Nkomazi Local Municipality 20 - Co-operative Governance and ...

SECTION E19. SECTOR PLANS19.1. Spatial Development FrameworkThe Nkomazi Local Municipality has reviewd it’s Spatial Development Framework, 2004 which has gone to council on the 31 st ofMarch 2010 under Council Resolution Number NKM S-GCM: A016/2010. The Municipality has also developed its Land UseManagement System as part of the SDF.The SDF will be fully reviewed after five years in line with the IDP as required by law that the spatial development framework is themost important product of the IDP and its time of compilation must correspond to the IDP.The Mpumalanga Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) is a strategy developed by the Mpumalanga Provincial Cabinetand it is based on national policies and strategies. The PGDS typically contain an indication of the development potential in therovince broken down to a district level, the province's proposed economic growth trajectory and an indication of the sectors and theareas of comparative advantage in which the province plans to invest.In order to achieve growth and development in the province the MPGDS identifies key intervention areas that need urgent attention:Economic Development;Development Infrastructure;Social Development;Sustainable Environmental Development;Good Governance; andHuman Resource Development.The Nkomazi SDF seeks to clarify on factors that influence where and how people settle and organize themselves in space. In SouthAfrica and in particular the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, the following structuring elements impact directly on the formationand development of settlements.Environmental factors such as natural resources, climate, landforms (topography) and water features.Spatial characteristics and location of, for example the distance between activities, i.e. where people stay and where theywork.Distance, which is the spatial dimension of separation and is measured in terms of time, cost and effort.Other factors including cultural factors, economies of scale, political and economic systems.Strategic Development Concept [see page 76 of the SDF as annexure 2]In order to overcome the spatial distortions of apartheid, future settlements, economic development opportunities and infrastructureinvestments should be channelled to activity corridors and nodes that link with major growth centres or that have a potential tobecome major growth centres. The strategic development concept is based on nodes, corridors and precincts, which aim is toreconstruct and integrate the urban and rural landscape of Nkomazi into a more rational, cost effective and manageable structure.[See the Full Spatial Development framework as Annexure 2]Compaction of the rural southThe settlements of Schoemansdal, Driekoppies, Langeloop, Kamhlushwa, Mzinti, Tonga, Steenbok, Mangweni and Masibekela aresituated in the form of an arch. Development must have as goal the compaction of urban settlement into this arch. Settlements shouldextend to each other along main roads without compromising prime agricultural land and environmental sensitive areas. Remotelying settlements must in principle not be allowed to extend any further, sufficient provision for the need of extension must be madewithin the compaction area.Central Conservation ZoneThe exiting conservation developments of Marloth Park, Lionspruit Game Reserve, Ligwalagwala Conservancy, Dumaneni Reserve,Mahushe-Shonge Nature Reserve, Mawewe Cattle/Game Project as well as the proposed Vlakbult, Ntunda, Madadeni-Sikwahlane andMasibekela-Mananga Cattle Game projects create the opportunity for an uninterrupted conservation zone in the centre of Nkomazi.This forms one large ecological unit that stretches from Kruger National Park in the north to Lubombo Conservancy in the south-east.Associated land uses may include nature conservation, cattle ranching, game breeding, tourist facilities and hunting.NKLM Integrated Development Plan 2012_2013 119