Business backs town cleanup

In a major breakthrough in the road towards Ballito having its own Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), 51% of commercial property owners have voted in favour of the project.

On Monday the Ilembe Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced that after six months of lobbying for votes they had garnered the support of 267 of the total 525 property owners.

This includes the area covering the Ballito business park, Ballito Drive, the beach front and Compensation Road.

The chamber can now apply to have the area demarcated as a Special Rates Area (SRA). However the UIP steering committee plan to lodge their official application only once they have secured 66% support, which they expect to achieve
by the end of July.

Their application will go to the municipality’s Executive Committee (EXCO) for inclusion in the 2015/16 budget. If approved levies will be raised as of July 1 2015 with commercial business and property owners in the designated area being responsible for paying the increased levy.

UIP CEO Brian Wright said the UIP would be phased in between September and November 2015.

“We aim to be fully up to speed with all systems and services by November 2015,” said Wright.

They will begin by carrying out an audit of all municipal services required in Ballito and send a report to council. The UIP will then supplement the existing service levels to raise them to the standards required to ensure Ballito becomes a desirable investment and vibrant lifestyle destination.
“We cannot just wave a magic wand and everything is fixed in a few months, but we will constantly work at making Ballito a better place,” said Wright.

Lobbying for infrastructure upgrades, specifically on the beachfront and along Compensation Road will be a main focus.

“The main aim is to unlock Ballito’s economic competitiveness,” said Wright.

The chamber is adamant to continue lobbying for the support of the rest of Ballito. It is important for them to secure a collective awareness and majority support not only from property owners but residents too.
UIP coordinating manager Clare Swithenbank-Bowman said, “Many of the property owners have responded positively to the UIP, understanding that we all need to stick together to elevate the status of Ballito.”

However there are residents who are opposed to the idea. The Courier has received a few letters from people expressing concern that Ballito property owners are already paying rates and asking why they should pay more just because the municipality is not delivering.

Ward six councilor Colin Marsh said he is sad that the KwaDukuza Municipality cannot keep up the standards on their own.

“But at the same time I understand that the UIP must do something to keep up our investment value.”

Dolphin Coast Ratepayers and Residents Association chairmain Louis Luyt Jnr declared support for the efforts of the UIP and said he is happy that they have reached their targeted percentage of votes.

“The UIP should be seen as a new type of mechanism to make sure the KDM performs. It is a launch of pressure to get service delivery, which will only benefit the people of Ballito,” said Luyt.

The North Coast KwaDukuza Ratepayers Association (NCKDRPA) secretary Frank du Toit said the UIP is a good concept but they are very wary.

“We just hope that the UIP deliver on all their promises,” said Du Toit.

UIP’s core functions:
• Lobbying the municipality for infrastructure investment.
• Improving municipal service levels.
• Provision of supplementary privately contracted services.
• Partnerships with the SAP and the Parks department to ensure security, maintenance and special projects are executed.
• Cleaning and greening maintenance.
• Implementation of a 24 hour UIP emergency call number and fault reporting system in mobile and PC formats, which follows up with the municipality until a task is completed.
• Lobbying private property owners to improve boundaries bordering on public areas and general upgrades.
• Branding and marketing of Ballito.