Mbombela to prioritise province’s large infrastructure projects
The executive mayor made the announcement when he tabled his budget for 2015/16 to council last week.
MBOMBELA – The local municipality will prioritise the provincial government’s planned large infrastructure projects in the financial year starting on July 1. But it should be noted that the projects are dependent on other spheres of government for funding with MLM providing the bulk services on the sites.
Executive mayor Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi tabled Mbombela Local Municipality’s budget for 2015/16 to council on Thursday of last week. He told the press afterwards that the province’s large infrastructure plans are a priority. Among them are dams, the international fresh produce market, international convention centre (ICC) and cultural hub.
According to the mayor the hub, planned to be constructed just outside White River, is a priority, but MLM has to wait for the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR) to allocate funding. The latter has estimated that the entire project costs will amount to R5 billion and will have to be funded by private investments.
DCSR MEC Ms Norah Mahlangu-Mabena said during her recent budget speech that only R88,4 million was available for the department’s cultural affairs programme in this financial year. “We are packaging (the cultural hub) using the master plan to attract public-private partnership for investment. The cultural hub is aimed at stimulating economic development in the cultural industry in the province, country and the entire SADC region.
“It is envisioned that the cultural hub will provide a platform for musicians, designers, film and video producers, visual artists and crafters to develop and showcase their skills.”
Mathonsi says MLM is hopeful to complete the township establishment on the site as soon as possible. “We need a submission from the department for the whole hub before council can approve it. We can then implement bulk infrastructure.”
Other notable priorities as set out by Mathonsi are the establishment of the international fresh produce market and the construction of strategic dams which would also generate hydro-electric power.
According to the mayor five sites have been identified through preliminary studies and the Nels River was chosen for its location as it is close to the city and the Delta substation into which the generated power would feed. But the project is not yet ready for implementation as it depends on the Department of Water Affairs.
On the other hand, the construction of the ICC is almost ready, according to the mayor. It has been registered with National Treasury and it has been agreed that it will be a public-private partnership project. “All systems are ready to go as soon as we get approval,” Mathonsi says.
