IT is noted that the process of the Waterfront development perhaps took longer than was anticipated and if anyone is aware of any purposeful delays by any of the staff involved, then they are invited to bring this to the attention of the Municipal Manager.
The Drakenstein municipality was lambasted in the Paarl Post of 15 May about a CBD that was emptying and that jobs were in the balance.
Now the same newspaper complains when the municipality makes land available for investment.
Many jobs will be created through this development and many opportunities to revitalise the economic growth of the Drakenstein. Finally a place where tourists can gather and spend their foreign currency.
The Drakenstein Municipality was one of the first Councils nationally that started planning for 2010 Base Camp.
The plans are very advanced and it is a pity that the editor chose to publish an editorial without giving the Paarl 2010 team an opportunity to make any input.
To write that Paarl 2010 has left it so late is disingenuous and far from the truth.
The Drakenstein Municipality’s Planning Department has been tasked with delivering a proper programme to begin construction as soon as possible.
A further development has been the Paarl 2010 involvement in leaving a legacy for the people of Mbekweni by making funds available to fast-track the completion of the Mbekweni Multipurpose Centre.
Drakenstein Municipality has a programme of legacy projects in line as can be witnessed at Dal Josaphat Stadium with the revamping and improvement of the stadium facade.
Mbekweni, Faure and Weltevrede Stadiums will be part of the new financial year, 2008/09.
The Drakenstein Municipality has realised that it will take more than a phone call and an email to convince a team to set up Base Camp in Paarl.
To think otherwise is very immature and shows a complete lack of understanding of how the Base Camp Bidding process works.
To date many competing towns and cities are making repeated trips to assure visitors and teams that South Africa will be safe, teams will have world-class facilities and privacy when setting up Base Camp.
Paarl 2010 is in fact not meeting with key stakeholders abroad enough. The recent spate of xenophobic attacks in our region will require new strategies to move forward.
Another legacy project has been the Drakenstein Municipality’s involvement with the province in the creation of more than 30 jobs for people of Wellington at the Alive & Kicking ball-stitching project.
Khaya Mrali - Director Co-operate Services Drakenstein Municipality
