The mixed-used lifestyle estate, Steyn City, located along the Jukskei river, in Johannesburg, has invested significantly in infrastructure, some of which will serve the surrounding areas and the estate, which will launch next year.

The more than 800 ha estate, which is the vision of local businessperson Douw Steyn and developer Steyn City Properties CEO Giuseppe Plumari, is designed to provide secure country living with convenient access to city amenities.

The upgrade of a bulk sewer pipeline, which runs from the surrounding Dainfern area to a new pumpstation, at a cost of R73.9-million, has been completed.

The new bulk and sewer pumpstation will allow for the future decommissioning of the existing pumpstations in Dainfern and Beverley.

Steyn City Properties has also constructed a new R35-million water reservoir on the north-eastern segment of the development, which will store up to 30 Mℓ of water and will supply Steyn City and surrounding areas.

Steyn City Properties has partnered with government to expedite regional infrastructure upgrades, including the upgrade of William Nicol drive (R511), of which about 6 km will be transformed into a dual carriageway, with future plans to extend this to the N14.

In response to residents’ requests for improved safety and transport areas, cyclist and pedestrian lanes were constructed from Mulbarton street to Erling street, along the R511.

Plumari tells Engineering News that Phase 1 of the development cost R6-billion and consists of the construction of the infrastructure, 800 residential units and parklands.

“We want to offer the best lifestyle one can live. Road infrastructure is the main cause for nonsafe community living and we want this development to be the catalyst in developing an estate where people and walkways form the backbone of how they live with their neighbours. We have created a network of interlinked parks and open ecological areas, comprising more than 400 ha, all of which border the homes of the estate,” he says.

The residential options for the estate will include more than 8 341 apartments, 731 cluster homes, 818 freehold houses and 120 retirement-village units.

A wide range of retail outlets, restaurants and private schools, as well as crèche, medical, recreational, health, fitness and sporting facilities, will be available on the estate. It will also include 90 000 m2 of office park space.

Newly structured gas infrastructure, with two bulk gas-storage farms, will be implemented to provide a comprehensive piped gas service for residents of the Steyn City estate.

Solar energy will also be available as an option to homeowners who prefer to reduce their carbon footprint.

Energy efficient lighting schemes using low-energy light-emitting diodes for streetlights and landscape lighting will also be implemented on the estate.

With an emphasis on going green, half of the development will be wooded parkland, and eight on-site nurseries and a propagation laboratory have been established.

Further, at least 80 000 trees have thus far been planted around Steyn City’s 18-hole Nicklaus design championship golf course and estate, with more set to be planted before the launch.

To date, the project has created more than 9 500 jobs on site, with local skills procured from the Diepsloot and Cosmo City areas.

Training courses in plastering, bricklaying and paving are also offered on site to ten workers at a time, over two months, after which they can secure a job at the development.