Page 12 - Landscape SA 104

PROJECT

Planted median with succulents and Aloe arborescens

SIBAYA PRECINCT NODE 1,

HELEZA BOULEVARD

Located on KZN’s north coast, Sibaya Coastal Precinct consists of approximately
1000 hectares of coastal landscape between the Ohlanga and uMdloti estuaries. The
existing Sibaya Casino and Entertainment World sits centrally within the site and the
development encompasses seven different nodes planned around it. The precinct has
been designed to work with the surrounding landscape and by developing only around
the hilltops, preserving the valleys and coastal forest, a harmonious environment has
been achieved.

eleza Boulevard is a central, 19 m varies between 20 and 15 meters wide a traffic calming circle may be used if
wide arterial road running through and separates the two double lanes on irrigation is required.
Hthe precinct and connecting all the both sides.
nodes within it to each other. The precinct Soft and hard landscaping
as a whole is a mixed-use development The landscape design philosophy
with residential, retail, commercial and was to propose a low maintenance Groupings of different tree species such as
recreational opportunities. The name xeriscape landscape with bold colours Syzygium cordatum, Erythrina lysistemon,
‘Sibaya’ means kraal, and this idea of and textures. The landscape should be Aloe barbarae, Ficus bubu and Combretum
being a place to come together is woven a place of reference within the precinct, krausii represent a coastal forest tree mix.
through the project’s concept. with the boulevard being the spine Also included are single-stemmed Aloe
that connects all future development species, namely Aloe ferox, (red-orange)
and representing the window of the A. marlothii (yellow), A. spectabilis (orange
Brief and design philosophy proposed village. to orange-yellow), A. thraskii (yellow), A.
vryheidensis (bottlebrush shaped yellow),
The client’s brief was to design and Environmental aspects multi-stemmed aloes - A. arborescens
construct a unique, ‘own character’ and stemless aloes - A. Chabaudii and
streetscape with xeriscape planting. Xeriscape landscaping embraces a style A.aristata.
Heleza Boulevard is a meandering spine that requires little or no maintenance and
connecting about 100 000m² of mixed- no irrigation. Wind and salt resistant plant Colourful and textured succulents used
use development between Umhlanga species respond to the coastal weather include Crassula ovata ‘thranskei’ (yellow)
and Umdhloti. The main road median patterns and stormwater catchment under C. multicava ‘Streyii’ (red), Kalanchoe

10 Landscape SA • Issue 104 2021