DURBAN IS GETTING GREENER BY THE DAY ...
JONATHAN Edkins, head of the city’s Architecture Department, is the driving force behind the Priority Zones Urban Asset Management Project, which was launched in 2009.
Such has been the success of the project that council recently approved the roll-out of the next phase of this groundbreaking pilot initiative, which will include areas in the inner city as well as a range of suburban nodes identified for improved management and environmental enhancement.
“The Priority Zone Pilot Project was conceptualised as an opportunity to build partnering arrangements for more effective and more inte- grated management of services in the inner city,” Edkins explained. “This would be done by harnessing both private and public sector expertise. ”
The main objective is to protect, manage and develop city assets in the public domain.
The Priority Zones project is already well established. It began in the inner city areas of the ICC, Old Fort Municipal Complex, Gugu Dlamini Park, the OR Tambo Esplanade and Centrum and Civic Precinct.
“The project has drawn extensively from the knowledge pool and experience of internal city employees, including the city architects and urban designers, along with private sector management expertise and a passionate, highly motivated team,” said Edkins
In the next few months City Watch will be keeping pace with the team as they extend the “Clean Green and Safe” campaign into other parts of eThekwini.
PZ resources will be employed to clean surfaces and street furniture, strip away illegal posters and stickers, fix pavements, cut verges and rehabilitate planted areas and establish safe, clean and green environments. Those working on the projects will be clearly identifiable by their neon green T-shirts and caps, both sporting the PZ logos.
You are encouraged to look out for the slogan “I’m A City Changer” and help where you can. You can also play a part by maintaining pavements and verges in your area. Shopkeepers are asked to join in by keeping the areas around their business premises free of litter.
City Watch will keep bringing you the latest news. If you want to be involved, visit the priority zone offices at 77 Monty Naicker Street, opposite the ICC Arena.
The accompanying photographs illustrate one of the dramatic improvements that have been made in the inner city . – Vivian Attwood