2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

The area must be linked to other urban areas through efficient and affordablemovements systems to ensure people’s access to goods and servicesoutside of the townships.Development and investment in these service centres should focus oncreating sustainable human settlements. 6The following interventions might be appropriate:Residential densification should take place around the activity network to create a proper mixed landuse, integrated urban node.Infill housing developments must take place on vacant land parcels that are suitable for development.Infrastructure redevelopment, rehabilitation and upgrading should be a major force in development.Low density rural areasRural areas are defined as “the sparsely populated areas in which people farm or depend on natural resources, including the villages andsmall towns that are dispersed through these areas.” 7 As shown in the contextual analysis, the largest part of the municipality comprises oflow-density rural environment. The SDF must therefore focus on how to enhance and support appropriate rural development in the area.The rural environment in Umzinyathi is essentially made up of the following four elements: Agriculture at varying degrees of intensity.Natural open spaces.Population concentration points.Conservation and tourism area.Large scale forestry with supporting infrastructure.The rural environment should be protected from development that is not in line with the rural character of the area. The most importantprinciple that applies is that development should be restricted and that the rural character should be maintained. These areas are typicallyremoved from major nodes or activity areas with little chance of functional integration, which means that any inappropriate development inDraft 2013/2014 IDP Review Page 220Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municipality22 March 2013