Turnaround strategy on the cards for Bluff area
A UMF is held on a quarterly basis by the South Durban Basin Area Based Management (SDB ABM) between key community structures and municipal officials to discuss and address issues within the ward.
In a proactive approach to provide strategic direction, advice and guidance for devising a turnaround strategy for the Bluff area, an Urban Management Forum (UMF) was held on Wednesday 12 February.
The meeting was centred around persistent issues raised by Bluff councillor JP Prinsloo within ward 66, namely; King Fisher Creek, business and informal traders along Tara Road, beach upgrades, problem buildings, faulty street lights, vagrancy as well as littering and dumping.
A UMF is held on a quarterly basis by the South Durban Basin Area Based Management (SDB ABM) between key community structures and municipal officials to discuss and address issues within the ward. During the engagement, officials presented the following updates and action steps to deal with each of the issues raised:
King Fisher Creek
Prinsloo shared that the Natural Resource department has applied for funding to repair the fence surrounding the King Fisher Creek, replace broken signage and install new educational signage. “A request was also submitted to repair the current wooden pathway located within the park. The department has requested that the lighting within and around the park is repaired to ensure the safety of the park users and the surrounding community. The Parks Department will assist with the removal of alien plants and trees as well as other general maintenance issues.”
In terms of the business and informal traders along Tara Road, according to Prinsloo, the finalisation and funding of the Functional Area Plan (FAP) by the Strategic Development and Planning Department will assist with the regulation and monitoring of new business and informal traders along the road.
Business and informal traders along Tara Road
“The greater Tara and Grays Inn Roads area was identified as a strategic intervention area, due to the proposed recreational development of the show-grounds site coupled with the increase in economic activities along these corridors. Furthermore, the Development Planning Department has witnessed a growing trend of unauthorised land use developments as well as an increase in land development applications within the area. The proposed FAP is required to review the current planning and provide strategic direction for the management of development to achieve sustainable development in the area,” Prinsloo.
South Durban Basin (Bluff) beach upgrades
Conceptual designs for the Bluff Beach upgrades are being finalised. Once the designs have been agreed to by all line departments a final detailed design will be presented to the Bluff community.
Problem buildings and slum houses
Internal terms of references between the SDB and the line departments responsible for problem buildings and slum houses are currently being finalised. Once the terms of references have been finalised, the SDB and other stakeholders will have the tools at their disposal to effectively deal with and resolve any problem buildings and slum houses throughout the ward.
The Ward committee has formed its own stakeholder group consisting of community members with the necessary professional skills to assist the SDB.
Faulty street lights
The street light repair contractors have been appointed and all outstanding faulty street lights will be repaired. Residents should report all their fault street lights to the new Electricity Department WhatsApp number 076-791-2449.
Vagrancy
Metro police has been tasked with enforcing municipal by-laws relating to variants and loitering across the Bluff. These operations will be monitored on a monthly basis to ensure that the enforcement blitzes are effective.
Littering and dumping
DSW Education has planned education programmes in partnership with the ward councillor to address the increase in litter and dumping throughout the ward. The department will be conducting door-to-door and one-on-one activities including school awareness campaigns to inform people about the importance of keeping the environment clean.
Several adopt-a-spot and adopt-a-verge applications are currently being processed for locations that are prone to littering and dumping. If any community members want to be part of this programme they should approach the councillors office on 031-467-0056. Additional staff have also been requested along major routes throughout the ward.
“Through this forum we aim to keep improving the coordination between sectoral departments of the relevant levels of government and enable local government to identify local needs and priorities and develop appropriate responses, where necessary adapting service delivery to suit local conditions,” concluded Prinsloo.
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