In order to secure an integrated approach in the development and upgrading of the Germiston Lake, including the Germiston Lapa, an ACE (Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition) 2013 task team was established.
The team consisted of all the major contributing departments and directorates, such as the parks and cemeteries in the environmental resource management department, the energy department, roads and storm water, building maintenance, communication and marketing, water and sanitation and the department of sport recreation arts and culture.
Departments were briefed on the approved master plans for Germiston Lake and were tasked to identify and cost project activities relevant to their respective departments, as part of the upgrading and development of the lake.
Construction by the majority of departments commenced at the lake in October 2012.
The magnitude of the construction work, both through internal resources and a variety of appointed service providers, posed various safety risks to park visitors and a thorough risk assessment was conducted by the EMPD.
The outcome of the risk assessment ultimately promoted the temporary closure of the area for the duration of the construction period, in the interests of the safety of visitors to the park.
Construction activities were undertaken by various departments and include the following:
- Environmental resource management – parks and cemeteries directorate:
- Installation of new park furniture such as 35 wooden benches, picnic sets, braai’s, drinking fountains, swivel bins, tables etc.
- Relocation and restoration of old playground equipment to new SABS standards.
- Installation of new modern playground equipment for junior boys and girls and disabled children.
- Exciting outdoor gym equipment – 12 apparatus.
- Rubberising under playground equipment.
- Entrance gates at the formerly known 19th Hole.
- Hard landscaping and soft landscaping throughout the park that included the newly designed gardens at the entrance, flowerbeds, trees, shrubs and ground cover, 33 000 square metres of instant lawn, more than 50 bollards, outdoor chess set and board etc.
- Composting and fertilising of existing lawn areas including more than 600 cubic metres of top soil.
- Installation of 24 modernised park/street lights.
- Giant water feature at the entrance of the lake.
- Renovation and upgrading of 42 gazebos (shelters) which included painting, building of cladded brick walls around the shelters, tilling of the shelters, provision of disabled ramps into all the shelters, Victorian lace trimmings etc.
- Renovations to the hall that included upgrading of the ablutions, a kitchen, painting/cladding and plastering of walls, painting of the roof, upgrading of the veranda with a disabled ramp, tilling of floor area etc.
- Installation of 400 metres of fencing around the existing skateboard area and newly planned playground area.
- New decorative street lights.
- Upgrading of the perimeter fence by means of 70 steel art structures that represents ACE 2013 and aerotropolis features e.g. transportation, water sports, park activities etc.
- Repairs to existing perimeter fence of the jazz festival area, as well as the decorative improvements thereto.
- Upgrade of the main entrance in terms of a specific entrance design.
- Upgrading of the town entrances developed during the 2010 World Cup Soccer event.
- Upgrading and revamping the Germiston Lapa that would include the retiling and repairs of the roof, as well as tiling of floor surfaces and ablutions. New playground equipment will also be provided at the lapa.
- Energy department:
- Replace lamppost covers.
- Replace underground cables.
- Provide new streetlight fittings.
- New lights to enhance landscaping features.
- Repairs and maintenance to existing street lights.
- Supply additional electricity connections.
- Roads and storm water departments:
- New curbing at existing roads in the park.
- Resurfacing of roads.
- Access road to new parking area.
- New paved pathway next to waterfront.
- Paving around shelters.
- Paving underneath the playground equipment.
- Road markings.
- Cleaning of inlet grids.
- Patching of road surface.
- Replacements of missing storm water lids.
- Rip and remove redundant tar surfaces.
- Building maintenance department:
- Renovating of two ablution blocks.
- Demolishing of two ablution blocks with the intent to build a new and modern ablution block in future.
- Demolition of the old boat house.
- External painting of all the existing buildings.
- Water and sanitation department:
- CCTV inspection of existing sewer lines.
- Cleaning of existing sewer lines.
- Replacement of the Ellerines water fountain pump.
- New waterlines with additional water connections.
- Cleaning of inlets.
- Sport, recreation, arts and culture department:
- Replace fence at the Victoria Lake Club.
- Upgrading and renovations at the Germiston Aquatic Club for example, upgrading of entrance road, replacing the roof, replacing the thatched umbrellas etc.
- Lake and dams department:
- Cleaning of lake by dredging machine.
