Conservation and Storm Water Management

Our Umbogintwini Industrial Complex (UIC) embraces a commitment to conservation and effective stormwater management within its premises. The complex boasts five conservation areas, with Mamba Valley, eKhuthuleni Valley and the arboretum situated on the south side, forming part of the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (DMOSS).

While not accessible to the public, these areas, maintained in their natural state, serve as conservation servitudes and vital components of the broader ecological system. Within the UIC boundaries, Umbogavango and Vumbuka are open to the public, offering opportunities for trail walking, birding and event hosting.

Umbogavango, centred around storm attenuation dams Umdoni 1 and 2, acts as a safeguard, preventing contaminated stormwater from leaving the site. The area, christened “Umbogavango” for its uncanny similarity to the Okavango Delta, features storm water channels with online monitoring, swiftly identifying quality concerns and containing spillages before reaching the dams.

Umbogavango’s thatched resource centre, located at the southern end, serves as a hub for environmental outreach programmes by the Wildlife and Environmental Organisation of South Africa (WESSA) for local primary schools and stakeholder forums by the UIC. The lawned area and gazebo can be booked for special events. The reserve, known for its rich birdlife, hosts 251 bird species, attracting birding enthusiasts to its trails and three strategically positioned hides overlooking the dams.

In 2021, a bird survey of Umbogavango was completed, followed by a bird listing in Vumbuka in 2022. A collaboration between Barry Swaddle, Peter McIntyre and AECI Property Services resulted in the APS 2023/2024 Bird Calendar, featuring 24 birds spotted in Umbogavango.

Vumbuka, located on the western boundary, evolved from historic settling dams used for effluent disposal. Following the establishment of an indigenous coastal forest and implementation of effective control measures, the area is managed by the Land Remediation Team under the Enhanced In-Situ Bioremediation Project.

In 2022, the successful closure and rehabilitation of the high hazardous (H:H) dam marked a milestone. Originally constructed in 1988 for mercury-based effluent from the Umbogintwini Chlor-Alkali and Polymers mercury cell plant, the closure reduced potential risks and allowed for the expansion of the Vumbuka Nature Reserve. This accomplishment is aligned with our commitment to environmental remediation within the UIC.