GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The first of two Ward 2 engagements was held on Monday in the Supper Room of the Town Hall.
The second one was held on Tuesday evening in Nieu-Bethesda.
The purpose of these community meetings is to do a review of the ward development priorities that were identified as part of the IDP process last year. This is part of an annual review of the IDP and allows communities to reprioritize development in their wards.
Unfortunately, the turnout was very poor with only 12 people in attendance. Cllr Linda Botha, Ward Councillor of Ward 2, expressed her concern at the lack of interest displayed by community members in being part of meetings like this.
Leonie Fouche, IDP Coordinator for the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality took the meeting through the priorities that had been identified during the Situation Analysis undertaken in October last year.
The next section of her presentation focused on what the status is of each of those identified priorities.
Generally, there has not been too much progress made on the priority areas, however, one major achievement has been the work being done on the MR605 road into Nieu-Bethesda.
Due to Cllr Botha's persistence this road has become a priority for the Department of Roads and it appears that tarring of the last stretch will be done in the near future.
Cllr Botha also gave feedback on other projects she has been involved in, including the painting, cleaning and refurbishing of the playpark on the corner of West and Cradock Streets.
The Horseshoe meeting was then asked to reassess the priority development areas as identified last year and reprioritise the three most important issues currently.
After much discussion of various problems, the meeting concluded that Traffic Control, Waste Management and Pedestrian Crossings (in that order) are the most critical problems requiring resolution.
The issue of car guards was again a hot topic but Cllr Samantha Graham outlined the motion and proposal that she has submitted to the Community Services Portfolio, which will be sitting this week. The two councillors have undertaken to report back on the progress in this regard.
The meeting was very fruitful and despite the low attendance, those present engaged meaningfully on the IDP.
Read a previous article: Ward 2 residents invited to meeting
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