MORE than R16 million has been allocated by the Cape Winelands District Municipality for projects in the Drakenstein municipal area in the 2008/9 financial year.
According to Executive Mayor Clarence Johnson, the projects include R1,5m that has been set aside for a rural water scheme outside Wellington.
More than R1m was budgeted for upgrading the rural roads to paved roads so as to improve the safety of the road users and pedestrians and to minimise dust on these roads.
This project will also create jobs for the local community.
* Clearing contracts: More than R5,5m was budgeted for clearing invasive alien plants within the Drakenstein municipal area. This will include different projects covering the area from the R45 bridge in Franschhoek to Wellington and Hermon.
* Water/sewerage subsidies: R166 000 has been budgeted for subsidising water/sewerage to farms and rural schools to promote the health status of beneficiary communities.
* Clean-up campaigns: More than R330 000 has been budgeted for clean-up campaigns to create awareness amongst the general public about the environment and pollution control. This is achieved through educational campaigns.
This project aims to create about 100 jobs for the the disabled, elderly and women. This project will be implemented through the use of small scale contractors.
Small contractors will be encouraged to recycle all waste collected. This would lead to additional income for the contractors and encourage continued recycling.
* Reseal projects: More than R800 000 has been budgeted for resealing of tarred roads. This helps to prevent further deterioration of these roads and development of potholes.
* Entrepreneurial seed funding: An amount of R112, 833 was budgeted for entrepreneurial seed funding. This is meant to support small and start-up businesses so as to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship. The allocation is not meant to be paid back.
* Extended Public Works Program: About R666 000 has been budgeted for Extended Public Work Program contracts in the area. These create many temporary jobs and ensure that people are skilled in different areas.
Other expenditure that is budgeted for in the area, with prospects of job creation, includes:
* R433 000 for public shelters and embayments
* R148 400 for a local economic development base-line study and sector reviews
* R166 666 for upgrading farm roads
* R166 666 for human settlement planning
* R800 000 for material for reseal projects
* R100 000 for assisting police and policing forums in the area.
Mayor Johnson proudly revealed that the Cape Winelands District Municipality is in a sound financial position.
“This District Municipality maintains a positive current ratio whereby current assets are greater than current liabilities.
“All provisions and reserves are cash-backed and Council has no external loans. This is one of the reasons that we have had unqualified audits from the office of the Auditor General for five consecutive years,” said Johnson.
