Council to rethink Cornubia tender

091109 ArtisTs’ impressions show the types of houses that are likely to be built at the eThekwini municipality’s massive Cornubia development in the north of the city, see map top right. As many as 70 000 houses will be built, catering for low-, middle- and high-income earners. Political parties and a local property experts believe that the project should be developed around green goals, including the retention of some of the existing environment and the possibility of installing solar panels to reduce Cornubia’s carbon footprint.

091109 ArtisTs’ impressions show the types of houses that are likely to be built at the eThekwini municipality’s massive Cornubia development in the north of the city, see map top right. As many as 70 000 houses will be built, catering for low-, middle- and high-income earners. Political parties and a local property experts believe that the project should be developed around green goals, including the retention of some of the existing environment and the possibility of installing solar panels to reduce Cornubia’s carbon footprint.

Published Jan 30, 2012

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eThekwini municipal manager Sibusiso Sithole has proposed that the Cornubia Integrated Housing Project tender be advertised to allow for an open and fair procurement process.

The Minority Front had challenged the municipal housing department’s recommendation that the contract of a company already hired to work at Cornubia be given a multimillion-rand extension.

Cornubia is a mixed-use, low- and middle-income development near Mount Edgecombe. According to the housing department, the project incorporates the construction of 20 000 low and middle-income houses, clinics, schools, businesses and other infrastructure.

Vela VKE Consulting Engineers Limited had been given a R5.5 million contract for the “civil and structural design and contract monitoring” in Area 1B of Cornubia in December 2010. According to a housing department report presented earlier this month, because of changes brought about by the “removal of environmental restrictions” in the area last year, more houses could be built there.

The report said “it is not practical to request new tenders as the professional responsibility will be compromised and the tender process will cause a delay in the implementation of the project for six months”.

The report, which had been signed by housing department head Cogi Pather, recommended that Vela VKE’s contract be increased from R5.5m to R13.4m, excluding VAT, for the “civil and structural design to accommodate the increased housing yield of Area 1B and to supervise and monitor the construction of the house top structures”. Last week, Sithole suggested that there be consideration of advertising the tender to allow for an “open and fair process”.

MF executive committee member Patrick Pillay said it was wise to advertise the extension of the contract as this would negate negative speculation on the project and start it on a positive note.

“We welcome the municipal manager’s proposal as it will allow for an open tender process,” he said.

The proposal would be discussed at Monday’s full council meeting. - The Mercury

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