Symbio-City - Centurion

[j4ck455]

This has been the subject of water-cooler talk at the office and we came to the conclusion that it will someday become the leaning tower/s of Centurion.

 

[skimread]

From that picture they're going to build it in the middle of the lake or they could change their minds and build it on the small nature reserve next to the lake.

If it's going to be such a big building then where are they going to build parking garages for all the people that will work there.

 

[Mila]

From that picture they're going to build it in the middle of the lake or they could change their minds and build it on the small nature reserve next to the lake.

still poses the question about the stinky lake.
Who has been close to that thing in the last month? That is raw sewage

How will they keep it from just doing what it is doing now?

 

[skimread]

still poses the question about the stinky lake.
Who has been close to that thing in the last month? That is raw sewage

How will they keep it from just doing what it is doing now?

Pretty stupid that raw sewage leads directly into the lake in sight of the signs saying it's a nature reserve

 

[Mila]

Pretty stupid that raw sewage leads directly into the lake in sight of the signs saying it's a nature reserve

I had to go pick up the boss at the hotel. I couldn't stand the smell. Involuntary gag reaction.

 

[skimread]

I had to go pick up the boss at the hotel. I couldn't stand the smell. Involuntary gag reaction.

It's disgusting. As I recall about 2 years ago they turned the lake into a river by using bulldozers. After the first heavy summer rains this year it filled up the lake but when the water levels went down it turned it into a muddy trash heap. I imagine the water is so polluted there is no way you can call it a nature reserve anymore.

 

[Mila]

No. I wonder what happened to the beautiful water display? The one that worked with music?

 

[skimread]

No. I wonder what happened to the beautiful water display? The one that worked with music?

The water dried up for much of the year so they made it permanent by creating a deep passage for the water turning it into a river.

 

[XennoX]

The water still stinks. My office is somewhere around 45 metres away from the water, luckily for us we stay on the leeward side of the lake so the smell doesn't reach us, however the mall is on the windward side. The other day (Tuesday) took a walk over the bridge and got hit with the smell - it was bad. It permeated through the mall all the way up to the Mugg & Bean.

 

[grok]

Can't help to wonder who got bribed this time?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Can't help to wonder who got bribed this time?

Tshwane exco more than likely.

 

[ttygt]

Go home Tshwane, your'e drunk.

 

[rza]

As a resident in Centurion, I worry about the traffic this will cause. But other than that I see no problem with it. Centurion has lacked behind Midrand and it needs to be developed at some point. I don't think we can continue having Centurion residents working in Joburg, so it would be good if some companies move to Centurion. The prices of houses in Centurion CBD have gone up since Gautrain, so this will make it even worse.

 

[AnibugZA]

This project is not going to happen.

We live in Centurion and have been actively following the "progress" of this project since it was first announced. The lake is unbearable these days. It is basically a muddy, reeking swamp. Two of our favourite eateries are right by the lake (Bruno's & O'Galito) but 3 weeks ago during a dinner date with friends we sat with our serviettes over our mouths to make it through our meal with the nauseating smell.

So we enquired from the manager on the development progress and he informed us that the project has been completely halted because there isn't money for it. So not only is the fancy Centurion Symbio-City project not happening, there isn't even any money to do anything about the lake.

Over the last few years the businesses in the area have apparently tried to do their own thing at their own expense, like an attempt to get the lake dredged a while back, but the problem just keeps coming back and the municipality has no money to properly address the problem.

What really needs to happen is that underground piping needs to be laid for the water from the Hennops River to flow through the Centurion CBD, and the lake needs to be completely covered over. Or it needs to be blocked off completely, long enough for the entire swamp to be dredged out and a proper lining built for an artificial lake, with pumps and filters and all.

There simply isn't money, so for now there's nothing happening, and no plans to do anything about it either.

 

[rza]

This project is not going to happen.

We live in Centurion and have been actively following the "progress" of this project since it was first announced. The lake is unbearable these days. It is basically a muddy, reeking swamp. Two of our favourite eateries are right by the lake (Bruno's & O'Galito) but 3 weeks ago during a dinner date with friends we sat with our serviettes over our mouths to make it through our meal with the nauseating smell.

So we enquired from the manager on the development progress and he informed us that the project has been completely halted because there isn't money for it. So not only is the fancy Centurion Symbio-City project not happening, there isn't even any money to do anything about the lake.

Over the last few years the businesses in the area have apparently tried to do their own thing at their own expense, like an attempt to get the lake dredged a while back, but the problem just keeps coming back and the municipality has no money to properly address the problem.

What really needs to happen is that underground piping needs to be laid for the water from the Hennops River to flow through the Centurion CBD, and the lake needs to be completely covered over. Or it needs to be blocked off completely, long enough for the entire swamp to be dredged out and a proper lining built for an artificial lake, with pumps and filters and all.

There simply isn't money, so for now there's nothing happening, and no plans to do anything about it either.

R18bn is a lot of money, so of course the City doesn't have that kind of money. Maybe the Chinese will invest in this.

 

[skimread]

R18bn is a lot of money, so of course the City doesn't have that kind of money. Maybe the Chinese will invest in this.

The City never said they will provide the money. The planners of the project has to find investors. The city will support it as it is built on municipal land. So without investors it's just a 3d model in a software program by some architects who have never done a project even remotely in size of this.

 

[AnibugZA]

R18bn is a lot of money, so of course the City doesn't have that kind of money. Maybe the Chinese will invest in this.

To be honest, the only reason the concept of Symbio-City was exciting was because it would mean something would get done with the lake. Right now I couldn't care less whether they paved over the lake and put up another parking lot or built a paradise! As long as the lake issues get resolved, properly, permanently. It's disgusting.

 

[diabolus]

Tshwane municipality can't even keep up fixing all the sinkholes in centurion, nevermind upgrading the pipes to PREVENT the sinkholes in the first place, but they want to build this?

Also yes, i also ate there at Parrots in Centurion mall next to the lake and idly remarked to a friend that the last time i was here all the restaurants had an open view onto the lake, as in no screens/covers. Now all the restaurants have closed everything off , most likely from the smell. It's quite sad really, because it is actually a great setup for dining out. So now everyone is flocking to Irene Mall instead and stare at the children/babies crawling around in that mini water fountain thing in the middle.

I am actually surprised they want to build this thing IN the lake, just on the other side of the mall , where the taxis and busses have made home, is a huge open field. I mean it's freaking right next to the mall, but there's nothing there, it's literally an open piece of dirt, not even a nice park or trees or anything. I always thought that's where they plan to build this. Either way, i guess if one wondered about the parking, that's where it can easily be built.

I did however notice there's a building going up across Absa/Mcdonalds , there used to be a parking lot there. So i wouldn't discount any high rises going up in that area just yet....

 

[skimread]

To be honest, the only reason the concept of Symbio-City was exciting was because it would mean something would get done with the lake. Right now I couldn't care less whether they paved over the lake and put up another parking lot or built a paradise! As long as the lake issues get resolved, properly, permanently. It's disgusting.

It's not the lake's fault. Did any of those hotels or restaurants clean the trash from the lake when it is dried out in winter? No. Not even the municipal workers did a cleanup when the lake was dry for all those months. How about redirecting the sewage from the Mall side so it doesn't leak directly into the lake. Further upstream there is also a lot of sewage and trash coming upstream as well.

It's just another case of government letting thing deteriorate until it becomes too late.

 

[diabolus]

Well here's some recent new on this, so it doesn't sound quite dead to me:

http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/comments_sought_on_centurion_lake

Tuesday Nov 19, 2013

Tshwane residents are being given a chance to comment on the proposed multibillion-rand development on the site of the troubled Centurion Lake.

The development would be known as Symbio-City, with the tallest building in Africa, once it sees the light, subject to successful completion of land alienation and zoning processes.

Project leader Roger Warren told the Pretoria News that plans for the development were with the municipality and, to his knowledge, public participation and zoning processes had started. The land is owned by the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

'We have gone to great lengths to ensure the correct procedures are followed and adhered to,' said Warren, who announced proposals for the R17 billion development in May last year.

Earlier this month, the City of Tshwane initiated a public participation process on the proposed rehabilitation of the lake, which used to be a popular attraction, drawing thousands of people, but which is now a stinking eyesore.

Warren said Symbio-City would not interfere with this process or with plans to rehabilitate the onetime pride of Centurion.

'Centurion Lake is man-made and part of a river. In terms of the proposed plans, the lake would be reconverted into a river, which would most probably flow under the new development. There are countless possibilities and options of what can be done with the lake, and these include the creation of a water feature of some sort.

'We have roped in experienced architects to work on the project and plan for the river to create a development that would enhance the environment and the entire area.'
The project would create an estimated 10 910 jobs during the construction phase, and 4 804 when it was complete.

Symbio-City would be about 110 storeys high and flanked by two other towers, of 80 and 60 levels, and would be one of the top 10 skyscrapers in the world.

The building would be taller than the 102-storey Empire State building in New York and overtake the Carlton Centre in Joburg as South Africa's tallest building.

The Tshwane conference centre planned for the vacant lot next to the Centurion Mall would be included in the development.