The 'Atteridgeville Urban Agriculture Pilot Project' was an Honours year student project completed in 2011 at the University of Pretoria.

 

The purpose of exploring the hypothetical urban agriculture project in Atteridgeville was to investigate ways of harnessing the maximum environmental potential of a site. The aim in harnessing this potential was to improve the quality of life of local inhabitants by providing improved food security and various means of increasing the economic standing of individuals. It was integral to the study the conservation potential of the site be determined, and incorporated into the design in order to enhance the ecological status of the wetland/ riverine system that surrounds the Skinnerspruit.

 

Compact, integrated agricultural systems were proposed along the length of the 6km Skinnerspruit Precinct. These units consisted of housing, crop farming, chicken and fish farming and waste recycling facilities which would hypothetically have the potential to become self-sufficient, sustainable living units.

 

The land was formally vacant at the time of the study, but there was evidence of informal agriculture on the northern and southern edges of the site. Although the site was fairly degraded there was evidence of healthy pockets of vegetation throughout the system. Dumping, alien vegetation and erosion were noted on site.

 

As part of the project a conservation zone was proposed between the hundred year floodlines, and incorporated most of the highly sensitive area indicated on the City of Tshwane Open Space Framework Sensitivitiy Map.

All of the surrounding land was proposed for use as vegetable crops, where the hydrology allowed for maximum irrigation potential, and dryland crops (maize) where the land was not suitable for vegetable crops.

Housing was proposed to be placed strategically between the crops and at key access points. The housing was clustered together so that services could be minimised across the site.

 A recreational park was placed central to the site, linking Lotus Gardens and Atteridgeville and the various proposed housing units on site.

Market space was proposed within the park, close to transport nodal interchanges, and all nature trails and recreational cycling and hiking trails would have been accessible from the park.