2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

It is not clear if any of these protected areas play any positive role intourism or conservation in the larger UDM area. The Ezemveloconservation plans indicate only three protected areas. However, there arelarge areas covered by conservancies in Endumeni and Umvoti. Thesemainly private initiatives play a very important role in conservation. Theyalso form the basis for eco-tourism.There is a range of biodiversity priority areas in the district. The map belowshows a number of BPA 1 areas. BPA 1 areas designated planning unitscontain one or more features which are irreplaceable. This means thatthere are no other localities are available meet the conservation target forthis feature(s). The distribution of this/these features is not alwaysapplicable to the entire extent of the area identified, however (except in thecase of certain grassland vegetation types), but is more often than notconfined to a specific niche habitat e.g. a forest or wetland. If specialmitigation measures are put in place, the development (dependent on itsnature) could be permitted. There are no fixed guidelines and eachdevelopment should be assessed on its won merits.The last significant feature is the protected area expansion areas that areproposed. These areas aim at developing conservation corridors but it isnot clear how and to what extent they are to be implemented and broughtunder the control of NEMA9.3 Tourism and conservationTourism development in Umzinyathi is focused on the Battlefields route,heritage, and cultural tours and to a limited extent on the scenery andbiodiversity of the area. There are a number of tourist facilities in the area.A number of observations can be made regarding tourism facilities. Tourism facilities are largely private sector driven. Historical sites andmuseums are mostly linked to the so-called battlefield tourism. Mission stations are strictly not a “tourist facility” but they all havehistorical significance that might be capitalized on. The bulk of the facilities, such as recreation” have a local functionrather than attracting tourists from outside the area.The concentration of tourism facilities is mainly around Greytown andDundee, and it is estimated that 75% of visitors to the battlefield sites aredomestic tourists.The Councils SEA refers to the district tourism study that list the followingpressures on the tourisms sector: General poor infrastructure in terms of roads and basic services Land claims and land tenure issues prohibits investments in the sector The area is far from the main airports and target markets such asDurban and Johannesburg. The negative reputation of the areas in terms of crime drives touristsaway from the area.10. Settlement and urban developmentAs stated earlier in this report development is about access to resourcesand opportunities. The approach in the assessment of settlements andurban development in the municipal area is therefore to assess thesettlement of people against the background of access to availableresources and amenities. In terms of planning and strategy it impliesenhancing access by either brining resources or opportunities to people orotherwise, to bring people closer to opportunities and resources.Where the solution is to bring resources and amenities to the people itimplies that there must be a sufficient base to sustain these services bymeeting at least the threshold populations in the service area of anamenity. On the other hand should people come to the resources andamenities it implies that there must be sufficient levels of mobility to allowpeople to access these resources and opportunities. Both these optionsand even a combination of the two seem to be a huge challenge in theUDM area.10.1 Settlement patterns and dynamicsIn order to facilitate assessment and to determine options for assessing orestablishing settlement, concentrations were determined throughout themunicipal area. Eighteen settlement focus points or areas of significancewere identified mainly in terms of their general density characteristics andfunctions. There are areas also include which lies adjacent butimmediately outside the municipal area that might have an impact onservice delivery and development in the municipal area.Draft 2013/14 IDP Review Page 197Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municipality22 March 2013