12 November 2020

Waterkloof Marina Retirement Estate welcomes its first residents with thrilling search and rescue simulations

Submitted by: Teresa Settas
Waterkloof Marina Retirement Estate welcomes its first residents with thrilling search and rescue simulations

Waterkloof Marina Retirement Estate hosted a ‘Welcome Home’ day for its residents on 10 November to formally welcome its new residents who started moving into this new luxury retirement estate from May 2020 during the national lockdown. Following strict Covid-19 protocols, the residents were welcomed by celebrity talk-show host, John Robbie, and treated to delicacies from a variety of stalls and vendors. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly a massive search and rescue simulation coordinated by the SAPS, Gauteng Emergency Medical Services and Netcare.

The day was host to ‘Operation Cormorant’, a thrilling emergency services simulation showing the incredible work done by various agencies involved in search and rescue operations in South Africa. The rescue simulation by the South African Police Services, divers from the SAPS Water Wing, the K9 Search & Rescue Unit, the Off-Road Rescue Unit (ORRU), Mountain Search & Rescue Unit, the Gauteng Emergency Medical Services and Netcare displayed the lifesaving operations carried out by these search and rescue teams and their service dogs.

The day’s activities centred around the jewel in the crown of the retirement estate - the waterfront, which caters for fishing and boating enthusiasts, nature lovers and hikers looking to enjoy the outdoor environment and birdlife. The six-hectare body of water around which the Waterkloof Marina Retirement Estate was developed, has its origins as the ‘Rosema and Klaver Brickworks’ dating back to 1942. By 1965 this quarry produced 60 million bricks per year, and in fact, supplied the bricks used to build – amongst many other interesting buildings – Sun City’s Lost City in the 1980s. Shortly before its closure in 1993, the excavation activities struck one of many underground springs. Today, this dam is fed by two fresh-water springs, creating a pristine environment for water activities and is home to many fish species including largemouth bass and carp, abundant birdlife, and indigenous flora.

Taking care of future lifestyle and health demands

The event was also the perfect showcase of how retirement lifestyles have evolved and how the burgeoning retirement property market in South Africa is responding to the changing needs of the modern retiree and property investor.  “With the benefits of excellent security, luxury lifestyle, close-knit community, full ownership and quality medical and care facilities on your doorstep, it’s not hard to see why demand for these retirement properties far outstrips supply,“ explains Riaan Joubert of Central Developments, one of the largest developers of retirement lifestyle estates in Gauteng.

“People are living longer, healthier and more economically active lives than ever before so in planning for retirement, people look to buy into an active lifestyle for their silver years with the very best amenities, leisure, social and medical facilities, as well as investment returns.  At the same time, no one knows what the future may hold, so frail-care facilities and state-of-the-art security are probably two of the most important upfront determinants of where to buy your retirement nest.  There is a lot to think about when choosing a retirement estate, but one of the key things to consider is the ability to meet your changing needs within the same development,” he adds.

Waterkloof Marina Retirement Estate offers all of this and more and shatters all misconceptions that people may have about retirement living.

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About Waterkloof Marina Retirement Estate

Waterkloof Marina is the flagship of luxury retirement living and an icon of excellence in Pretoria.   It is the embodiment of a dream retirement and caters to the evolving needs and lifestyle of its residents in a super-secure and stunning countryside environment.

For more information go to https://www.centraldevelopments.co.za/retirenow/developments/pretoria-waterkloof/waterkloof-marina/