Cape Town - The City has allocated R1,273 billion of its budget to the Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate to be used to improve infrastructure along the coastline, in particular, those along False Bay, and to improve service delivery to all communities.
The City said the operational budget for the new financial year starting July 1, 2022 amounted to R1,273 billion; and the capital budget is R217 million, with an additional R650 million for planned projects in 2023/24 and 2024/25.
The City said R18,2 million would go toward Green Jobs and the clearing of invasive plants, R21,5 million to rehabilitate and improve the health of our vleis and wetlands.
A further R88 million is earmarked for upgrades at Fisherman’s Lane and the Strandfontein Boardwalk, Monwabisi Beach, Seaforth Beach, Muizenberg beachfront, Table View beachfront and Milnerton beachfront and R7,25 million to improve online submissions of development applications and building plans.
Deputy Mayor and mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews said: “The upgrade and improvement of coastal facilities at popular beaches is a priority. Some of the projects include the rehabilitation of the sea walls at Small Bay, Strand, and the Sea Point Promenade.
"When we took office, we made a commitment to restore the health of our vleis and wetlands. This directorate alone, has budgeted R21,5 million over the next three years for equipment and work to improve the water quality of our inland waterbodies."
He added that they aimed to reduce red tape in terms of buildings and land zoning applications.
"As such, we will invest about R7,2 million in the new financial year to further enhance and streamline the online submissions process to improve service delivery."
Meanwhile STOPCoct founder Sandra Dickson said only 380 submissions were made to the City via the public participation process on the budget.
"This is a travesty, and something is greatly amiss if only 380 people in a City of over four million people care to respond to the Draft Budget. The debate was (also) a futile exercise and served as a tick box for the City to pass the budget exactly the way it was drafted. No councillor or member of the public managed to change one iota in the draft budget. The entire process of budgeting in the City of Cape Town should be revised in order to make it a credible process which the public can trust.
“The inflation rate is 5.9%, and the City increased water and sanitation by 6.5% and electricity by 9.5%. Both above inflation. All the "relief" cut offs were not touched and left the same.”
Cape Times