2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

Improved access and mobilityIt is not an option for the Council not to continuously improve the access and mobility to the people of UDM. It should be the highest priorityof the Council. Where low density settlement is a challenge, and where there is no indication that these patterns can be changed in the longterm, it is important that the Council adopt an approach of bringing people to facilities and amenities rather to taking facilities and amenitiesto the people. In this respect, the PTP should be revisited with this specific aim in mind.High premium on environmental conservationThe very nature of the environment is the catalyst for some of the core activities in the municipal area. The nature of agricultural and tourismactivities is largely a function of environmental conditions. Deterioration in environmental conditions will imply a declining agriculture andtourism sector and hence negative impact on the local economy through job losses and the general decline of the economy.Prioritise and focus on selected nodesThe Council should aim at focusing all possible investment on Dundee, Nqutu, Tugela Ferry, and Greytown. Resources are limited and theseareas should be prioritised by the Council, the LMs and all sector departments.A two pronged support strategyPrioritizing the nodes should not imply that the outlying areas are ignored. A distinction should be made between economic investment andwelfare support. Economic investment should be limited to the four selected nodes. The rest of the area should only receive very basicminimum support to sustain health and social conditions. There should also be a balance between allocating resources to both these areas.The indications are currently that all support is directed the low-density areas or the so-called “priority intervention areas” in the provincialSDF. This also applies to the LED projects in the IDP.Implementation strategyThe development and implementation of the SDF is built around the powers and functions of the UDM. It is important to recognise that theMunicipality can only leverage development within the framework of its powers and functions. In this sense the executive options for themunicipality is very limited. To achieve the objectives of the SDF two things must happen:1. Development, land use planning and land use management must take place within the framework of the SDFs proposals and guidelinesfor land uses and development. These guidelines are dealt with in Error! Reference source not found..2. The SDF in itself will not achieve any of the set objectives but is dependent on strategic projects that will enhance the spatial structureand contribute to goal achievement.Draft 2013/2014 IDP Review Page 224Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municipality22 March 2013