History
When the development of Century City began in 1996, the 250 hectare area was largely covered by invasive alien vegetation (mainly Port Jackson acacias) and a number of degraded wetlands. A heronry had established itself in the flooded vegetation, waterbirds breeding in the overgrown pans that the site’s original name, Blouvlei, had always described.
In the environmental impact assessment (EIA) which preceded development, it was recommended that a multi-purpose nature reserve be created in the centre of Century City. The creation of this protected area is both as a contribution to conservation and to create an attractive and functional wetland for the Century City environment. Intaka Island is the result and it represents a uniquely successful union of conservation and property development.
Intaka Island received Voluntary Conservation Status from Cape Nature in October 2006 and the construction of an Environmental Education Centre was completed in 2010. Intaka Island and Eco-Centre now plays host to a range of visitors ranging from pensioners and school groups to corporate training functions and birthday parties.
