The property development challenge: creating wealth through regional and rural projects

Past experience, specifically in the regional context in South Africa, shows that development of land and the use of land for physical projects and buildings has had some negative effects on the environment. Recently developers have tended to be more sympathetic regarding the pos sible negative influence of project development. The challenge is to match economic, environmental, health and social sustainability with growth, in respect of small projects, or small benefits from big projects. Lessons from nature, wildlife and environment as well as results of a study con ducted by the department of quantity surveying and construction manage ment, University of the Free State, on rural sustainability will be discussed.