UIP ‘just a matter of time’

The Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) programme, which has been successful in upgrading public spaces in Umhlanga and on Durban’s Florida road, is on the verge of being introduced in Ballito.
“It is no longer a question of ‘if’ UIP is coming to Ballito, it is a question of ‘when’,” said Brian Wright, who is spearheading the project to establish the UIP in Ballito together with the Ilembe Chamber of Commerce.
This after R360 000 was raised from Ballito property owners to conduct a feasibility study, lobby KwaDukuza Municipality to establish SRA/UIP policy and to drive the voting process, according to Wright. To get the go ahead from KwaDukuza municipality for the project requires the support of 51 percent of commercial property owners in the proposed special rates area (SRA), which comprises the Ballito business park, Ballito Drive and the beachfront between Salmon Bay and Willard Beach.
Essentially it is a paid service that aims to bring all elements from the private and public spheres to the same table to ensure cohesion and accountability while improving the general environment and quality of life, creating an environment that supports vibrant business and securing property value while building investor confidence.
“The reality is when you are driving or walking through Ballito every day, you become desensitised. You are so used to seeing things in a bad state that you stop noticing them.
“But for a potential investor driving into town for the first time, when he sees and feels degradation of public areas he is going to think twice about investing,” said Wright.
The core functions of the UIP, according to Wright, are creating municipal partnerships to optimise service delivery, providing privately funded supplementary services, implementing a communication network while providing a fault report and service request system, existing as a catalyst for social and environmental responsibility, and ensuring place-making, branding and marketing of the precinct.
The supplementary services which include cleaning, maintenance, greening and security do not duplicate municipal services, instead provided a supplementary service.
Fears that the money will be taken and used outside of the area are misplaced, according to Wright, who said that all money will be protected by legislation, managed by a non profit company board of directors constituted by property owners, and all of it will be strictly accounted for, with records being accessible to members.
Given the 51 percent buy in, however, the changes in legislation mean the extra rates will thereafter be demanded from all property owners within the SRA by law. Those rates are set at R100 for residential owners  and R300 per million rand of property for commercial property owners, though according to Wright, residential property owners would participate through their respective bodies corporate. Wright urges property owners to attend a UIP presentation at the Ilembe Chamber of Commerce, organised by appointment, and bring questions along to allow for informed decision making. For information on UIP presentations or a copy of the feasibility study contact UIP co-ordinating manager Clare Swithenbank Bowman on 087 727 8630 or clare@ilembechamber.co.za.