CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 16 NOVEMBER 2009
After three years of record infrastructure investment in Utility Services the residents of Cape Town need have no fears that their municipal services will be curtailed says Alderman Ian Neilson, Executive Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Finance.
“In fact, the proposed investment in Utility Services (Water and Sanitation, Electricity and Solid Waste Management) this year, despite the restructuring of the City’s budget, remains an all-time record and will significantly add to the capacity of the City to enhance its service delivery,” Neilson said.
“Projects have not been cancelled; they have only been rescheduled, on average by a few months, to match available funding. This is to ensure that the City does not face the more undesirable risk of inadequate cash flow that is required for continuing operations,” Neilson said.
The existing municipal service delivery levels will be maintained. The City is reprioritizing the manner in which it implements key projects and striving to do more with less. Austerity and prudent financial management will be compelling themes in a new City management approach based on a determination to protect ratepayers from unaffordable tariff increases. Services also need to enhance their revenue collection and sharpen their pencils so that the delayed projects can be proceeded with as soon as possible.
The budget allocations to the Utility Services Directorate has doubled in the past few years - from R960 million in 2005/6 to R1.8 billion in 2009/10. A total of R3.2 billion has been invested in utilities infrastructure in the intervening three years.
“Despite the fact that the City is re-phasing 17% of capital projects for Utility Services, the budget is still the highest recorded thus far,” Neilson said.
End
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Ald Ian Neilson, Tel: 021 400 1306 or Cell: 083 306 6730
Monday, November 23, 2009
City's diesel vehicle emissions testing a success - public urged to report smoking vehicles
CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 20 NOVEMBER 2009
Statement by Councillor James Vos: Chairperson: Health Portfolio Committee, City of Cape Town
Air pollution is an urgent problem as it represents a major health risk to our citizens and creates negative perceptions about Cape Town among tourists and residents alike.
According to the Brown Haze Study of 1997, conducted by The Energy Research Group at the University of Cape Town (M Wicking-Baird et al), diesel vehicle emissions contribute to 48% of the visual degradation of the urban air quality in Cape Town. For this reason it was imperative for the City to establish a diesel vehicle emissions testing programme. In 2000 the Diesel Vehicle Testing Unit, consisting of three teams, was established. With the assistance of the City's Traffic Services and Metro Police the Unit conducts daily emission tests of diesel vehicles at various roadside testing sites.
During the year of the inception of the programme, in 2000, the failure rate was 17%. Since then, there has been a steady decline in the failure rate of vehicles tested. Currently the failure rate is 0.66%. This decrease is due to:
* Visible policing
* Fuel reformulation. The sulphur content in diesel decreased from 5500ppm in 2000 to 500ppm in 2006.
* New engine technology
* Improved maintenance programmes by major fleet owners
The change in the composition of both commercial and private vehicles operating in the city, as the average age of vehicles decreased from 14 years to 12 years since the year 2000.
International research has shown that 20% of vehicles are poorly maintained. Such vehicles contribute to 70% of the total contribution of vehicle smoke (48%) to poor urban air quality.
In line with international trends the City started a programme to gradually decrease the failure threshold for smoking vehicles over a period of time. The current proposal is contained in the draft Air Quality Management By-law which has been made available for public comment.
According to the draft by-law the failure threshold will decrease from 60 Hartridge Smoke Units (HSU) to 50HSU for naturally aspirated compression ignition engines (diesel powered engines) and from 66HSU to 56HSU for turbocharged compression ignition engines. At present, approximately 20% of all diesel vehicles tested register smoke readings above these respective proposed thresholds. These proposed new measures should bring about a further reduction in the level of brown haze in the city.
Within the City of Cape Town, a programme has been established to regularly test all City-owned diesel vehicles for emissions compliance.
In its quest to decrease the number of polluting vehicles on the road, the City has started a programme to test diesel vehicle fleets of major fleet owners free of charge. The emissions testing is carried out at the fleet owners’ premises and affords the owner an opportunity to proactively assess and repair vehicles before they are stopped and summonsed at a roadside testing site. The City also implemented a voluntary roadside testing program in June and members of the public were encouraged, without fear of prosecution, to submit their vehicles for testing.
During the past two years the City has been assisting other local authorities - such as the eThekweni, Nelson Mandela and Sedibeng Municipalities - in implementing diesel vehicle testing programmes. Various workshops were conducted to train officials and guide the management of those municipalities in establishing diesel emissions testing units.
We would like to encourage members of the public to report badly smoking vehicles to the City so that the necessary follow-up action can be implemented to force the owners of these vehicles to carry out the necessary repairs.
Smoking vehicles can be reported to the City’s Air Quality Management Unit during office hours on 021 590 1419. The following information must be supplied when making such a report:
The name of the complainant with contact telephone number
The registration number of the vehicle (not of the trailer being towed)
Make of vehicle
Type of vehicle i.e. truck, bakkie or sedan
The name of the road on which it was travelling
The direction of travel
The area.
Time
Date
We encourage all members of the public to assist us with this important task. Both private and fleet owners of diesel vehicles are requested to ensure that their vehicles are serviced regularly and maintained in a good state of tune at all times so as to contribute positively to improving Cape Town’s air quality.
End
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Cllr James Vos. Tel: 021 590 1680 Cell: 083 640 7640
Statement by Councillor James Vos: Chairperson: Health Portfolio Committee, City of Cape Town
Air pollution is an urgent problem as it represents a major health risk to our citizens and creates negative perceptions about Cape Town among tourists and residents alike.
According to the Brown Haze Study of 1997, conducted by The Energy Research Group at the University of Cape Town (M Wicking-Baird et al), diesel vehicle emissions contribute to 48% of the visual degradation of the urban air quality in Cape Town. For this reason it was imperative for the City to establish a diesel vehicle emissions testing programme. In 2000 the Diesel Vehicle Testing Unit, consisting of three teams, was established. With the assistance of the City's Traffic Services and Metro Police the Unit conducts daily emission tests of diesel vehicles at various roadside testing sites.
During the year of the inception of the programme, in 2000, the failure rate was 17%. Since then, there has been a steady decline in the failure rate of vehicles tested. Currently the failure rate is 0.66%. This decrease is due to:
* Visible policing
* Fuel reformulation. The sulphur content in diesel decreased from 5500ppm in 2000 to 500ppm in 2006.
* New engine technology
* Improved maintenance programmes by major fleet owners
The change in the composition of both commercial and private vehicles operating in the city, as the average age of vehicles decreased from 14 years to 12 years since the year 2000.
International research has shown that 20% of vehicles are poorly maintained. Such vehicles contribute to 70% of the total contribution of vehicle smoke (48%) to poor urban air quality.
In line with international trends the City started a programme to gradually decrease the failure threshold for smoking vehicles over a period of time. The current proposal is contained in the draft Air Quality Management By-law which has been made available for public comment.
According to the draft by-law the failure threshold will decrease from 60 Hartridge Smoke Units (HSU) to 50HSU for naturally aspirated compression ignition engines (diesel powered engines) and from 66HSU to 56HSU for turbocharged compression ignition engines. At present, approximately 20% of all diesel vehicles tested register smoke readings above these respective proposed thresholds. These proposed new measures should bring about a further reduction in the level of brown haze in the city.
Within the City of Cape Town, a programme has been established to regularly test all City-owned diesel vehicles for emissions compliance.
In its quest to decrease the number of polluting vehicles on the road, the City has started a programme to test diesel vehicle fleets of major fleet owners free of charge. The emissions testing is carried out at the fleet owners’ premises and affords the owner an opportunity to proactively assess and repair vehicles before they are stopped and summonsed at a roadside testing site. The City also implemented a voluntary roadside testing program in June and members of the public were encouraged, without fear of prosecution, to submit their vehicles for testing.
During the past two years the City has been assisting other local authorities - such as the eThekweni, Nelson Mandela and Sedibeng Municipalities - in implementing diesel vehicle testing programmes. Various workshops were conducted to train officials and guide the management of those municipalities in establishing diesel emissions testing units.
We would like to encourage members of the public to report badly smoking vehicles to the City so that the necessary follow-up action can be implemented to force the owners of these vehicles to carry out the necessary repairs.
Smoking vehicles can be reported to the City’s Air Quality Management Unit during office hours on 021 590 1419. The following information must be supplied when making such a report:
The name of the complainant with contact telephone number
The registration number of the vehicle (not of the trailer being towed)
Make of vehicle
Type of vehicle i.e. truck, bakkie or sedan
The name of the road on which it was travelling
The direction of travel
The area.
Time
Date
We encourage all members of the public to assist us with this important task. Both private and fleet owners of diesel vehicles are requested to ensure that their vehicles are serviced regularly and maintained in a good state of tune at all times so as to contribute positively to improving Cape Town’s air quality.
End
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Cllr James Vos. Tel: 021 590 1680 Cell: 083 640 7640
Monday, November 16, 2009
CPF Community Put-foot Walkathon 2009
The Community Police Forum consists of organisations and institutions working in partnership with the local police. The aim is to guide and encourage a safe and secure environment for citizens living within the CPF area.
The Walkathon was a fundraiser in aid of the Kirstenhof Community Police Forum.
Photographs supplied by Frenske Otzen
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The First Opening of the Cape Town 2010 Soccer Stadium - 14 November 09
The Cape Town 2010 Soccer Stadium in Greenpoint was opened last night by Premier Helen Zille and Executive Mayor Dan Plato, along with the team from WBHO and Murray & Roberts, for the official 'roof-wetting' ceremony.
What is usually an informal braai as a roof-wetting to any new building, turned out to be quite a spectacular evening for 2000 people. The contractors and representatives from the various professional teams were in attendance - Entertained by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Richard Cock, Mezzo Suprano Magdalene Minnaar, The Twenty Tennors, Neal Prinz and the Sterling Electric Quartet.
These are some of the first photographs of the inside of the Cape Town 2010 Soccer Stadium.
The official hand-over to the City of Cape Town will be on Monday, 14th December 2009. In the Premier's own words, "Good Job! I knew I could trust this team."
Well done, City of Cape Town!
Photographs courtesy of Union Structural Engineering, taken by Norah Papanicolaou.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Residents can comment on Draft Problem Building By-law at public hearing
CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 09 NOVEMBER 2009
Residents will have a further opportunity to comment on the City of Cape Town’s draft Problem Building By-law that provides for the identification, control and management of dilapidated and problem buildings at a public hearing on 30 November 2009.
Badly neglected buildings and abandoned erven are increasingly becoming a problem as well as the cause for the rise in complaints in this regard, across the city. These buildings are unsightly, unhealthy and often unsafe because of associated anti-social behaviour and criminal activities.
While existing legislation on dilapidated buildings is adequate, there are practical difficulties implementing it. More often than not, the owners of the buildings cannot be traced or have died or the bond holders have abandoned the properties. There are usually large sums of money owing to the City.
These buildings are often occupied illegally or are being rented out illegally by people who do not own them.
Through the proposed by-law the City of Cape Town intends identifying, controlling and managing problem buildings in the formal areas within its area of jurisdiction to ensure that compliance of the by-law by owners and tenants of such buildings.
The proposed Problem Building By-law will assist City officials in:
· Formulating a plan to counter problem buildings and defining the necessary processes and procedures
· Turning problem buildings around by restoring and renovating the buildings rather than demolishing them
· Consulting the owners about redeveloping the property where problem buildings can’t be restored
· Facilitating the sale or demolition of problem buildings to achieve compliance with the by-law
The City acknowledges that many of its residents live in informal settlements and it will thus not require structures in such areas to comply with the by-law.
Public hearing
The Planning and Building Development Management Department will be hosting a one day public hearing on Monday 30 November in the Council Chamber, 44 Wale Street, Cape Town. Commencing at 09:00 it will give representatives from ratepayers associations, interest groups and concerned individuals the opportunity to make representations on the draft by-law.
The closing date for submissions for the public hearing will be Tuesday 24 November 2009.For enquiries and to reserve a time slot at the public hearing please contact Michelle Viney Tel 021 400 2399, Fax 021 425 6495 or e-mail Problembuilding.Bylaw@capetown.gov.za
The closing date for submission of written comment is 07 December 2009.
Copies of the draft by-law are available at the City’s District Planning Offices, Libraries and Subcouncil Offices. It can be viewed via the web link: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/ByLaws
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Marius Lourens, Building Control Officer, Tel: 021400 1802 or Cell: 084 432 2574
Residents will have a further opportunity to comment on the City of Cape Town’s draft Problem Building By-law that provides for the identification, control and management of dilapidated and problem buildings at a public hearing on 30 November 2009.
Badly neglected buildings and abandoned erven are increasingly becoming a problem as well as the cause for the rise in complaints in this regard, across the city. These buildings are unsightly, unhealthy and often unsafe because of associated anti-social behaviour and criminal activities.
While existing legislation on dilapidated buildings is adequate, there are practical difficulties implementing it. More often than not, the owners of the buildings cannot be traced or have died or the bond holders have abandoned the properties. There are usually large sums of money owing to the City.
These buildings are often occupied illegally or are being rented out illegally by people who do not own them.
Through the proposed by-law the City of Cape Town intends identifying, controlling and managing problem buildings in the formal areas within its area of jurisdiction to ensure that compliance of the by-law by owners and tenants of such buildings.
The proposed Problem Building By-law will assist City officials in:
· Formulating a plan to counter problem buildings and defining the necessary processes and procedures
· Turning problem buildings around by restoring and renovating the buildings rather than demolishing them
· Consulting the owners about redeveloping the property where problem buildings can’t be restored
· Facilitating the sale or demolition of problem buildings to achieve compliance with the by-law
The City acknowledges that many of its residents live in informal settlements and it will thus not require structures in such areas to comply with the by-law.
Public hearing
The Planning and Building Development Management Department will be hosting a one day public hearing on Monday 30 November in the Council Chamber, 44 Wale Street, Cape Town. Commencing at 09:00 it will give representatives from ratepayers associations, interest groups and concerned individuals the opportunity to make representations on the draft by-law.
The closing date for submissions for the public hearing will be Tuesday 24 November 2009.For enquiries and to reserve a time slot at the public hearing please contact Michelle Viney Tel 021 400 2399, Fax 021 425 6495 or e-mail Problembuilding.Bylaw@capetown.gov.za
The closing date for submission of written comment is 07 December 2009.
Copies of the draft by-law are available at the City’s District Planning Offices, Libraries and Subcouncil Offices. It can be viewed via the web link: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/ByLaws
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Marius Lourens, Building Control Officer, Tel: 021400 1802 or Cell: 084 432 2574
Thursday, November 5, 2009
City Extends Deadline for Comment on Draft Spatial Development Framework
CITY OF CAPE TOWN - MEDIA RELEASE - 04 NOVEMBER 2009
The public participation process is currently underway in respect of a range of City of Cape Town draft plans and policies that will guide the future development of Cape Town. It includes a draft Cape Town Spatial Development Framework, draft Spatial Development Plans/Environmental Management Frameworks for each of Cape Town’s eight planning districts, a draft Densification Strategy and a draft Development Edges Policy.
At the request of civic organizations in Cape Town, the deadline for public comments on these draft plans and policies has been extended until 30 November. Interested members of the public now have until then to comment.
Alderman Brian Watkyns, Chairperson of the Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee, said: “To date, the City has held 44 meetings to present and discuss the draft proposals contained in these draft plans and planning policies with the public. These meetings have included open days in each of the sub-councils as well as district and city-wide stakeholder workshops. The City would like to thank the public for its enthusiastic participation in these events and the contributions made to date towards achieving this very important goal.”
The draft Spatial Development Framework (SDF) sets out the City’s strategies and policies about how and where Cape Town should develop in the future, and is a required part of Cape Town’s Integrated Development Plan.
In support of the SDF, the City has also prepared:
a draft Densification Strategy
a draft Development Edges Policy
Integrated Draft Spatial Development Plans/Environmental Management
Frameworks for each of the City’s eight planning districts
These district plans identify:
a spatial vision per district
what should inform development in that district
what should be protected
where new development should be planned and implemented
where there should be change to the existing urban environment and what this change should be
“It is anticipated that the SDF will be submitted to Council and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape for approval next year once the public participation processes are complete and the SDF has been redrafted to incorporate the input and comments received,” says Catherine Stone, the City’s Director: Spatial Planning and Design. “The supporting plans and policies will also be submitted to the Council for approval when the public participation processes are complete.”
Once approved, the SDF and the district Spatial Development Plans and Environmental Management Frameworks will enable the City to replace the existing Guide Plans approved in terms of the Physical Planning Act as well as, where appropriate, to review, update and replace historic (five years or older) existing Structure Plans for the Cape Town jurisdictional area approved in terms of s 4(6) of the Land Use Planning Ordinance.
All the draft plans are available for public viewing at the City’s subcouncil offices, libraries and Planning & Building Development Management Department district offices. They are also available for download at http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/sdf/
Questions and comments can be sent to futurecapetown@capetown.gov.za, PO Box 4511, Cape Town 8000 or faxed to 021 425 4327.
Alderman Watkyns said: “Spatial planning aims to positively shape the way Cape Town develops in the next few decades. It includes the preparation of plans that will guide the physical development of Cape Town (where, what and when).
“Spatial plans are used to assess applications submitted by property developers. They also guide changes in land-use rights and guide public investment in infrastructure.
“The implementation of these plans relies on partnerships between the private sector, communities and other spheres of government.
“An SDF is therefore a useful and effective tool with which to manage and monitor growth and development in the city, and informs investors about what they are ‘buying’ and where development opportunities exist in the short and longer term.
“It will offer predictability, as once it has been approved by the full Council and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, it will be the basis on which City officials decide on new development proposals.
“The City sincerely looks forward to your comments and inputs on these important draft policies aimed at guiding development in Cape Town towards a sustainable future. Your comments and inputs must reach us by no later than close of business on Monday 30 November 2009,” Watkyns said.
Further information please visit the City's Spatial Development Framework website –http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/sdf
End
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Catherine Stone, Tel: 021 400 3263 or Cell: 084 577 4846
Ald. Brian Watkyns, Tel: 021 531 3716 or Cell: 083 444 4807
The public participation process is currently underway in respect of a range of City of Cape Town draft plans and policies that will guide the future development of Cape Town. It includes a draft Cape Town Spatial Development Framework, draft Spatial Development Plans/Environmental Management Frameworks for each of Cape Town’s eight planning districts, a draft Densification Strategy and a draft Development Edges Policy.
At the request of civic organizations in Cape Town, the deadline for public comments on these draft plans and policies has been extended until 30 November. Interested members of the public now have until then to comment.
Alderman Brian Watkyns, Chairperson of the Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee, said: “To date, the City has held 44 meetings to present and discuss the draft proposals contained in these draft plans and planning policies with the public. These meetings have included open days in each of the sub-councils as well as district and city-wide stakeholder workshops. The City would like to thank the public for its enthusiastic participation in these events and the contributions made to date towards achieving this very important goal.”
The draft Spatial Development Framework (SDF) sets out the City’s strategies and policies about how and where Cape Town should develop in the future, and is a required part of Cape Town’s Integrated Development Plan.
In support of the SDF, the City has also prepared:
a draft Densification Strategy
a draft Development Edges Policy
Integrated Draft Spatial Development Plans/Environmental Management
Frameworks for each of the City’s eight planning districts
These district plans identify:
a spatial vision per district
what should inform development in that district
what should be protected
where new development should be planned and implemented
where there should be change to the existing urban environment and what this change should be
“It is anticipated that the SDF will be submitted to Council and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape for approval next year once the public participation processes are complete and the SDF has been redrafted to incorporate the input and comments received,” says Catherine Stone, the City’s Director: Spatial Planning and Design. “The supporting plans and policies will also be submitted to the Council for approval when the public participation processes are complete.”
Once approved, the SDF and the district Spatial Development Plans and Environmental Management Frameworks will enable the City to replace the existing Guide Plans approved in terms of the Physical Planning Act as well as, where appropriate, to review, update and replace historic (five years or older) existing Structure Plans for the Cape Town jurisdictional area approved in terms of s 4(6) of the Land Use Planning Ordinance.
All the draft plans are available for public viewing at the City’s subcouncil offices, libraries and Planning & Building Development Management Department district offices. They are also available for download at http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/sdf/
Questions and comments can be sent to futurecapetown@capetown.gov.za, PO Box 4511, Cape Town 8000 or faxed to 021 425 4327.
Alderman Watkyns said: “Spatial planning aims to positively shape the way Cape Town develops in the next few decades. It includes the preparation of plans that will guide the physical development of Cape Town (where, what and when).
“Spatial plans are used to assess applications submitted by property developers. They also guide changes in land-use rights and guide public investment in infrastructure.
“The implementation of these plans relies on partnerships between the private sector, communities and other spheres of government.
“An SDF is therefore a useful and effective tool with which to manage and monitor growth and development in the city, and informs investors about what they are ‘buying’ and where development opportunities exist in the short and longer term.
“It will offer predictability, as once it has been approved by the full Council and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, it will be the basis on which City officials decide on new development proposals.
“The City sincerely looks forward to your comments and inputs on these important draft policies aimed at guiding development in Cape Town towards a sustainable future. Your comments and inputs must reach us by no later than close of business on Monday 30 November 2009,” Watkyns said.
Further information please visit the City's Spatial Development Framework website –http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/sdf
End
Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Catherine Stone, Tel: 021 400 3263 or Cell: 084 577 4846
Ald. Brian Watkyns, Tel: 021 531 3716 or Cell: 083 444 4807
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)