INTRODUCTION TO THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK (SDF)
1.3 Background to the eThekwini Municipal Area’s (EMA’s) Planning Context
In addition to national, provincial and local policies, our Municipal SDF is also informed by previous planning initiatives of the Municipality including initiatives that came about as a result of the local government restructuring process. In December, 2000 a new Council for the eThekwini Municipality (Unicity) was established as part of the Developmental Local Government Agenda that required that one local government body be responsible for the overall strategic planning and management of the EMA. The New Council involved the amalgamation of seven councils administered by the old Durban Metropolitan Area, the Umkomaas Traditional Local Council and portions of ILembe and Ndlovu Regional Councils.
Due to the multiplicity of local authorities, institutional fragmentation and poorly coordinated and uneven spatial and economic development pattern the restructured local government provided a window of opportunity to address the historical lack of strategic spatial guidance, as well as a more cooperative approach to manage shared resources and introduce an approach to land use management that is more flexible and responsive to development. This change enabled the eThekwini Municipality to move beyond just the delivery of services and goods administration to strategically turning the Municipality into a globally competitive and attractive Municipality
Out of the restructuring process, eThekwini Municipality embarked on the following initiatives:
1.3.1 The Long Term Development Framework (LTDF)
In 2001 eThekwini Municipality embarked on a process to develop a LTDF and Integrated Development Plan for the eThekwini Municipal Area. The LTDF process was intended to assist the newly formed eThekwini Municipality to identify challenges that it faced as a result of the amalgamation that needed to be addressed in both the short and long term. The LTDF mapped out the developmental challenges and strategic vision for
39 the eThekwini Municipality over a period of twenty years and strategic priorities over the first five years. The vision statement as identified in the LTDF was as follows:
“By 2020 Durban Unicity will enjoy the reputation of being Africa’s most caring and liveable city, where all citizens live in harmony. This vision will be achieved by growing its economy and meeting people’s needs so that all citizens enjoy a high quality of life with equal opportunities, in a city that they are truly proud of”.
The vision was informed by the developmental challenges that were identified and needed to be achieved, namely:
Have ease of movement in the Municipality
Enjoy a safe environment in all parts of the municipal area
Afford what the Municipality offers
Enjoy a clean and green Municipality
Have access to economic opportunities
Enjoy homely neighbourhoods
Have access to services, in particular municipal, health and education services
With delivery of these, the people of eThekwini should be able to:
Live in harmony
Be proud of their Municipality
Feel protected
Feel their basic needs are being met
The following diagram represents the Municipality’s sustainable growth path as represented in the LTDF.
The IDP had a similar five year timescale with detailed management plans for the Municipality including programmes, projects, budgets and performance indicators.
1.3.2 Imagine Durban Long Term Development Plan (LTDP)
In 2010 the LTDF was revised through the Imagine Durban Long Development Term Plan project. The main purpose of this project was to develop a visionary plan that can inspire citizens, non-governmental organizations, businesses and government to work together to refine the vision statement and key
Durban 2030 VISION
40 strategies. The revised vision statement as outlined in the Imagine Durban process and as adopted by the 2010 and beyond IDP reads: “By 2020 eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and liveable city”.
This vision will be achieved by growing its economy and meeting people’s needs so that all citizens enjoy a high quality of life with equal opportunities, in a Municipality that they are truly proud of. The Imagine Durban Long Term Plan outlined the following key strategies through the development framework:
Creating a Safe Municipality;
Promoting an Accessible Municipality;
Creating a Prosperous Municipality where all enjoy Sustainable Livelihoods;
Celebrating our Cultural Diversity, Arts and Heritage;
Ensuring a more Environmentally Sustainable Municipality; and
Fostering a Caring and Empowering Municipality.
1.3.3 The IDP’s Eight Point Plan
In line with the refined long term plan’s vision, strategies and outcomes, the eThekwini Municipality’s IDP’s Eight Point Plan outlined the short term strategies and outcomes intended at addressing the key challenges and achieving the long term vision. The eight point plans are the Municipality’s delivery plan, which despite being separate plans are supportive of each other to ensure effective delivery. The eight plans are:
1. Develop and Sustain our Spatial, Natural and Built Environment.
2. Developing a Prosperous, Diverse Economy and Employment Creation.
3. Creating a Quality Living Environment.
4. Fostering a Socially Equitable Environment.
5. Creating a Platform for Growth, Empowerment and Skills Development 6. Embracing our Cultural Diversity, Arts and Heritage.
7. Good Governance and Responsive Local Government.
8. Financially Accountable and Sustainable Municipality.
Given the fact that the Spatial Development Framework is a spatial translation of the Municipality’s IDP, and hence the eight point plans, the spatial vision, strategies and outcomes are also linked to both the short and long term strategies as outlined within the IDP and the Long Term Development Plan.
1.3.4 Current Planning Approach in the eThekwini Municipality
The eThekwini Municipality has developed a comprehensive land use management system for the entire Municipal area to give effect to the requirements of Section 26 of the Municipal Systems Act (2000). A key aspect of this system is the preparation of a “Planning and Development Management Toolbox” which will include a Package of Plans.
The establishment of the system includes a range of planning activities all running in parallel with each other with the common purpose of updating, refining and establishing appropriate mechanisms for managing land use and development in the Municipal area.
41 This Package of Plans is a cyclic, integrated and iterative process and shows the move from Municipality wide strategic level plans to detailed local level plans and land-use schemes. It is important therefore to consider the entire Package of Plans as part of the IDP / SDF as, together, this communicates the strategic intent through to the detailed land use guidelines as required in terms of the Municipal Systems Act. A list of the Council Approved Plans as well as the Plans in Progress are attached at Annexure 7 of this report and
can be downloaded from the municipal website:
http://www.durban.gov.za/Resource_Centre/reports/Framework_Planning/Pages/default.aspx
The diagram below indicates the package of plans concept while Table 1 identifies the purpose and scope of each level of plan:
1.3.4.1 Package of eThekwini Plans
Table 1: Purpose and Scope of Existing Municipal Plans
PLAN TYPE SCOPE PURPOSE
Long Term Development
Framework Strategic: Economic Social and
Environmental Objectives Strategic Development Direction for the Municipality IDP Strategic: Operational Implementation Strategic Implementation Direction and Imperatives for the
Municipality Spatial Development
Framework
Strategic: Spatial Development Strategic Spatial Development Intentions for the Municipality based on the LTDF, Imagine Durban and IDP
Spatial Development Plan Strategic: Spatial Development Translation of Spatial Development Intentions into Land Use, Transport, Environmental, Infrastructure implications Broad based Land Use Directives to guide Local Area Planning and LUMS, Bulk Infrastructure and Transportation Planning Directives for the Municipality
Local Area Plan Detailed Physical Plan Detailed Physical Planning Directives for the Municipality - Refining Land Use, Transport, Environment and Infrastructure to a level that informs the preparation of a Land Use Scheme.
Also includes Urban Design Directives for Public and Privately owned Land. May include implementation proposals
42 Functional Area Plan Detailed Physical Plan for special areas Detailed Physical Planning Directives for the Municipality for
areas with special environmental, economic, heritage etc characteristics. Detailed Urban Design Directives and / or Proposals. May include implementation proposals Land Use Schemes Legislative and statutory component
focused on implementation. Drive and direct development TheSDF gives effect to the intentions of the IDP and provides a framework for the formulation of an area and even site specific land used controls depending to the size of SDF area. Since eThekwini is a metro, its SDF could not be directly translated into a scheme level.
Below is an example of the spatial representation of the eThekwini Package of Plans showing how plans are translated from an SDF level to a level of detail.
The table below illustrates the nature of the sector information required for each level of plan.