Underpinning Delivery
The major infrastructural components of the development of Cato Manor include roads, sanitation, water, electricity, stormwater and posts and telecommunications. The development of these services has been implemented to ensure that health and safety standards are achieved. Negative environmental impact has been minimised through adherence to principles laid down in a Strategic Environmental Assessment conducted in 1998 by the CSIR. Maximum use has been made of existing infrastructure and the provision of new infrastructure has promoted labour-based methods.

Roads
To date 13,7 km of roads have been completed with a further 5,8 km under construction during 2000. This amounts to 67% of the medium term demand required to underpin housing, economic development and social programme delivery. Major road construction includes Booth Road which links Bellair Road to Spine Road in Westville and the upgrading of Bellair Road to a four lane route. Secondary road networks in Chesterville, Cato Crest and Wiggins have also been completed.

Sanitation
Cato Manor is located in the heart of a developed metropolitan area with numerous water courses running through it. Because of these and other geological conditions, full waterborne sewerage has been included in all new housing projects and social facilities.

Electricity
Adequate street lighting is provided to ensure safety and access to public facilities in the evenings and early mornings. Business premises and higher income houses are provided with electricity in the normal manner, whilst smaller emerging enterprises and low income households are serviced on a pre-paid system.

Stormwater
The canalisation of Bellair and Booth Streams has been completed and a number of culverts and detention ponds have been built. Because Cato Manor is situated in a high rainfall area with steep topography and is traversed by the Umkhumbane and Blinkbonnie Rivers, the management of stormwater is a critical component of the development. In the past, informal settlements within Cato Manor, as well as areas set aside for economic development along Booth and Bellair Roads, have been prone to flooding. Hence attention was given to stormwater issues in the early phases of the Project.

Water
Durban Metro Water has utilised three water service levels for the area in an attempt to overcome affordability constraints. A full pressure system gives unlimited water supply at greater pressures than 250kPa and is the most expensive system. A semi-pressure system makes use of a water tank installed in the roof space of the house and is supplied directly from the water main. Water within the building is supplied solely from the tank. The pressure is not greater than 30 kPa, allowing for waterborne sewerage but at greatly reduced costs. In the informal settlements standpipes or 200 litre tanks situated next to the houses are provided as a temporary measure.

Posts and Telecommunications
In accordance with the SA Postal Services' policy that every family in a newly-developed area should have access to an address box, cluster boxes are being provided for a cost-effective service. Traditional telephone lines are being installed in Cato Manor and a number of pay-phones have been supplied.