Everyone knows how beautiful Plettenberg Bay is. Anyone who knows and loves Plett would probably also like to think that the integrity of the environment and the aesthetics are protected at all costs so it may continue to thrive in balance and beauty. What a shame we have not always thought like this though because considerable damage has been wrought in an area of outstanding beauty and this now needs some serious corrective measures to help return it to its proper and former glory.
On the site where the new Whale Rock Gardens Estate is being developed, the architects are facing a huge challenge. Due to some clever and somewhat non-environmentally-friendly practices a few years ago when a few local farmers decided to plant alien vegetation to re-direct flood water, rather an arduous clearing and rehabilitation process is now underway to correct the problem.
Great tracts of land have had to be cleared off Port Jacksons - there has been precious little indigenous vegetation on the site for the last 70 years. The Environmental Impact Assessment on the site recommends that the land must now be prepared with five retention gullies and that storm water must also be controlled through more run-off being provided from the roofs of all the building constructions on the estate. The good news is that all the storm water that will be captured through the retention gullies will be directed to three retention ponds - which will be cleverly converted into a water feature - and for onward flow into the vlei, which has been virtually dry for years.
The Whale Rock Gardens Estate covers an area of 10 hectares and will have 138 houses. The aesthetics, the architecture, the homeowners' needs and more have been considered and the general welfare and security of the residents has not been compromised either. While a gleaming stainless steel and robust fence would provide the right level of security, the views would not only be severely interrupted by a large, long structure glinting in the Plettenberg Bay sunshine but it would stand in stark contrast to everything that the estate currently boasts. They turned to Bekaert Bastion for the solution.
The fence had to be green and not too intricate in design so that the views would not be impaired. But it needed to be strong enough to withstand and deter unwanted intrusion.
Bekaert Bastion's fencing system, using Nylofor Medium green panels, was the ultimate choice for blending into this rural setting and not only for its aesthetic quality because it is made of sturdy material - Nylofor is a panelled fencing system, made from galvanised wire that is electrically welded at every intersection and then plastic-coated in green. The horizontal wires have a crimp at every mesh to provide extra high-tensile weld strength, and cover around 670 metres.
"The Whale Rock fence proves that effective, necessary and optimum perimeter security does not have to detract from the surrounding beauty and can actually help enhance prestigious developments by giving residents the security they need," says Michael Rodenburg, managing director of Bekaert Bastion.
For more information contact Bekaert Bastion, 0800 453500, [email protected], www.bekaertbastion.co.za
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.
printer friendly version