Conservancy builds a greener future

The Greater Kyalami Conservancy is aware that encroaching development is inevitable in the Fourways and Kyalami area and is desperately needed for Diepsloot. This is prompting the conservancy’s committee and relevant parties to take to the drawing board to plan sustainable development.

The conservancy wants to give input to a regional submission for the development planning framework for the area.

Chairperson of the conservancy Kristin Kallesen said the objective was to develop an understanding between developers, residents, the conservancy, businesses and city council to see what the intentions for development are and to implement proper planning. The conservancy and Noweto Business Chamber has already started these discussions but Barker and Kallesen want input from all members in the area.

The conservancy held a Northern Areas Development Scoping Workshop at Sunset Boma in Blue Hills which saw interested parties from Kyalami, Glenferness, Sun Valley, Crowthorne, Treesbank, Beaulieu, Bridle Park, Diepsloot, Chartwell and Dainfern in attendance.

Barker led the meeting and said, “It is important to talk strategy and to question what is happening in the north as we consider current and future concerns. We are faced with immense challenges of food security and there is a need to discuss employment and empowerment issues.”

The meeting identified hotspot issues and task teams to manage them. Kallesen said, “I don’t want this to end up with one group who talks on behalf of the area but rather to make this a platform for all people to air their opinions.”

Barker helped to start a steering committee where some people volunteered their skills and help on various tasks to tackle some of the development issues. Barker reiterated that it was important that all people, even those with opposing views, should contribute to the steering committee as the aim was to work together to encourage a planned developed area.

Roads are one of the burning issues with the PWV 5 and 9, R55 upgrade and K56 roads mapped for the area. Biodiversity is another issue and Tyrone McKendry of the conservancy is already collecting this data to see which areas need to be protected.

Many more task teams are needed and Kallesen called on more residents in the scoping area to provide comment and views, and to contribute to the planning submission as volunteers.

Details: info@gekco.co.za