The 2012/13 financial year saw the “ward allocation” budget being increased from R500 000 per year to R700 000. The “ward allocation” budget refers to funds available to be spent within each ward on projects identified by the Ward Councillor and approved by the sub-council. The increase in the budget is obviously very welcome. Throughout the year we maintain a “wish list” of projects that either I identify as possible ward allocation projects or are submitted by residents and civic organisations operating within the ward. The wish list assists me and the ward committee to identify priority projects for funding.
The projects selected for 2012/13 include:
Traffic Calming
There is a long list of approved traffic calming measures for various streets within the ward. Given the very limited budget allocation for traffic calming their implementation will take a very a long time if we rely exclusively on the Roads department’s budget. For this reason I allocated a substantial portion of the ward allocation budget to traffic calming – so that we can begin to eliminate some of this backlog – and the following projects were prioritised by the engineers for implementation:
Derry Street, Vredehoek
Hopkins Street, Woodstock
Chester Road, Walmer Estate
Cambridge Street, Walmer Estate
Fairview Street, Woodstock
Parks – Upgrade and Maintenance
In the dense and urban environment that makes up most of Ward 57 our public spaces are very important. We are blessed with a number of exceptional parks and it is important that we maintain them for our communities to use and enjoy.
I was particularly excited by the approach from two communities – Devils Peak and Gardens respectively – who wished to create decent parks out of two public open spaces within their neighbourhoods. I need to acknowledge and salute those involved for their initiative and for willing to be active participants in the upgrade of these spaces – without their energy and commitment creating two new parks would not have been possible. I was thus more than willing to respond to these initiatives and to support their efforts by allocating ward funding to the two projects:
The Plantation, Devils Peak
Maynard Street Childrens Park, Gardens
In addition, I allocated funding to:
Alma Road Park, Rosebank
Upper Searle Street Public Open Space, Walmer Estate – to provide fencing along the top of the retaining walls.
I have also funded park maintenance and attendants for:
Fairview Road Park, Woodstock
Shelley Street Park, Salt River
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