The City of Cape Town plans to spend R350 million this financial year on infrastructure projects in the Voortrekker Road Corridor (VRC) to stimulate growth in the area.
The VRC, 8 200 hectares in size, is bounded by the N1 to the north and the R300 and Salt River to the east and west respectively.
The City says it was chosen because of its central location in the metro, its potential to create jobs, its existing facilities and the promise it holds for densification and transport-oriented development.
Johan van der Merwe, the mayoral committee member for energy, environmental and spatial planning, says the City believes the big spend on the area will attract development and investment from the private sector.
“Our targeted investment drive in infrastructure and public space upgrades aims not only to lay a solid and attractive foundation for further private sector investment, but also shows our commitment to enhancing the second largest central business district area in the metro and its surrounds,” he said, adding that it would take “strong partnerships” to spark change in the area.
The Integrated City Development Grant is funding the investment. The grant incentivises eight metropolitan municipalities to promote public transport-orientated development.
Cities have to identify integration zones to qualify for funding. Cape Town has nominated its Metro South-East and VRC regions.
The upgrade projects, some of which are already under way, include R51 million for the Oakdale main substation, R65 million for the Bell-ville wastewater treatment works, R5 million for the upgrade of the Bellville public transport interchange, R2 million for CCTV installation in Goodwood, R4.5 million for the Maitland cemetery upgrade and R2 million for the Elsieskraal River upgrade, (from Elizabeth Park to Jack Muller Park. The first phase of infrastructure upgrades started in the 2014/15 financial year with projects such as the water and sanitation department’s northern region sludge facility and the electricity services department’s Plattekloof N1 sub-station reinforcement.
“This is not a theoretical exercise. Results are being seen and even smaller actions – such as the high-pressure hose-cleaning operation of foul-smelling areas along Voortrekker Road with the help of our private business partners and the Voortrekker Road City Improvement District – shows that we can only achieve progress when we work together,” said Mr Van der Merwe.
