2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

then one has no choice but to accept that Umzinyathi is a deep rural areawhere poverty and a lack of service delivery will persist into the future.11. The Spatial Development FrameworkThe preceding sections described and assessed the implication of thecomplexities, opportunities, and challenges of the municipal area. Thevision for the municipality confirms the intension of creating a communityorientatedlocal authority committed to sustainable development andaffordable service provision. This is the basic guide to actions andstrategies proposed in this SDF in working towards realising the vision.The first and a very central issue to consider is the fact that themunicipality’s ability to intervene and contribute is limited to its powers andfunctions. This reinforces the need for developing partnerships with theprivate sector, neighbouring district municipalities, the local municipalities,and other organs of government.The question that remains is, “How do we do it?” The following sectionsaim to lay the foundation for that answer, by providing a set of buildingblocks to be used to restructure the municipal area, and to guide andfacilitate growth and development where appropriate.11.1 The concept – A system of networks nodes and surfacesThe spatial framework is developed though an interrelated set of nodes,networks and surfaces. The essence of development in this system is themovement of people, goods and services that produces the basic impetusfor developing functional relationships between otherwise independent andunrelated elements. The movement of people, goods, and services arechanneled along specific routes that describe a network of interaction.Where networks intersect the opportunity for people, goods and servicesdevelop to interact and this gives rise to activity nodes. The intensity ofinteraction gives rise to the development of a hierarchy of nodes ofdifferent sizes depending on the level of interaction taking place in a node.This one-dimensional system of networks and nodes are tied togetherthrough surfaces that fill the areas between the nodes and networks.The development conceptMovement Networks Nodes11.2 Form giving elementsAll the factors asses come together and provide a framework within whichgrowth and development can take place. Some of these factors are visibleand prominent while other provide a background that impact on alldevelopment.11.3 The impact of environmental factorsEnvironmental factors are the basic building blocks. The following providesa summary of the key environmental factors that provides opportunitiesand challenges across all levels of development.The development impact of environmental factorsElement Opportunities Challenges• Generalclimate• Temperature Above average to highrainfall area Climate variation allow fromnorth to south increasesagricultural scope Cool to moderate winters Areas from frost free tosevere frost.• High temperatures in rivervalleys• Evaporation • Very low evaporation levels Occasional high humidity insome areas Higher evaporation levelsassociated with highertemperatures in the Tugelaand Mooi River valleys• Aridity zones Aridity conditions allowsfor wide range of•Draft 2013/14 IDP Review Page 201Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municipality22 March 2013