2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

11.4 The impact of non-environmental factorsThe following map shows the non-environmental factors that affectdevelopment. These factors were all dealt with as part of the precedingassessment of the development environment. The following should benoted for planning purposes:1. The area has a well defined road network that practically serves thetotal area, The extent of the road network also aligns with thesettlement structure All primary, secondary and tertiary road links aretarred although not necessary in an acceptable condition. The R33 isthe backbone of the road network but certain parts are in a very poorcondition. By regarding the R33 as the backbone of the road systemthe other roads, including the rural gravel developed as feeder systeminto the primary and secondary link roads. The rural gravel roadnetwork is in good shape and supports general accessibility. The R33needs urgent attention.2. The only two airfields of note are the ones at Dundee and Greytownand one should not expect it to play any significant role in futuredevelopment. However, they are facilities that can work to the area’sadvantage.3. The railway network is well establish and available as strategicinfrastructure. However, it plays a limited local role. However, with theplanned upgrading of national rail services, the Glencoe/Dundeesettlement complex might benefit in the process.4. The historical points in the area related to the battlefields history of thearea. The battlefields concept is a recognised asset and it should bedeveloped as such. There are a large number of mission stations in thearea with a very long history. The origins and history of these missionstations can link with the battlefields history of the area and might havepotential to develop as part of a broader tourism strategy.5. The functional boundaries indicated on the map coincide with the drivetime breakpoints between the nodes. They tend to follow topographicalboundaries rather than the institutional (municipal) boundaries. Theimportance is that the functional roles of the major nodal pointstranscend municipal boundaries.6. Settlement points are scattered throughout the municipal area.However, given the level of development and the resource and otherconstraints in the area it would have been preferable to focus on thesecondary nodes only and discourage investment in any of thesettlement points. However, the settlement characteristics of the area,linked to the general immobility of the population necessitiesinvestment to improve access to very basic services only in the tertiarynodes identified earlier.7. The Glencoe/Dundee settlement complex is the focus of urbandevelopment in the area and it should be developed as a unity. Inaddition, the area shows the most potential in terms of possible futurenon-agricultural related developments.8. The three secondary nodes (settlement cores) main function isregional service access and it should be developed accordingly. Thereis very little, with the exception of Greytown that shows any form ofviable economic base in their service areas.Draft 2013/14 IDP Review Page 204Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municipality22 March 2013