upgrade and expand the current offering so that residents have access to everything they could possibly need .
NOT ALL A BED OF ROSES Silver Lakes is positioned in the immediate vicinity of a number of international embassies , and , with the Union Buildings a mere 20 minutes ’ drive away , it enjoys a superbly convenient location for diplomats and embassy staff who have made this estate their home .
Property prices range from R2.5 million upwards , with the highest recorded sale being in excess of R18 million .
These high-calibre residents tend to demand more – particularly over the last year – and the expectations of the HOA have increased dramatically , explains Operations Manager , Michael Westman .
‘ The biggest challenge of managing a mixed environment like Silver Lakes is overseeing the grey areas ,’ says Michael . ‘ There are a number of different HODs who all report to the CEO , and each one needs to know what their role and responsibilities are in the wider management of the estate ,’ he explains .
Michael and his team also face a constant battle with the Tshwane Municipality , which is responsible for the entire infrastructure of the estate , including the roads , electricity and sanitation . This means that the estate is dependent on the municipality when it comes to repairs to the 39-kilometre road network . It is a complex balancing act between deciding when to wait for the municipality and when to go it alone .
‘ As an HOA , we need to consider what we can afford to pay . We have repaired minor things like potholes , for example , but retarring kilometres of roads can be costly , and residents do not always understand ,’ says Michael . Nonetheless , he and his team continue to maintain open and ongoing discussions with the municipality and remain optimistic .
TEAM EFFORT As CEO , Henk is very proud of the achievements he and his team have made , and he is confident that he has fulfilled the original mandate handed to him when he took on the role of CEO .
Standards have improved , and are continuously improving , and that is testament to a great team effort ,’ he says . Under his leadership , the estate won a number of special awards , including being rated Top Golf Course in Pretoria , and coming in third place for the Best Private Function Venue in Pretoria and Best Retirement Village in Pretoria . Perhaps the most impressive , though , is being included as one of the top ten most environmentally friendly golf estates in the world .
‘ For me , it is the attention to detail that really makes me proud to have worked at Silver Lakes . Small things like the way hedges have been cut or how the flowers are growing in front of a sign make all the difference , and this really sets Silver Lakes Golf and Wildlife Estate apart from the rest ,’ he concludes . estate-living . co . za
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