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Mayor’s Newsletter for George Herald of 12 May 2022

MAYOR’S NEWSLETTER  FOR GEORGE HERALD ON 12 MAY 2022

 

In reflecting on how we are getting things done, I thought it would be worthwhile reporting on current efforts to improve living conditions for the broader community. This is in contrast to the publicity that is given to councillors who regularly expend energy in attempting to disrupt Council meetings approving these projects.

On a recent oversight visit to view construction activity in Thembalethu, we visited a new sewer line being constructed towards the south-west following the contour line in one of the valleys that will flow towards a main sewer pump station in Pacaltsdorp. There are numerous stormwater projects underway in Thembalethu that will also result in roads being improved. In Parkdene and Maraiskamp an end of life waterline is being replaced. In New Dawn Park, the stormwater drainage system is being upgraded. This will improve the lives of the residents who received houses in the 1990s. At the time, the focus of grants received was on the delivery of houses without sufficient funding being made available for infrastructure that should have been constructed at the time.

I recently did a television interview for SANRAL relating to the commencement of the R200 million bridge construction project to double the Nelson Mandela Boulevard bridge over the N2 into Thembalethu. This project will provide for much skills development and contract experience for local contractors.

During the April Council meeting, we approved acceptance of a R1m grant for micro-enterprise facilities being made available in Pacaltsdorp, R26,6m to assist in upgrading the road infrastructure for Go George and R4,25m for the electrical reticulation at the Metrogrounds housing development.

Numerous other reports were received that relate to improvements for our citizens. In Uniondale we are commencing the planning of micro-enterprise facilities. Progress is being made by the Cremhog NPO in their project to assist the homeless in the CBD, while land is being made available to applicants providing creative training in Thembalethu, a day care centre in Groeneweide and for a vegetable garden in Rosemoore.

A draft town planning policy to regulate house taverns, places of leisure and places of entertainment in low-income single residential neighbourhoods was also received by Council. This policy will now follow the route to final approval and thereby provide remedies for the various stakeholders who live in the vicinity of these establishments.

The Adopt A Spot Policy was approved following a public participation process. The objective of this policy is to permit the public (citizens or organisations) to approach the Municipality to take care of pieces of land to ensure its beautification, cleanliness or to prevent illegal dumping or degradation that could otherwise occur. The intention is to build a social partnership with the public to preserve and benefit our environment.