2013_14 IDP Review.pdf - KZN Development Planning

systems. Integration is essentially the process whereby the various dimensions ofsustainability are combined into an overall planning process. The four core principles ofsustainability – economic, environmental, governance and social sustainability – relate tothe development planning process.A significant share of the responsibility for addressing sustainable development restswith municipalities which are the least resourced sphere of government (Sowman et al,2002). Traditionally, economic sustainability goals have dominated over environmental,and often social, concerns in the Integrated Development Plans of municipalities (Todes,2003; RSA, 2006), often at the expense of the physical environment. The focus oneconomic growth and the high consumption lifestyles that this implies can have direconsequences for the environment in the long term. Sustainability, therefore, is ofstrategic importance and has long term impacts. Integrated development planning isessentially a strategic planning process that requires consideration of these long termimpacts on a municipality. Degradation of the physical environment will, in the long term,lead to the failure of economic and social successes. Thus, balance needs to beachieved between the natural and built environment; integration of social, environmentaland ecological dimensions of livelihoods and development processes.An integrated understanding of the ways through which the natural environment is linkedto social and economic production systems, yet also how natural systems areinstrumental in the functioning of the natural and built environments ensures a moreholistic approach to development.2.1.4 Integrated Environmental ProgrammeThe Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process requires the generation of anIntegrated Environmental Programme (IEP) as a Sector Plan. Therefore it is essentialthat all Municipalities must have an IEP to ensure that environmental considerations areintegrated with the final outputs of the IDP.Essentially the primary role of the IEP should be to provide the environmental analysisfor the district including the local municipalities. Secondly to guide strategic and projectlevel development and planning decision making.The IEP should contribute to aDraft 2013/14 IDP Review Page 236Prepared by Umzinyathi District Municiplity22 March 2013