Rabie Property Company

Rabie property company

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Hot property

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Rabie Property Group focus PROPERTY

R South Africa Magazine talks to Greg Deans about one of the country’s most exciting developments - Rabie Property Group’s Century City.

By Ian Armitage

abie Property Group is an independent, Cape Townbased property company operating predominantly in the Western Cape. Since being established in 1978, it has become one of the country’s leading property developers, having set trends and led the way with what it calls “awardwinning residential, commercial and mixed-use developments, innovative marketing and ground-breaking public private partnerships”.

Now that might sound bigheaded, but it’s true. Rabie is a company we’ve come to know well in the last three or four years – we’ve seen the awards - and its Century City development has graced the pages (and cover) of our magazine a few times in the past.

It is a fantastic development and Rabie’s role in it has been huge.

It’s hard to believe, looking around now, that when development at Century City began in 1997 the 250-hectare site consisted mainly of bush.

It was a degraded wetland, which was a breeding ground for water birds.

Today it is Cape Town’s largest new combined commercial, retail, residential and leisure precinct.

But, as much as it has grown, it is still a work in progress.

“When Century City was being planned it was decided to develop the site in such a manner that there would be a successful wedding between the built and natural environment – that was important,” says Greg Deans, a director of Rabie Property Group, a director of the Century City Property Owners’ Association and a director of Century City Connect. www.southafricamag.com

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Rabie Property Group focus PROPERTY

Aveng Grinaker-LTA Aveng Grinaker-LTA is the main contractor for The Business Centre and 3 Bridgeway in the Century City precinct in Cape Town.

Both projects have been undertaken for The Rabie Group and commenced earlier this year with expected completion towards the end of 2013.

Aveng Grinaker-LTA is proud to be associated with The Rabie Group and believe that these projects will be delivered safely and in accordance with all specified requirements.

That goal has been achieved.

“Century City is essentially a city within a city,” he adds. “We are at the heart of the greater Cape Town metropole and the city combines office, residential, retail and leisure opportunities on a scale unlike anything else in South Africa or indeed the African continent.

“This is an integrated environment that is perfectly tailored to the leisure, work and lifestyle demands of today’s society.”

Already some R17 billion has been invested in the burgeoning City with new development in the pipeline.

It is a remarkable feat. In 2004 when the Rabie Property Group acquired the remaining undeveloped land and associated rights, the built form on site had been just over 280,000sqm.

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This is an integrated environment that is perfectly tailored to the leisure, work and lifestyle demands of today’s society

Take the headache out of Occupational Health and Safety compliance… …By outsourcing to a group of experienced and dedicated professionals with a proven industry reputation.

Safe Working Practice (SWP) is a leading national health and safety consultancy.

With a large portfolio of contracts throughout South Africa, we can provide any company with a sound safety management system that will help to significantly reduce the number of preventable fatalities and disabling injuries on site.

Our range of services are ideal for: • Construction • Property Developers • Contractors • Engineers • Architects • Agricultural • Manufacturing and industry • Retail • Corporate Our services include: • Client agent • Safety plan, files and documentation • Safety advisory • Emergency procedures • Incident and accident investigations • Mentoring of safety officers • Premises and site audits • Health and Safety training • Our unique and real-time web-based reporting system

Tel: +27(0) 76 509 4590 Email: franchise@safepractice.co.za

Fax: 086 776 4812 www.safepractice.co.za

Proud to be associated with the outstanding developments

by Rabie Properties.

Installation of more than 12000 piles at Century City since inception in 1998.

Esorfranki

The leading geotechnical contractor in the Cape.

TEL: +27217970525 - FAX: +27217972360 info@esorfranki.co.za - www.esorfranki.co.za

Keeping construction safety standards in good health

W

hile some companies still have occupational health and safety on the proverbial backburner, it is gratifying to know that there are those companies that believe health and safety lies at the core of all their operations.

This is according to John Kilian, SHE & Risk Management Consultant at Safe Working Practice (SWP), who says that SWP’s involvement with the Rabie Property Group first came about a year ago when the Rabie Group was investigating an appropriate health and safety consultancy to oversee some of its key developments in the West Coast area.

“The Rabie Group is a company that understands that when it comes to occupational health and safety compliance, you sometimes need to look beyond the basic legislative requirements,” says Kilian. “It’s about implementing a comprehensive and thorough health and safety plan, which will serve all stakeholders involved, particularly those that are employed by the

John Kilian

company,” he added. SWP first became involved with the Rabie Group during 2011, when SWP’s SHE & Risk Management Consultant for the West Coast area, Christian Baesgen began a series of consultations with the Rabie Group management team. Building a good client relationship is all about building trust,” says Baesgen. “Having established a connection with the client, we began working hand-in-hand with the principal contractor for the projects,” he added.

SWP was awarded two initial contracts by the Rabie Group to develop a health and safety plan for some of its key commercial developments including offices for a Business Centre and the Bridgeway Number 3 development, within the new Bridgeway precinct, located on the southwestern edge of Century City in Cape Town.

Since then, SWP has maintained a positive relationship with the Rabie Group and has been awarded new contracts on a number of its residential developments as well.

In addition to implementing and overseeing the entire occupational health and safety plan for these projects, SWP’s role included assisting the principal contractor in maintaining a high standard of health and safety compliance on site. “Regular contact and ensuring maintenance of the health and safety plan is crucial during this process,” says Baesgen. “When you’re working with people, health and safety is not just about implementing a plan and walking away from the project. It’s about changing people’s attitudes towards health and safety, which has a direct and positive impact on their behaviour.”

He goes on to say that to by making a real difference when it comes to people’s attitudes towards health and safety, we were able to provide the Rabie Group with a sound safety management system that would help to significantly reduce the number of preventable fatalities and disabling injuries on site.

As a leading property developer, of awardwinning residential, commercial and mixed-use developments, the Rabie Group has a firm understanding of the impact that a sound safety management system can have on your organisation.

“Work-related injuries and fatalities, not only have a negative impact on your bottom-line, but also on the company’s industry reputation, “ says Baesgen, “But, most importantly, health and safety is about people, and ensuring that your employees return home safely at the end of the day.”

Established in 2004, SWP is a leading national health and safety consultancy, specialising in the construction, transport, commercial, retail, agricultural, mining and education sectors.

With a large portfolio of contracts throughout South Africa, SWP has a full team of qualified consultants with the depth of knowledge to support and assist clients with all health and safety related services.

“Safety is a non-negotiable entity within the construction sector today,” says Kilian, “At SWP we ensure that we offer our clients the highest levels of quality, professionalism and excellence on each individual project from start to finish” he says. “This enhances the reputation of the construction company, ensuring that their clients and stakeholders view the organisation as a reliable supplier with reduced risk, increased productivity, a secure investment, and solid construction partner.

Although SWP was established in 2004 in the Western Cape, and already has a national footprint and nationwide network of branches, the changing needs of the industry and the ever growing demand for an established occupational health and safety consultancy, prompted the company to set up an additional head office operation in Gauteng this year. “It’s clear to us that there is definitely a positive shift in industry attitudes towards health and safety,” says Kilian. “Furthermore, clients are looking for a reliable company, who they can partner with and that will oversee the entire occupational

Rabie Project “Quayside” health and safety plan from planning through to implementation and maintenance,” he says.

SWP’s range of services meets all the requirements of the current construction regulations. These include compiling a site specific health and safety plan, on behalf of the principal contractor, risk assessments, the compilation of a safety file with all documents required by legislation, follow-up inspections, maintenance of the implemented plan on site and ongoing recommendations. SWP has also pioneered South Africa’s first and only real-time web-based reporting system, providing clients with a standardised and highly accurate report and record-keeping system.

“SWP not only offers a cost-effective solution to ensuring your business is fully compliant, but also offers a powerful business management tool to ensure controls in protecting your staff, members of the public and your investment,” concluded Kilian.

For more information please contact John Kilian on franchise@safepractice.co.za or call +27(0) 76 509 4590 and check out the SWP advert for our full range of services.

Rabie Property Group focus PROPERTY Ontarget Interiors Due to Ontargets’ involvement with other projects for The Business Centre nationwide, The Rabie Group saw the value in appointing Ontarget to bridge the gap between the client and the project team.

From space assessment, through to layouts, interior design and implementation, Ontarget ensures projects are completed on time and on budget.

“There has been a surge,” says Deans. “It is safe to say Century City has bucked the trend. Yes the pace of development since the highs of 2005/6 has slowed, but it has never really stopped. Thing are now really moving again.”

Century City is a big idea, with equally big ambitions. According to Deans, there has been a tremendous rise in demand for residential units, particularly at Rabie’s Quayside development, which launched late last year. It has already sold almost all of its 63 residential units.

Quaynorth was brought forward because of demand and has sold just as well.

“Since Rabie came on board in 2004 the development has grown from strength to strength. I think what is exciting is that Century City has more than got that critical mass and we expect the pace of development to continue gaining momentum as we go forward.

“Those two projects in particular (Quayside and Quaynorth) are highly successful, with both selling fast.”

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There is a lot going on within Century City at the moment and strong residential sales over the past 15 months have far exceeded expectations and are prompting further new development.

Other projects underway include Palm Royale, a luxury residential apartment block at Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort.

“We are working around the clock to try and accelerate further new development,” Deans explains, adding that planning for a new residential development comprising a total of around 130 apartments and a few standalone villas was well advanced. This project, called Ashton Park, will be built on a site adjoining the new Curro private school that is under construction but due to open in January 2013.

“The school has definitely been a catalyst for the increase in residential sales and we expect it to continue to be so going forward.”

It is a similar success story with Century City’s commercial properties.

Century City continues to outperform the office market generally and vacancies recently dropped to an all-time low of around six percent, prompting significant new office development.

“Of the current construction projects several are commercial projects. Very few are speculative and most are have already secured tenants.”

Commercial projects under construction include the new 9,000sqm regional offices for Chevron, 4,000sqm offices for Business Centre and the 4,000sqm Bridgeway Number 3 development – all of which are situated in the new Bridgeway precinct.

“There is a lot going on,” Deans says.

Indeed there is. Horizon Capital and Eric Salomon are also developing six office blocks at Park Lane, while Rabie’s R90 million Quays sectional title office development is about to commence on a neighbouring site.

Nearing completion is a 3,700sqm office block in The Estuaries, which has been let

at a rental of R143 per square metre, while the 2,500sqm Courtyard sectional title block in Central Park, which is sold out, was recently completed.

“What’s the secret to our success? I think it comes back to the product of Century City.

There’s the central location, well-maintained infrastructure and a safe and secure environment. Those are the major drawcards for those who have relocated here.

“Going forward, we are flexible enough to accommodate a range of people who want to come here. We are in the position that we have already got the building development rights for something like one million bulk square metres so in terms of planning approvals, there’s no applications needed for development rights – we have a basket of rights to draw down from.

“We’ve remained active and vibrant and people want to live here and invest here. It’s an exciting future.” END To learn more visit www.rabie.co.za. www.southafricamag.com

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Suite G18 Colosseum Century Way Century City Tel: +27 21 550 7000 Fax: +27 21 550 7002 Email: info@rabie.co.za

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