Fresh from the district council

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route District Council was informed of several ongoing projects and initiatives during their most recent meeting on Thursday 27 June.

The following information was shared and the resolutions were adopted by council:

Council took note of the progress made in terms of the restructuring of firefighting services in the district. The fire services task team will continue negotiations with the managers responsible for oversight over fire services at each local municipality to formulate a district service-delivery and funding model.

The Western Cape department of local government, responsible for fire services, informed local municipalities of its intention to restructure fire services to simplify and centralise fire services. The district council resolved during a meeting in March that the total fire service function must reside at district level and that a proper consultation with the B-municipalities and other affected parties must be undertaken. Mayor Memory Booysen expressed his disappointment over the slow progress, seemingly due to the consultation process with B-municipalities.

A progress report on the regional waste management facility revealed that it is possible that the public participation process will not be finalised before 30 September and that the existing contract with iX Engineers will have to be extended, with additional cost to council. There are delays in the finalisation of certain processes at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, and the request for national and provincial Treasury views and recommendations still need to be finalised.

The declaration of a formal intergovernmental dispute in terms of the Intergovernmental Regulations Framework Act on the Garden Route Waste Management bylaws of Mossel Bay and George municipalities with the minister of local government is another cause for delay. The district municipality requested the extension of the licence for the waste facility that will lapse on 18 July and was granted an additional two years by the department of environmental affairs. The municipal disposal contract with PetroSA will expire on 30 July. A meeting will be held on 27 June with PetroSA management to discuss a request for an extension of the contract.

All objections have been received regarding the proposed closure of Minor Road 6866 and a portion of Minor Road 6864 in Geelhoutboom. According to Speaker Barnie Groenewald, the next step is to conduct thorough consultation processes with all the concerned parties. Dates for these discussion sessions have not yet been confirmed.

Acting municipal manager Lusanda Menze.