EDITOR – Every metro needs development and developers on the lookout for optimum return for minimum spend target upmarket suburbs with densification opportunities.
Bedfordview is a prime “golden goose”. It is a beautiful suburb, rich with the best schools, upmarket shopping malls and magnificent homes.
Sadly, all this is not served by a sustainable infrastructure.
People who move to Bedfordview to be close to the schools often have to spend long hours reaching a destination that should be a few minutes away.
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Densification is taking place without public transport. People have to make do with ancient and collapsing water and sewer pipes and damaged roads.
Stormwater drainage is almost non-existent. The drains are never cleaned or cleared.
Many of them have been damaged by contractors who think nothing of driving over them with their 10-ton trucks.
No one ever notices this until someone’s house is flooded because there is nowhere else for the water to go.
Sewerage oozes and pumps into the streets. Private properties are covered in the ensuing filth.
Road painting is a distant dream.
SPLUMA (Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act of 2013) requires that the principles of spatial justice shall be applied.
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Chapter 2, Section 7 (a)(iii) states spatial planning mechanisms, including land use schemes, must incorporate provisions that enable redress in access to land by disadvantaged communities and persons; no one has a problem with that. Redress must be sought and achieved.
The Act also states the principle of sustainability, whereby spatial planning and land use management systems must uphold consistency of land use measures in accordance with environmental management instruments; promote land development in locations that are sustainable and limit urban sprawl and result in communities that are viable.
So exactly what is sustainable and what is viable? How is redress going to be served and sustainability achieved when the very basis of a functional city is not addressed?
The infrastructure is dying. Development cannot come at the cost of the failing and overburdened infrastructure.
Within the context and provisions of the SPLUMA Act, developments are bundled through with glee and enthusiasm by CoE city planners.
Obedient and beaten down officials in departments render tick box comments and applications are approved.
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Established residents look on in horror and confusion as their carefully chosen, hard earned, painstakingly constructed homes and previously quiet family life is cast aside in favour of 10-storey blocks of flats and audacious shopping centres.
These 100 per cent rate-paying residents put their trust in CoE to maintain their town. Be warned Mr Mayor.
If Bedfordview becomes a dump, they will not stay. Densification cannot continue at this rate without significant upgrades of our infrastructure.
Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys,
Bedfordview.
EDITOR’S COMMENT – The NEWS sent a request for comment to City of Ekurhuleni and executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina on November 14. Comment was requested by November 15. At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
