Power to Midstream!
It is happening now! The resoundingly positive response from the Midstream community to implementing the Midstream Energy Plan throughout the Estate set the ball in motion. After months of meticulous planning and hard work, it is about to give power to Midstream. As an Estate, we stand on the precipice of innovation for residential estates throughout South Africa – an innovation that will improve our lives and property values at the same time. The imminent fruition of this plan means power to Midstream in more ways than one.
As we stand today, some areas in Midstream Estates have never experienced the disruptions of load shedding and have always enjoyed the the convenience of power. On the residential front, Retire@Midstream sectional title units and all the Ascend to Midstream apartment blocks are examples of these areas. On the commercial side, all the shopping centres and office blocks have always had backup generators that allow the business to continue as usual throughout any stage of load-shedding. Regarding security, all the access gates to the Estate and residential areas are never without power, ensuring the continued safety of the community.
Although power is a basic and fundamental service, it has, as we all know, become a scarce and valuable commodity due to ever-increasing failures in service delivery.
The Midstream Energy Plan seeks to give power to the rest of the Midstream residential community during load-shedding stages 1 to 3 so that they too can enjoy the benefits and comforts that Retire@Midstream and Ascend to Midstream already do today.
Midstream Heights will go one step further and will be the first of the full-title residential areas that will no longer experience load shedding due to the high-powered intelligent energy battery that runs on the platform of the smart city technology system installed throughout the Estate 20 years ago. This is truly a considerable feat, and the battery bank represents a victory over the continued perils that load shedding causes in the lives of every family daily. The rollout of solar panels in strategic areas is ongoing, and much progress has been made. For example, the solar panel installation on the rooftop of the Square@ Midstream shopping centre has been completed. The panels on the Storage@Midfield rooftops are almost complete and will be commissioned soon. Next in line is the Shopping on Ridgeway rooftop, further alleviating the escalating costs to keep the power on due to the high cost of diesel that run the generators. A further ground-based solar farm, another integral part of the Energy Plan, will commence construction in the next few weeks. It will be located north of Ext 45 of Midlands Estate and cover approximately two hectares. The tender for the plant’s construction has been awarded, and we look forward to watching the progress of this
enormous project.
The Midstream Energy Plan is real – it is not an overnight quick fi x or a publicity ploy to boost sales. There are numerous of these promises being made out in the market today. The stakes are high, and the challenges are huge. Therefore, the developer and all the major role players, such as Midstream Electrical Supplies, have developed this customised energy plan for Midstream Estates with meticulous precision. The commitment to service delivery and continued change for the betterment of every individual in the Estate is now as fervent as ever. It is one of the greatest features of living in Midstream Estates. Where the need is for more shopping, medical, educational or sports and recreational facilities, the developer has risen to the occasion and delivered the best of each of these to the greater community of this unique Estate.
The plan to give power to the greater Midstream Estates is rolling out every day, and therefore every day, we are one step closer to the end of load shedding in Midstream Estates.
Maureen van Zyl
maureen@midteam.co.za