By 2030 eThekwini will be Africa's most caring and liveable city.
Category City Regeneration
The 21st century is forecast to become the “Urban Century” with predictions that more people will be living in cities than in the countryside. Rapid urban growth inevitably leads to higher levels of non-renewable resource consumption, inequality and environmental damage. If we are ill-equipped to deal with the existing socio-economic problems in South Africa, we are certainly headed for disaster if increased urbanisation is not properly managed.
According to Dr Naledi Moyo, the Deputy City Manager of eThekwini, simply building more houses is not going to solve the problem. Infrastructure planning, skills training and the creation of jobs are paramount to reducing crime and to making the 21st century socially and economically sustainable.
The journey to becoming a Smart City includes :
· Putting in place new generation systems that work in entirely new ways
· Balancing planning challenges and urban sprawl
· Developing efficient transportation systems
· Creating systems to retain essential resources such as water and energy while developing new sources of these resources
Dr Moya believes that change starts with the simple things and the key issues to regenerate inner city decay include:
· Cleanliness
· Basic urban management
· Planning
· Safety & compliance
· Policing and crime prevention
From this will flow marketing and events, branding, visioning and positioning, which will ultimately lead to sustainable economic growth.
The long-term plan is to demarcate eThekwini into specific nodes focusing on:
· Sports & Lifestyle – from Moses Mbhida Stadium to uShaka, incorporating a Sports Academy with a view to a successful bid for the Olympic Games
· Education/student node - centred around Warwick Junction to include a vibrant African Tourism sector with establishment of African Bazaars to take the place of the informal street traders.
· Tourism – reducing the carbon footprint of the inner city and pedestrianize specific areas, starting with the promenade and working towards the Point Waterfront development
· Transport – The IRPTN station is planned to start at Warwick Junction with a major tourist station as well as the Transnet Cruiser Terminal based at uShaka Marine World.
The catalytic projects currently underway are :
· Port expansion and dig-out
· Back of port renewal project
· Cornubia mixed use development
· Freight plan and route
· Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN)
and projects in the pipeline include :
· N3 corridor – Shongweni, Hammarsdale, Cato Ridge and Lynfield
· Aerotropolis and DTP support zone
· EMA: Special economic zones
· Automotive Park
· RET Technology Park
· Centre for innovative support
· African Trade Centre
· Inner city revitalisation
eThekwini Municipality is committed to regenerating this beautiful city and have adopted the slogan:
By 2030 eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and liveable city.
Author: ComProp Ballito
