Page 8 - Landscape-Issue126

Stepping down the central passage between the Embassy units

A cascading weir in the park’s stream channels water below the pathway

Looking up the passage between the Embassy units

The southern faces to the apartment blocks, planted with shade-tolerant Lawned berms were sculpted to bring interest and character, as well as to divert
Podocarpus, Nuxia and Mackaya to screen at ground level excessive stormwater runoff

of maintenance was a critical aspect of the local soil and climate conditions, maturing constructed close to the main boulevard,
client’s brief. The design looked carefully as the estate does. To date over 1,200 trees providing ease of access by road or walkway.
at access or movement routes between have been procured and planted on the It nestles between the new lawned football
parking areas and residential blocks, with site and the developer would like to see at pitch, a beach volleyball court, open braai
consideration given to managing soil least 5,000 trees in total, understanding the facilities and a basketball/tennis court.
erosion around and downslope of the importance to both the environment, their Bougainvillea has been planted once again
buildings. Open lawn zones were retained investment and the community. to train colour over the northern rim of
wherever possible, allowing for spatial relief Irrigation to the development is fed the clubhouse, and open levelled terraces
and localised recreation. from the local canal system. All zones extend out from the clubhouse, allowing
The planting palette was enhanced are manually operated and much of the for play or function facilities to be installed.
by using the following shrubs and installation is directed through turf valves. Views from the clubhouse are directed
groundcovers: Plectranthus sp., Setaria and The main boulevard, however, has been northwards over the pool area and down
Chlorophytum grasses, Carpobrutus, various installed with pop-up sprinklers to avoid towards what is planned to become a formal
ground and stemmed Aloes, Portulacaria hose lines being drawn across the road. rose garden. Planning for the park required
afra, Buddleja auriculata, Senecio, Hypoxis, the consideration of various factors – the
Bulbine natalensis, Scadoxus, Mackaya Greenbelt attenuation of directed stormwater from
bella, Watsonia, Aristea, Eucomis, Kalenchoe, The most recently completed phase was the development (a volume of minimum
Clivia miniata, Plumbago, Ehretia rigida, extensively landscape-driven with the 4,000m³), the meeting of residents’ needs,
Burchellia bubalina, Englerophytum greenbelt, now referred to as the central and the regeneration of previously
magalismontanum, Carissa bispinosa, park, being positioned in the middle of the agricultural land into an ecologically robust
Freylinia, Barleria, and a variety of wetland precinct. The importance of recreation and parkland.
and riverside planting. outdoor space has always been significant The greenbelt zone slopes from the main
A diverse and extensive range of trees to the overall scheme, offering safe, open boulevard, down towards the irrigation
has been introduced to the property, most areas for residents to be active, communal canal on the northern boundary. Levels
installed as immature specimens with a view and playful. required the positioning of two individual
to allowing them to establish under the A clubhouse building has been attenuation dams (upper and lower) at

6 Landscape SA • Issue 126 2023