Ballito UIP – four years and going strong

Ballito would not be what it is today without the iconic greenery and landscaping that the community has become accustomed to.

It’s been four years since Ballito’s Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) was started and the town’s public areas have transformed into clean, green and well-maintained open spaces. Up to 2013 Ballito’s rapid expansion resulted in the area suffering urban decay.

Following the success of a similar initiative in Umhlanga, local property owners, businesses and community groups banded together to lobby for their own UIP.

The decision to create a joint private-public partnership was supported by KwaDukuza municipality and other commercial property owners and in 2015 the new structure was set up.

Urban decay is a reality of most cities throughout the world.

The creation of public space management structures is one way to ensure urban decay does not negatively affect an area, but instead shifts the focus to growth and urban renewal.

Funded by approximately 1200 local commercial property owners, who are legislatively required to contribute, the Ballito UIP, in partnership with the municipality, provides complementary and supplementary services based on an integrated service plan.

These services include landscaping, cleaning and maintenance of public area infrastructure in areas such as the entrances to Ballito, the business park and surrounding commercial properties, Ballito Drive, Compensation Road, the boardwalk and adjacent beach.

Asked if the UIP has any intentions of extending its services into residential areas Ballito UIP precinct manager, Thierry Leclezio said the UIP was focused on commercial, tourism and mixed-use nodes with the current model making it unsuitable for residential neighbourhoods.

“The UIP however, encourages voluntary contributions from residential body corporates within the UIP boundary, which in Ballito is primarily the beachfront properties, which assist in providing additional UIP services on the boardwalk and beach,” clarified Leclezio.

Special projects which require a separate budget have also been carried out including the conversion of the old taxi rank site into a park, planting of some road verges, erecting a centre median fence along the P445 and a range of maintenance projects along the boardwalk and beachfront.

The UIP has a task team of 74 full-time staff, including a dedicated precinct manager and security manager.

There is also a 24-hour UIP emergency call number and fault reporting service which is followed up with the municipality until the task is completed.

“Currently, the UIP provides 24/7 security in the form of two vehicles and guards on foot to the beach area, upper Ballito and the business park.

Additional security services are deployed over peak seasons like the festive season and during the Ballito Pro, ensuring the UIP can manage the influx of visitors to the area at these times,” said Ballito UIP precinct manager Thierry Leclezio.

The Ballito UIP also manages and maintains 15km of road and the two km-long promenade.

“We would like to thank all the UIP stakeholders who have worked collaboratively to make the Ballito UIP such a success.

Through our combined efforts, Ballito’s public spaces have had a remarkable face-lift. The town continues to offer a great lifestyle in a world-class environment which in turn boosts investor confidence and hope for the future,” said Leclezio.

Contact the UIP’s 24/7 monitored hotline for the reporting of issues related to public space at 086 111 1588.

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