The municipality's plans to transform Lavender Valley would start next month, Ward 10 councillor Xolani Simakuhle told residents during a meeting at the councillor's office recently.
The municipality's plans to transform Lavender Valley would start next month, Ward 10 councillor Xolani Simakuhle told residents during a meeting at the councillor's office recently.
Included in the project would be the rehabilitation of the old building once used to store Dias ambulances, in Currie Street, and the Dakawa Arts Centre.
“The building [Dias] will be turned into a business hub, where members of the community will be taught skills to sustain themselves,” said Simakuhle.
He said there would be employment opportunities for 30 people in the project.
Makana Municipality's spokesperson, Thandy Matebese, said the project had been identified in 2007, after a community consultation process. Funds for the work would come through the national treasury department's Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant.
"The projects identified for the grant had to comply with the strict requirements for this grant and municipalities were required to submit projects that would promote nodal development," Matebese said.
"The Lavender Valley project is seen as a recreational node and, according to the Township Regeneration Strategy, it will eventually link with other projects to unlock the potential in this area.”
He said the project was awarded on a Expanded Public Works Programme basis, which means the contractor is obliged to use labour-intensive construction methods, thus providing employment opportunities for unemployed people in the area, and providing training for them.
Matebese said the scope of the project included planting grass, flowers and trees, the upgrading of sports fields and the construction of braai facilities, a basketball court and a skateboard park.
The contract value of the project is R5 million, but Matebese said additional funds to develop Dakawa and Albany Road had yet to be secured.
