| Sustainable Development • Training and Education
The Theewaterskloof Municipality will seek to facilitate the accessibility to educational facilities by its residents. The promotion of ABET is one of the priorities for the municipality. Skills development and access to employment opportunities will be promoted at all levels of the municipality.
• Community safety
Due to increase in crime levels during the last five years in the Theewaterskloof Municipality, the safety of its residents has become a cause for concern. Although a community police force is not envisaged for the municipal area, better-lit public areas with improved high mast lighting will be installed to prevent incidents of crime.
• Health and Welfare
Upgrade to community facilities had been prioritised for the Theewaterskloof region. Access to healthcare is vital and the municipality will seek to facilitate upgrading of various facilities in a number of towns. Care for the welfare of the elderly and destitute will be promoted with various agencies, which will work jointly with the municipality.
• Tourism Promotion
Tourism promotion will be the cornerstone of promoting the Theewaterskloof Municipality. A number of initiatives have been prioritised to promote tourism in the Theewaterskloof Municipality. Because of the abundant natural beauty of the Theewaterskloof region, tourism needs to be sustained and enhanced. This may prove to be the saving grace for the region.
• Environmental Protection
Theewaterskloof Municipality is located in a very sensitive natural setting. In order to preserve the natural heritage of its environment, a number of projects have been prioritised within the IDP programme. An environmental management plan will also be prepared to indicate sensitive areas and the actions or outcomes that will need to be implemented to preserve the environment
• Economic Development
In order to capitalise on its value position, the Theewaterskloof Municipality sees economic development as a major driver in improving the lives of people within the Theewaterskloof region. It is the intention of the Spatial Development Plan to unlock a number of key sites that will become instruments for economic development. By underlying its key objectives, investors can be made aware of the outcomes that are necessary to undertake a successful project. Economic development processes will also be used to address socio economic objectives of the municipality. This will ensure that local persons and the previously disadvantaged community will be given preference when undertaking business opportunities within the Theewaterskloof region.
• Business Promotion
Investment from the private sector is seen as the only manner in which economic development can benefit the Theewaterskloof Municipal region. It is the priority of the IDP to seek to identify business-zoned sites for further development of business operations. The Spatial Development Plan will further amplify this, which will result in a more predictable approach to zonings and land uses. The promotion and support of SMME's is also seen as a key objective of the Theewaterskloof Municipality. Preferential procurement and local enterprises being given preference will enhance and will result in new SMME's emerging within the Theewaterskloof region. Training and development is also a targeted priority where the Theewaterskloof Municipality will be facilitating with other stakeholders.
• Public Transport
Public transport plays an important part in the lives of ordinary persons. The Theewaterskloof Municipality will facilitate all endeavours to upgrade the service levels of public transport. Shelters at bus stops have been prioritised to be build in various towns within the municipality. Upgrade to roads has also been prioritised and this will improve the quality of travel and the creation of local employment opportunities.
• Art and Culture
In order to develop the youth of Theewaterskloof Municipality, it becomes necessary to prioritise projects that will promote arts and culture. The introduction of youth programmes have been prioritised and development of accommodation for training and development youth. A craft market for Botriver has also been identified.
• Sports and Recreation
This was a very popular priority in a number of towns. A number of projects have been prioritised in the various towns to upgrade current facilities and develop new facilities. Theewaterskloof Municipality will also seek to facilitate with external parties such as the Department of Education to create partnerships for use of these facilities. This prevents duplication of similar facilities and funding can then be utilised more efficiently.
• Disaster Management
A disaster management plan has become a requirement for inclusion with the IDP Plan. A plan illustrating the methodology that will be undertaken to prepare a disaster management plan has been appended to the IDP document. This plan will consider all aspects of contingency arrangements that need to be taken into consideration in instances of natural and unnatural disasters.
• Housing
This is seen by the Theewaterskloof Municipality as a major delivery mission for the benefit of the squatter communities and the previously disadvantaged persons. As such, bulk of the priority funding will be allocated to housing. The housing shortage in certain towns is more urgent than others and as such priority will be given to this.
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