The process of establishing a city- improvement district (CID) in the Sonpark area is underway. The progress on this process was presented during a Ward 16 committee meeting at the Lowveld Showground on Thursday.
Ms Lindi Schutte of Aksion Planners, the drivers of the establishment of the CID, says in total the plans include slightly more than 200 commercial and residential properties. The plan is to include Rob Ferreira Hospital, Sonpark Centre, West Acres, Lowveld High and Hoërskool Bergvlam, Herfsakker as well as Nelspruit Primary in the south.
“The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport representing the hospital and schools is also enthusiastic,” Schutte says. A workshop with property owners is planned as is the establishment of a steering committee to assist with the process.
It entails residents and businesses inside the boundary paying a levy to the CID which supplies complementary services such as waste removal and beautification. Normal municipal tariffs will, however, continue to be applicable on members, but uniquely local CIDs can rebate a percentage of their members’ payments from Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM).
The levies have not been determined yet because the process is in its infancy, but the committee pointed out that the structure should be informed by residential properties paying less than their commercial neighbours.
Schutte says the reaction from the municipality has also been positive since it is easier for it to deal with only one “customer” such as the CID when there is a problem instead of many residents separately.
Ward councillor Mr Hannes de Kock says the committee supports the initiative and when Aksion Planners submits its application for permission to MLM, it will have strong support.
