IDP budget meeting proposes improved housing and sanitation
The budget plan is linked to the IDP which is a five-year development plan. The local government is required to compile this to determine the development needs of the municipality.
Ward councillors and concerned citizens gathered at the Springs Community Hall last Tuesday for the Ekurhuleni municipality’s budget speech, which occurs twice annually.
The budget plan is linked to the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), which is a five-year development plan.
Each municipality is required to compile this to determine the developmental needs of the municipality.
Ward councillors Shadow Shabangu and Thulani Simelane were present at the meeting.
Also see:Mboweni delivers 2019 budget speech
The presentation concerned the budget of 2019 to 2022 for Ekhuruleni, and what the municipality has achieved thus far.
The main speaker was Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina.
The budget focused on energy, economic development, environmental resources and waste management, health and social development, human settlements, real estate, roads and stormwater, sports, recreation, arts and culture, transport, planning and supervision, and water and sanitation.
The total budget for 2019/20 adds up to R299 761 625 for the whole of Ekurhuleni.
The funds budgeted for Wards 72, 74, 75 and 76 in the 2019/20 plan was allocated as follows:
• Council General or Tambo Springs Inland Port – R73 459 625.
• Economic development, including the Springs Fresh Produce Market Expansion Project – R23 000 000.
• Energy projects including the JP Marais Substation, Springs Lighting, Springs Network enhancement and Springs Revenue enhancement – R13 500 000.
•Environmental resources and waste management projects including the development/upgrade of Parks in Springs (Murray Park), the creation of disposal sites in Modder East, Daggafontein, Dersley and Welgedacht – R10 000 000.
• Health and social development comes in the form of the New Bakerton Clinic.
• Human settlement projects include the Mega Project, Daggafontein – R50 000 000.
• Roads and stormwater projects will include the reconstruction of roads such as Cloverdene Road, Woodpecker Road and the construction of Ramaphosa Road.
Also see:Springsites gather at the Springs Supper Hall to hear the IDP
There will also be construction of stormwater systems in Huddlestone Street and Ramano Road.
• Sports, recreation, arts and culture projects include the rehabilitation of Bakerton Stadium, refurbishment of Welgedacht Sports Complex, refurbishment and extension of Bakerton Library and the refurbishment of Springs Indoor Centre – R12 000 000.
• Transport planning and provision – R1 802 000.
• Water and sanitation efforts including the construction of reservoirs in Edelweiss, Modder East, Pam Brink and Selcourt, as well as an upgrade of the Welgedacht Water Network to Phase Two. According to Masina, the municipality improved in many areas and delivered on promises made to the community.
The Waste Management Department provided 200 000 240-litre bins, the Housing Department provided 26 000 low-cost houses and 6047 title deeds were issued. In transport, the municipality also said that new taxi ranks were being constructed in Daveyton and Thokoza.
The mayor announced that there would be tariff increases, including an 11 per cent increase in sanitation, 15 per cent increase in water, property rates will increase by 7.5 per cent and there will be an increase of 13 to 14 per cent in energy costs and a 7.5 per cent increase in refuse removal.
However, there will be no increase in library and information services or for the library auditorium.
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