City to spend R220-million in Region B

15 April 2016

Five City of Johannesburg entities will spend a combined total of R220-million on the delivery of a range of capital projects in Region B in the 2016-2017 financial year.

This was revealed at an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting at Marks Park, Emmarentia, on Wednesday night.

Region B includes areas such as Coronationville, Riverlea, Maraisburg, Industria, Westbury, Mayfair, Auckland Park, Douglasdale, Westdene, Sandhurst, Randpark, Melville, Cresta, Montgomery, Parkmore, Parktown, Rosebank, Kensington B and Northcliff. The projects – to be undertaken by the Johannesburg Roads Agency, Johannesburg Development Agency, Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo, Johannesburg Social Housing Company and Johannesburg Water – include the increased rollout of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, continued development of the Empire-Perth Corridor, rehabilitation of Emmarentia Dam and improvement of several roads and intersections.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing Councillor Dan Bovu said the City had made several gains over the past five years, including receiving an unqualified audit opinion, achieving a surplus of R3.9-billion and retaining respectable credit ratings.

“Going forward we wish to continue on this positive trajectory and actively address poverty and inequality,” said MMC Bovu.

The meeting was also attended by acting Regional Director Robert Siwedi and Cllr Bafana Sithole.

The capital projects to be undertaken in the new financial year, as outlined by Siwedi, include:

Construction of the Bond Street relief system at a cost of R40-million;
Embankment protection and storm water management works on William Nicol Road (R5-million);
Erection of Gabion fencing and a retaining wall along the Braamfontein Spruit in Melville to prevent soil erosion (R30-million);
Improvement of the M2 West Main Reef Extension intersection (R13-million);
Upgrading of the Coronationville public swimming pool (R1.5-million);
Construction of Westbury Clinic (R20.4-million);
Westbury Precinct Renewal Project, including upgrades to roads, sidewalks and storm water infrastructure (R11.2-million);
Upgrading and refurbishment of Union Stadium, Westbury (R9.8 million);
Construction of a new community centre in Westbury (R6-million);
Phase 2 of the Westbury non-motorised transport project, including construction of pedestrian walkways, storm water upgrades, resurfacing, cycle lanes as well as hard and soft landscaping (R20.2-million);
Westdene Dam Redevelopment project (R10-million);
Establishment of a new park in Brixton as part of the Empire-Perth Corridor development (R3-million);
Upgrading of Westbury Park (R1.5-million);
Upgrading of Plateau (R1.5-million);
Upgrading of the Sir Drummond Park (R2-million);
Development of social housing in Pennyville (R3-million);
Upgrading and repairs to communal rooms in Pennyville (R1-million);
Development of mixed-use housing in Pennyville (R10-million);
Rehabilitation of the Bosmontspruit wetlands (R3-million);
Development of the Auckland Park non-motorised transport system (R9-million;
Campus Square pedestrian bridge (R10-million); and
Development of a water reservoir along the Empire-Perth Corridor (R10-million).
Residents reacted to the planned projects with mixed feelings, saying certain areas were receiving priority over others and that some projects did not feature at all despite being raised in last year’s IDP meetings. Parktown resident Bern Dreyer said he was concerned about densification plans along the Empire-Perth Corridor.
“The fact is our infrastructure is already in a state of decay and densification plans are going to compound this state of affairs. Sporadic interventions and the lack of a systematic approach is leading to environmental degradation along the Braamfontein Spruit and other areas up and downstream and densification is an additional worrying contributor,” said Dreyer.
Emmarentia resident Jemai Abrahams said residents were not properly consulted and informed about projects and developments, adding that these often had negative effects on residents.Fran Haslam of Zoo Lake said the City needed to intensify projects to deal with “dire issues”.
“Zoo Lake is a mess and despite residents trying to ensure its upkeep, this open space is fast becoming an eyesore. We’re not consulted on projects and upcoming developments. This is incredibly frustrating,” said Haslam.
MMC Bovu assured residents that all concerns and recommendations had been noted for consideration.
“Participation by residents is important and all voices are heard. Delivery is tailored to bring maximum community benefit,” he added.

Construction of the Bond Street relief system at a cost of R40-million;

Embankment protection and storm water management works on William Nicol Road (R5-million);

Erection of Gabion fencing and a retaining wall along the Braamfontein Spruit in Melville to prevent soil erosion (R30-million);

Improvement of the M2 West Main Reef Extension intersection (R13-million);

Upgrading of the Coronationville public swimming pool (R1.5-million);

Construction of Westbury Clinic (R20.4-million);

Westbury Precinct Renewal Project, including upgrades to roads, sidewalks and storm water infrastructure (R11.2-million);

Upgrading and refurbishment of Union Stadium, Westbury (R9.8 million);

Construction of a new community centre in Westbury (R6-million);

Phase 2 of the Westbury non-motorised transport project, including construction of pedestrian walkways, storm water upgrades, resurfacing, cycle lanes as well as hard and soft landscaping (R20.2-million);

Westdene Dam Redevelopment project (R10-million);

Establishment of a new park in Brixton as part of the Empire-Perth Corridor development (R3-million);

Upgrading of Westbury Park (R1.5-million);

Upgrading of Plateau (R1.5-million);

Upgrading of the Sir Drummond Park (R2-million);

Development of social housing in Pennyville (R3-million);

Upgrading and repairs to communal rooms in Pennyville (R1-million);

Development of mixed-use housing in Pennyville (R10-million);

Rehabilitation of the Bosmontspruit wetlands (R3-million);

Development of the Auckland Park non-motorised transport system (R9-million;

Campus Square pedestrian bridge (R10-million); and

Development of a water reservoir along the Empire-Perth Corridor (R10-million).

Emmarentia resident Jemai Abrahams said residents were not properly consulted and informed about projects and developments, adding that these often had negative effects on residents.Fran Haslam of Zoo Lake said the City needed to intensify projects to deal with “dire issues”.

“Zoo Lake is a mess and despite residents trying to ensure its upkeep, this open space is fast becoming an eyesore. We’re not consulted on projects and upcoming developments. This is incredibly frustrating,” said Haslam.

MMC Bovu assured residents that all concerns and recommendations had been noted for consideration.

“Participation by residents is important and all voices are heard. Delivery is tailored to bring maximum community benefit,” he added.