The final Integrated Development Plan Review, which outlines the budget for Johannesburg, was tabled on 25 May. Included in the budget are numerous projects in the Rosebank, Parkwood, Saxonwold, Craighall and Parktown areas.
The budget makes provision for money to be allocated in the short term, medium term and long term. The short term refers to the 2017/18 financial year, the medium term will be the 2018/19 financial year and the long term will be the 2019/20 financial year.
A new clinic will be built in Rosebank and construction will begin next year.
In the 2019/20 financial year, R15 million will be allocated to the construction of the clinic. A linear park project will begin this year and continue through to next year and will cost R13 million. This project will connect parks in the area through upgraded sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
Jan Smuts Avenue, in Parkwood, will undergo extensive construction over the next few years.
The road will be widened on either side to create double lanes travelling in both directions. This project will receive R18 million over the next three financial years.
Joburg Zoo gets a big upgrade too.
The Johannesburg Zoo has been provided with a large budget to complete the parking structure, upgrade the animal hospital, building alterations and the purchase of new animals. In total, the zoo will receive more than R36 million over the next three financial years.
The Conrad Drive bridge in Craighall will receive a complete upgrade.
This year, R3 million has been allocated to the upgrade of the bridge and a further R12 million has been allocated over the following two years.
The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia will receive an infrastructure upgrade over the next three years.
This upgrade totals just under R13.5 million. Pieter Roos Park, located in Parktown will receive a R1.5 million upgrade this year. Over the next three years, the total of these infrastructure upgrades is more than R116 million.
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Martin Williams, ward councillor for Ward 90, said the budget was unashamedly a pro-poor budget and as such not all of the projects he would have liked to be in the budget have been allocated money.
The upgrade of Conrad Drive bridge is the most significant project in Williams’ ward, however, he did highlight the possibility of building a shelter for displaced people in Ward 90.
Tim Truluck, the ward councillor for Ward 117, said he would love to see a focus on the parks in his area, Zoo Lake and Delta , as well as attention paid to trails along the Braamfontein Spruit.
