There are a number of similarities which Garlington shares with the Empire State Building. Garlington is certainly iconic and is a symbol of our lifestyles, our desire to live in a tranquil natural setting as well as housing and employing a large number of people, but closest link between Garlington and the Empire State Building is that they both took one year and 45 days to complete!

The opening of the Gatehouse is definitely a milestone for the Estate and I’m sure those of you who have accessed the estate through it will agree it was worth the wait. With the Gatehouse operational we have been able to re-evaluate security on the estate and tighten things up a few notches. Garlington’s first Security protocol has been drafted and circulated; it is a document which will be developed into a valuable security tool. IPSS Security staff, under Dito who is the Supervisor in Charge, has become an integral part of the estate and have really proved themselves. They will, together with the access control technology at the gatehouse, ensure the integrity of Garlington’s security.

Gary Cox has been hard at work proving that plants will grow in winter; a lot of landscaping has been done particularly in the gatehouse area. A double avenue of trees comprising of London Plains and Oaks have been planted along the road from the gatehouse as well as a group of tall Plains immediately around the Gatehouse. With spring fast approaching and some plants beginning to sprout this area is definitely going to be an incredible sight. We recently had our first bit of rain in a while (5mm’s) and the Hilton mist has made a bit of a resurgence, which aides the planting regime that will take place on the promenade and open spaces. The driving range and putting green will also be on the agenda for spring shaping and planting.

The rest of the Estate is really progressing well. There is an increasing amount of building taking place with the developers’ two show houses well under way which incidentally were rented prior to completion. The two houses arguably leading the pack at the moment in terms of stature are House Christopher by Nick Grice and House Greene by Paul Rust. In fact all the houses that have been built have really contributed aesthetically to the estate and have shown what can be achieved within the Building Guidelines. Sales are still strong and recently two sites were sold for R1,8 and R1,6 million respectfully. The demand for primary homes in a secure gated estate that is close to a city and great schools can only continue to grow in demand. Anyone planning on building at Garlington, who is unsure of the interpretation of the guidelines, should take a drive around to get a feel for Garlington’s architecture as it is definitely becoming apparent from the gatehouse throughout the estate.

The first phase of the apartment contract is well underway. The convenient ‘lock-up and go’ apartments add another dimension to the estate and are set to become some of the best sellers. Earthworks have begun on the second stage and plans for the Coffee Shop, Home Owners Office, Gym, Deli & 18m Indoor Pool have been finalised. In the new year we will be putting the Coffee Shop/ Deli/ Pub out for tender proposal to various known operators. Sods have finally been turned on the tennis court site, with construction of the layerwoks to follow.

Plans to get the stables constructed have been hampered by more paperwork being required by the department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs. This is a formality which we will have to endure but anticipate being able to deal with it swiftly. The relocation of the stables closer to the groom and security accommodation within the paddocks and pastures will be advertised soon and assuming there are no objections, work can commence towards the end of the year.

The wildlife on the estate remains buoyant. Our most recent count indicates that they don’t seem to have been deterred by the construction taking place on the estate. The newest member to the Garlington family is a Python that has been spotted on the estate; this accompanies the 9 Reed Buck, 6 Duiker, 4 Hares, 1 mongoose, 1 Serval Cat and a lone Porcupine. Our trusty steeds, Shadow and Thicket, are also clearly enjoying their time on the estate as they have gained condition and are proving successful on the night patrols.

With regard to communication we are still considering a number of options / proposals for providing broadband internet, telephone and even DSTV services to all our homeowners. This includes fixed line and wireless options with the aim of providing homeowners with the best rates, flexibility and bandwidth available. This is a reasonably new approach to estate communication and all available technologies are being considered.

Garlington continues to capture the attention of young and old alike as we approach our AGM on the 9th September at the Hilton Hotel; we look forward to seeing many of you there.