Lekwa Local Municipality 2013/14 - Co-operative Governance and ...

• The fact that the largest number of people moves on foot is critical and has to be taken intoconsideration when planning.• In terms of National legislation emphasis has been placed on rail as an important mode of transport andthe option of introducing a more efficient passenger rail service has to be considered.Municipal Spatial Development Concept: Development PrinciplesThe proposed spatial development concept for the entire municipal area is based on three principles:• Protection of environmentally sensitive areas and areas with high soil potential for agriculture;• Establishment of an effective and integrated movement network; and• Establishment of a functional hierarchy of nodes.Development Principle 1: Protection of environmentally sensitive areas and areas with high soil potential foragriculture;The ecologically sensitive land that has to be protected from urban development was identified. Environmentallysensitive areas that should be protected include:• Dams, wetlands and rivers;• Conservancies;• Koppies• Environmentally Important Areas as per the MBCP; and• Ecological corridors as per MBCP.Secondly, land that has high agricultural potential and land that is currently used for agriculture was identified tobe protected from urban development. As agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors in the LLMand is stressed as of critical importance in all the higher order plans, every effort has to be made to protect andexpand agricultural activities.Figure 22: Environmentally sensitive areas and areas with high soil potential for agriculture;114 | P a g e - F i n a l I n t e g r a t e d D e v e l o p m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 3 / 2 0 1 4