installation, membrane canopy, solar hot water, and gutters. Aluminium windows, Colourbond steel external cladding, and a galvanised exposed structure all require very little upkeep. In addition, the timber was either plantation grown or sustainably harvested, and the stone was locally sourced. Cloud House / McBride Charles Ryan Cloud House is a double-fronted Edwardian home in Melbourne’s Fitzroy North suburb that has been renovated numerous times over the past century. For the latest changes, McBride Charles Ryan created a wholly unexpected, south-facing addition that captures the shape and light-hearted whimsy of a cartoon cloud.

HP Tree House / MMP Architects HP Tree House, designed by MMP Architects, has recently been awarded 2012 House of the Year by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA). Perched on the flanks of Mt Whitfield in Cairns, the home disappears into the surrounding rainforest. Well secured by galvanised steel supports stretching all the way from ground to roof, the structure seems to float effortlessly amidst the trees. The surrounding canopy has been left carefully undisturbed, hiding the home from the city below, yet still allowing occupants a view of the city through

This newest addition is divided into three distinct parts, a layout which produces a series of unexpected episodes, each of which is foreshadowed by details within the previous room. The street façade has been left intact, acknowledging the original design and revealing the extent of the alterations within. A white interior, emboldened by a dramatic floral carpet, leads to a fragmented red box, which is actually the kitchen. This unexpected central feature acts as a bridge, linking the surrounding spaces. A bulging, cloud-shaped living room makes up the final portion of the house. The playful space boasts a finely crafted wood-panelled interior in which the

floor, walls, and ceiling curve seamlessly into one another.

Letterbox house / McBride Charles Ryan

The Tree House / Jackson Clements Burrows

This unusual structure by McBride Charles Ryan is a shortlisted entry in the Completed House category at this year’s World Architecture Festival.

Tree houses are usually associated with rough, wooden structures nestled atop high branches, but this angular design by Jackson Clements Burrows actually mimics the tree itself. A muted green exterior and rooms that protrude dramatically outward suggest the colours and shape of a sturdy trunk and thick branches.

The home begins as a single letterbox in the front – then slowly unfurls into a long, winding veranda. The sculpturally formed façade twists and turns with surprising grace, creating a range of shapes, scales, and impressions.

The home is perched on a steep hillside at Separation Creek Victoria, overlooking a gorgeous ocean view. True to its namesake, the home blends cleverly into the surrounding foliage.

By hiding behind its namesake letterbox, the house blends into the modest beach suburb surrounding it. In fact, when faced head on, the house barely reveals its striking design. Only by drawing closer alongside the rich, wooden walls can observers truly take in the unexpected angles and dimensions.

The Tree House’s most striking feature is a massive balcony jutting ludicrously into thin air. At first glance, the home looks as if it cannot possibly support the weight. One gets the impression, in fact, that the entire, top-heavy structure is perpetually on the verge of overturning and tumbling down the hill. In reality, the carefully designed building has a solid foundation and extremely robust construction, making such a scenario impossible. Design features such as rock mounds and terraced steps incorporate the natural landscape and add further support. Although the 220 square metre house appears compact from the outside, its two levels actually boast three bedrooms, a generous living / kitchen / dining area, and a small solarium.

Bright red supports run the length of the home and line the interior walls. The bold red colour contrasts dramatically against the mostly white interior and vaguely resembles the skeleton of a ship or the ribcage of a whale. Klein Bottle House, HP Tree House, Cloud House, The Tree House, and Letterbox House showcase an enviable range of talents and ideas, and firmly place Aussie designs at the forefront of residential architecture. It is no surprise that several of these structures have won or been nominated for prestigious national and international awards. Not only do the unique homes stun and amaze, they leave one wondering what the minds behind the designs could possibly think of next.

mpe

moyeni professional engineering

Contact: Brian Roberts Pr Eng MBA Cell: 082 579 6249 Tel/fax: 011 682 2759 Email: moyeni.mpe@telkomsa.net P.O.Box 14 Glenvista, Johannesburg, 2058

Moyeni Professional Engineering (mpe) is a specialist Transportation Engineering company in: Transportation Planning Traffic Engineering Development realization (transportation aspects) Expert witness for legal cases The company is headed by Brian N Roberts who is a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (Reg no 830064) studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and also holds an MBA. Brian operates as a specialist outsourcing basic engineering aspects to selected colleagues / companies.He also consults to private and public sector built environments, including economic development projects as well as act as an expert witness in legal matters. In this way Brian's 33 years of extensive experience can be used most effectively.In addition to this, Brian personally coordinates and drives the mpe projects. CLIENTS A majority of our clients include but are not limited to the following; Public sector Mall at Middelburg Project

Provincial, Metropolitan and Local Authorities Development Agencies, Road Agencies, Transportation Departments SANRAL and DoT Private sector Corporates / Institutions Mining Groups Private Companies owning property both vacant and occupied Individual owners of Land Property Developers Oil Companies Consultants including project managers, architects, town planners, civil ? engineers, lawyers, quantity surveyors and EIA practices.

Moyeni Professional Engineering 26

CAPABILITY STATEMENT Moyeni Professional Engineering is capable of effectively undertaking the following: Transportation Formulation of new towns and nodes, from a transportation perspective Strategic development frameworks and transportation networks (Transportation and Roads) Road Networks including alignments, intersection spacing and lines of no access Public transport (bus and taxi) systems Heavy and light rail systems BRT Systems Freight Systems Transportation Modeling Tolling Systems Intermodal Interchanges Integrated Transportation Plans (ITPs) Public Transportation Plans (PTPs) Strategic Development Plans (Transportation) Corridor Plans (Transportation Economic Development Projects) Sector Plans (Transportation and Roads) Air Transporation Plans Planning for new developments Non Motorized transportation planning Traffic Engineering Traffic Impact Assessments (TIA) Access studies Road upgrade assessments Internal road layouts Traffic signals and timing plans Congestion monitoring and solutions Traffic data collection and analysis Traffic modeling including micro simulation modeling Parking studies including relaxation applications Traffic safety studies Truck stops feasibility and planning Internal circulation design / checking Road level of service assessment (design input) Non Motorized transport studies Implementation of traffic solutions Development realization (Transportation aspects)

Expert witness

Project Management Site transportation related upgrades - design and monitoring, specifically with regard to signals, road marking and signage. Out-of-the box solution proposals Financial implications of infastructure proposals Faciliating approval procedures Motivations for contribution offsets Motivation reports for road closure applications

Notes to counsel for legal cases Assessing claims based on transportation matters Presenting and defending evidence at hearings / court

BMC Group BMC Group continues to apply its unique, open, family-style philosophy to its major works across various heavy industries with great success, allowing for incredible growth within the company and topnotch solutions for clients who continue to work with the company again and again. BMC Group’s full service, turn-key solution is sure to offer clients what they need

The company was established in 2004 by John Monteleone and Mal Stasinowsky as BMC Welding and Construction. John and Mal, recognising the importance of offering diverse services in achieving their goal of providing a complete turnkey solution, soon expanded upon that original direction of the company, adding a high voltage department. BMC has now diversified and grown from the two-man team to an employer of four hundred and fifty people in both casual and fulltime positions. BMC Group offers design, fabrication, installation and maintenance services as well as electrical and instrumentation works, high voltage specialities, transformer refurbishment and transformer maintenance, all supported by around-the-clock professional breakdown repair and service. Further services include welding of high pressure pipe work and structural steel, laser coupling alignment, heat treatment, hydro testing, mechanical works and the provision of labour and equipment to support an existing workforce. The company is able to provide management, supervision and tradespeople on demand. The group’s directors work closely with clients to assess needs and create tailored solutions for a range of industries, particularly in oil and gas; power generation, transmission and distribution; pulp and paper; and mining. Dean Neilson, BMC Group’s Business Development Manager, has experienced and contributed to the company’s incredible growth and has seen the company evolve into a major service provider for large scale industry. “The personal involvement of our directors has had a great deal to do with our success,” he says. “Clients have access to the highest levels of management at BMC group, and they really do appreciate this aspect of our operation.”

them,” says Dean of the discover process. Through working together with clients and applying their experience in the field, BMC works to identify areas in which clients can make a process more efficient and cost effective. BMC Group divides its efforts across two fields, a mechanical division and a high voltage electrical instrumentation department and operates across two massive and well-equipped workshop spaces, with nearly six thousand square metres between them. BMC’s workspace is equipped with several overhead cranes, three of which are rated at twenty tonnes, as well as seven acres of hardstand yard. This space is used for pipe spooling fabrication work, large structural fabrications, vessels, tanks, heat exchangers and conveyor drive units. The mechanical division’s focus is mechanical works, including twenty-four hour breakdown service, shutdown, maintenance, construction and fabrication that takes place at the workshop where staff have a wealth of expertise using carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex, copper and nickel. The high voltage, electrical and instrumentation department at the group’s Morwell location performs transformer refurbishment and the testing of equipment as well as asset management, installation and maintenance. BMC Group’s success has been staggering. Since 2004, the company has grown massively while providing high quality welding, construction and electrical solutions to an ever growing list of repeat clients. Building solid relationships throughout the industry has allowed the group’s reputation as the service provider of choice for major industry to precede it. Among recent projects are the fabrication of high pressure parts at the Hitachi Bluewater Power Station in Western Australia and module fabrication, demolition and construction at TRUenergy Iona Gas Plant.

This is a great differentiating factor for clients of BMC Group as competitors do not typically provide this type of access. “They recognise we have small company values though we operate at a high level,” says Dean. This communication fosters a true spirit of cooperation and trust between the group and its clients who can rest assured that they will receive the level of service that they deserve. “The directors are personally involved in the decision making and the work we do, which has a big impact on our success.”

The company has completed many projects, with many more on the near horizon. Major upcoming projects include a significant upcoming four year contract as well as a great deal of work for a gas plant expansion project.

This personal involvement can be seen across all aspects of a job, with directors, engineers and tradespeople working closely with the client to determine just what the needs are. “We bounce around ideas with clients that would be beneficial for

With the changing nature of the company comes a rebranding and management re-organization to reflect the standards of quality and stature of jobs the company can complete. “We’ve sort of outgrown our image and want to revitalize a bit.” The name change,

from BMC Welding and Construction to BMC Group, is designed to reflect the group’s corporate structure and professional philosophy and to help BMC Group stand out as a major industry service provider among smaller companies. BMC Group is re-organising its management structure in an effort to allow directors even more access to support clients at job sites. “We’re implementing a management change where we have an executive management team to run the day to day and get the directors out with the jobs talking with clients.” The group’s website is also undergoing a major overhaul to represent the company’s growth and development in world of major industry. The redesign should better reflect the BMC Group’s corporate philosophy and to project to clients the level of service and professionalism they can expect from the company. Speaking of the industry generally, Dean recognizes that businesses across the board are experiencing a downtime and that many jobs have slowed. “It’s tough at the moment as it’s low in the last few months,” says Dean. “We’re very fortunate that we still have a good core crew and work to keep us busy.”

In addition to an electrical engineer heading up the high voltage division, employees bring a broad variety of skill sets, supplying the company with office staff, engineers, quality assurance, occupational health and safety, draughtsman and project managers, supervision for all disciplines, welders, boiler makers, pipe fitters, mechanical fitters, riggers and scaffolders.

With potential international expansion will come another period of major growth and innovation for BMC Group.

Employing and retaining top-notch workers in a variety of fields has always been important to the group as a key aspect in supplying quality service to clients. Maintaining an open and accessible workplace culture, with access to the director level for all involved has helped to make BMC Group and ideal place for many to work. “Relationships are a big factor with us, right from the workers to management right up to the directors; it’s our focus to maintain great relationships, both within the company and with clients.” As the company looks toward the future, Dean expects to see continued measured growth and expansion into new and exciting markets, including recent exploratory trips into West Africa where the company recognizes a great deal of opportunity.

While the relationships built in the past have furnished it with many repeat clients happy to work with the company again, BMC continues to gain work. Other outfits may have needed to downsize to navigate the current economic climate, but BMC Group has been able to weather the storm and continue to grow by diversifying and broadening its range to meet the needs of new clients.

Scott Salisbury Group AREA Construction is able to serve the whole of South Australia from its main office in Camden Park about five minutes from the Adelaide central business district.

AREA Construction originally started out constructing town houses and similar builds. About fifteen years ago, that type of work grew into a division which focused purely on commercial projects: factories, warehouses, retail, car yards and other buildings related to the commercial industry. “They did a variety of commercial contracts and then two years ago the commercial side of the company was rebranded into AREA Construction,” explains Christopher Went, the current General Manager of AREA Construction. The company is also now looking into opening up a regional office that will be located somewhere in the Northern part of Australia as there is word of more work coming up in Northern Territory. Today, AREA Construction is working on many diverse projects including retirement homes and independent living units. According to Mr Went, “We are also doing a reasonable amount of developer housing still and that seems to be an area that’s come on stream again, having been a slow area in the past three years. It’s interesting to see that segment is moving again and we’ve also taken on our own design and fabrication of framed steel structures which will give us a performance edge in the factory and warehouse market. We’re really looking to push forward into that market within the coming year.” Working with quality developers in the construction of commercial and industrial buildings, medium density housing and retirement villages, the skilled team at AREA Construction has a broad range of expertise, enabling the company to deliver the service and quality synonymous with the Scott Salisbury Group at a number of different price points. The company’s approach is that with every project, it is working to balance two distinct elements of success: Building Quality Projects and Superior Customer Service. With the experience to build “everything from 80 square metre two-bedroom affordable homettes to 5story multi-function complexes” and everything in between, AREA’s unique blend of residential and commercial knowledge allows the team to create high quality projects through clever design and better construction methods. The company utilises a project management model rather than a contract management model; the employees all work for the client. “We look after the client’s needs, rather than working for that money transaction,” says Mr Went. AREA Construction is all about working with the customer to get the best outcome for every project that is taken on. Typically, the company has two people working per

job, a site manager and someone working in the office. The company’s structure is essentially flat and everyone works together to achieve the same goal. This model makes it easy for the client to maintain a direct line of contact with all of the decision makers for the project rather than having to play telephone tag with a director. Explains Mr Went, “This way the jobs can be pushed in the right direction and have good outcomes.” The company employs trusted contractors for its labour, who are typically hired for a twelve month period and moved from project to project as work gets completed. This model makes the contractors available to the company when hired on for twelve months at a good price rather than hiring them on for a single job and then having to go after them again for the next one and bargain different terms. It’s a unique way of doing business, but it is proving and effective part of the company’s business model. “We feel that it gives everyone a sense of security and teamwork for moving forward in the future,” says Mr Went. “A good number of them have been with us for the whole fifteen years or longer and we also tender most of our projects out to the marketplace so our regular contractors seem to be very efficient and right on the ball in regards to pricing. We also use a good selection of general contractors from the general marketplace to make sure that we stay competitive and up with the latest ways of doing business.” According to Mr Went, “We tend to attract people who have the same ideals when it comes to getting on, getting work done quickly and efficiently, and getting out of jobs with a minimum amount of hassle. This tends to give better results for all those who are involved.” The company is similarly selective when working with design partners. AREA Construction has longstanding relationships with a number of design firms, and with such a broad range of projects being undertaken, the company will select the design firm that is best suited for the project. The secret to AREA Construction’s success, shares Mr Went, is the amount of small to medium sized projects that it takes on. With an extensive amount of work to be done in that segment of the market, it enables AREA Construction to keep busy without having to wait for that next $10 million project to come up. With the current state of the marketplace, even after the company’s bid has been accepted, it often takes a lot longer to get projects underway. The problem that a lot of construction companies are facing today is

market confidence. A project that would take three months to get off the ground normally, may take a year in the current business climate. “It takes a lot longer to get good projects to site and that, in itself, is a challenge. Making sure that we can give these clients the confidence that they need to get the job underway always has to be at the front of our minds.” Of course, the biggest confidence boost for a client is the knowledge of how long the Scott Salisbury Group and AREA Construction have been in business. The Scott Salisbury Group has a reputation for quality construction and that brings in a fair amount of repeat business. “Our greatest achievement is the large number of repeat clientele that come back to work with us exclusively,” says Mr Went.

“They know that we’re always competitive on pricing, and they enjoy the process and the service. You can talk about building big and exciting things until the cows come home but the reality is that this is about a process and if the client gets to the end of that with a smile, it shouldn’t matter whether it’s two tiny houses or a multi level apartment block. The happy customer is the achievement.”

Dangote Cement to enter Kenya Dangote’s Mtware cement plant, whose construction began last month, is expected to increase Tanzania’s cement capacity by 1.5mn tonnes by the second quarter of 2015.

Nigeria-based Dangote Cement is planning to enter the Kenyan market, barely a month after the firm began building a cement plant at Mtware in southern Tanzania.

“Going by Dangote Cement’s financial muscle and aggressiveness, an unprecedented battle could be in the offing,” said investment analysts at Old Mutual Securities in a recent research report.

According to the June issue of the Indian Ocean Newsletter, Dangote wants to buy a cement firm in Kenya and has already sent emissaries to look at Mombasa Cement and the National Cement Company owned by Devki Group.

Old Mutual projects that the East African region will experience an over-supply of cement by 2015, with the entry of new players and a further capacity enhancement by existing cement firms.

“If Dangote cement project goes through, it will mean a powerful new competitor will be present in the Kenyan market – enough to send shivers down the spines of the country’s other cement companies,” said the newsletter. Bamburi Cement is currently the country’s biggest producer with a production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per annum. Other major local producers include ARM Cement and East African Portland Cement Company.

“This is expected to result in downward pricing pressures more likely to benefit consumers in the East African community, simultaneously raising concerns about the long-term profitability of the industry.” Cement prices in Kenya currently range between Ksh700 ($8) and Ksh750 ($8.5) per 50kg bag while in Uganda, the average price is Ush32, 000 ($12

PHOTOLUMINESCENT SAFETY SIGNS JHB Head Office Email: sales@jalite.co.za Tel: 011 609 7350 Cape Town Office Email: jalitect@telkomsa.net Tel: 021 531 5209 Kwa-Zulu Natal Office Email:sales@jalitekzn.co.za Tel: 082 802 8284

The entry of Dangote Cement into the Kenyan market is likely to shake up the market, especially since the country’s production capacity has been running ahead of consumption for over a decade with the excess supply sold in the regional markets.

Jalite (Pty) Ltd has for several years been one of the frontrunners in Southern Africa for the supply and installation of both basic and specialist Fire and Directional signage systems. In addition to this we have expanded our manufacturing facilities and can now offer our clients a wide range of specialist signage options, including:

- FIRE AND DIRECTIONAL - ARCHITECTURAL SIGNS - INTERNAL SIGNS - EXTERNAL SIGNS - RIGGING AND MAINTENANCE

Fusion Group to build Sh1.2bn Upper Hill office block Private Equity firm Fusion Group has announced plans to build a Sh1.25 billion office block in the Upper Hill area of Nairobi.

“Fusion (Group) announces the syndication launch, for a new $14.7 million (Sh1.25 billion) commercial office development in the Upper Hill area of Nairobi, Kenya,” the PE firm in said a statement. Fusion says that the project’s location in Upper Hill’s diplomatic belt is its main selling point. “The proposed development, in a highly sought-after location near the British and Japanese Embassies, is attracting considerable interest from investors,” said the firm. The announcement comes barely seven months after November last year’s Fusion-led consortium, which invested Sh1.4 billion in an office complex dubbed Upper Scale Developments on Ngong Avenue, Upper Hill. The development is scheduled for completion next year.

average, said the Knight Frank report.

Thanks to the high returns, high-end office is attracting both local and international investors, who are building office blocks targeting multinationals. It is reported that Reliance Industries, a company associated with India’s riches man Mukesh Ambani had acquired combined 27.5 acres in various high-end estates in Nairobi for commercial office development. Reliance Industries has so far developed two properties in Nairobi; Delta Centre (Upper Hill) which was sold to the World Bank and Delta Towers (Westlands) which was sold to the University of Nairobi and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Nairobi is currently enjoying a huge demand for high quality office space, thanks to an influx of global corporation in the mining sector and others establishing regional offices in the city. According to a recent report by Knight Frank, Nairobi was ranked top in a list of 16 cities across Africa, Asia and Middle East, that measured the rate of increase in office space rent. In 2012, office space rent in Nairobi’s high-end areas rose by 17.9 per cent against the 5.1 per cent global

NHC announces Sh1bn housing plan The National Housing Corporation (NHC) has announced plans to build 2,000 houses worth Sh1 billion in the coming financial year. NHC managing director Wachira Njuguna said the corporation had received Sh1.2 billion from Treasury, the first allocation in three decades, to finance construction of at least 50 units in each county. Mr Njuguna said the new houses will be built using the cheaper Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) technology that involves construction of houses by assembling ready-made EPS foam, sandwiched between a galvanised steel wire mesh that is plastered on both sides with concrete. “EPS technology offers a substitute for building stones and timber, guaranteeing better quality finished products that have thermal insulation and are environmentally friendly,” Mr Njuguna told a press briefing on Friday.

According to Mr Njuguna, the technology will greatly accelerate housing in the country, with a threebedroom house costing Sh1.2 million down from Sh2.4 million for a brick and mortar house. A standard two-bedroom house measuring about 100 square metres requires about 70 panels each weighing 15 kilogrammes – meaning an entire house can be carried in a single lorry load. NHC has already built 100 homes in Nairobi’s Balozi Estate using EPS technology and would aggressively market it among builders across the country. The EPS panels are manufactured at the corporation’s Sh1 billion Mavoko EPS factory, which was launched in 2010. Besides a high return on investment, building a house using EPS technology will take a shorter time as compared to putting up a similar house using conventional building materials such as stones.

Toyota to build Kenya- South Sudan oil pipeline The young country currently relies on transport facilities that pass through neighbouring Sudan.

Toyota Tsusho, the trading arm of the Japanese automaker, will construction an oil pipeline from Sudan Sudan to the Lamu port, an official has confirmed. South Sudan’s Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Garang Diing Akuong told reporters that the decision was made during a meeting between President Salva Kiir and Toyota’s Chairperson, Junzo Shimizu, during Kiir’s recent visit in Japan. “The President met and held talks with the Chairperson of the Japanese Toyota company and discussed number of issues. The Chairperson of the Toyota Company accepted to construct the alternative oil pipeline to the Lamu port”, said Mr Akuong. The government of South Sudan is yet to reveal the amount of money required for the construction of the oil pipeline – estimated to be around US$ 4 billion. The South-Sudan-Kenya oil pipeline is expected to boost the landlocked nation’s oil export. South Sudan considers Lamu port as its best option for crude oil

exports. The two neighbours have continued to lock horns over oil pipeline tariffs – a situation that has prompted South Sudan to halt its oil production.