Neighbouring Municipalities

Employment Profile

2.2 Spatial Context of eThekwini Municipality

2.2.5 Neighbouring Municipalities

The eThekwini Municipal Area (EMA) is bordered by three district municipalities, namely, iLembe in the north, UGu in the south and uMgungundlovu in the west. These are shown in Figure 15 below:

Source: PGDS presentation by COGTA Figure 16: Provincial Context of EMA

The eThekwini Municipality is a key growth point that serves the region. It therefore needs to be aligned with the spatial development frameworks of neighboring municipalities. The alignment with neighbouring municipalities is necessary in order to:

 prevent conflicting initiatives and land uses being implemented on opposite sides of a boundary

 ensure an aligned regional vision with regards to the region’s infrastructural development to allow governments to take advantage of comparative advantages offered within an area. This also refers to cross border provision of services such as education facilities which can be utilized by communities

68 residing in two municipalities. This allows for cost effective provision of services and is applicable to the provision of civil services, social services and economic opportunities.

2.2.5.1 Cross- Municipal Boundary Planning Engagements

The municipal SDF directs and guides strategic investments that are developmental and beneficial both within eThekwini and across neighbouring municipalities. Given the importance of eThekwini to the economic growth of the region and the need for coordinated and integrated cross boundary planning, the eThekwini Municipality, through its planning department, has spearheaded the establishment of three cross boundary fora. One in the west, with Mkhambathini Local Municipality, one in the north addressing the development concerns and alignment with ILembe District Municipality and one in the south to deal with the imminent incorporation of Vulamehlo from the Ugu District Municipality into the eThekwini Municipality in 2016. To this end, a number of cross border planning and alignment meetings have been held on an on-going basis.

The municipalities have agreed that the areas that need joint planning and alignment include the IDP, SDF, GIS, environmental frameworks and joint consideration of Development Applications and Proposals in addition to the need for sub-regional planning and entering into agreements for the sharing of infrastructure services and resources.

For the first time, an attempt has been made to map all the SDF’s of the neighbouring municipalities and evaluate the implications of each of the SDF’s on the other (refer Annexure 8). Clearly there are areas of spatial alignment as well as non-alignment for example, corridors in ILembe end on the boundary of eThekwini Municipality with no corresponding corridor planned in the eThekwini Municipality. The spatial mapping exercise, although challenging in terms of data available, does highlight the need for the planning of municipalities to be more outwardly focussed and to recognise and understand the functional linkages and interdependencies between different neighbouring municipalities. It will certainly provide a good basis for further discussion and possibly collaborative planning.

A summary is given below of municipalities bordering eThekwini with their key planning issues as they relate to the eThekwini Municipality:

Table 5: Summary of planning issues with municipalities Bordering eThekwini DISTRICT

MUNICIPALITY

LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES THAT SHARE A BORDER WITH EMA

CROSS BORDER ISSUES

ILembe Municipality Local municipalities that are within iLembe include the following:

 KwaDukuza

 Ndwedwe

 Maphumulo

 Mandeni

Ilembe Municipality

 The Regional Spatial Development Plan (RSDP, 2013) is a thirty year plan that will influence the Ilembe SDF

 2015 focus is on the rural towns of Ndwedwe, Maphumulo and Bamshela

 2016 focus is on Compensation Flats Industrial and addressing bulk water availability

 The EM immediate

Ilembe Municipality

 Lack of infrastructure identified. IM is engaging with EM for possible solutions

 The Western Bypass will open up the area to development and concentrates on the P253 and P100 as linkages into the interior.

 Proposes 2km development on both sides of the R102

 The RSDP identifies fertile land for food security

 D’Moss will be taken into account in planning

 Need to look at costs of development i.e.

rates, infrastructure etc. within a 5km strip

69 neighbours are KwaDukuza

and Ndwedwe Local Municipalities.

KwaDukuza

 Is economically the strongest local municipality in iLembe

 Houses the towns of Ballito and KwaDukuza (Stanger),

 Within the development parameters of the Aerotropolis

 Has a mix of coastal tourism, commercial, light industrial and agricultural activities.

 Shares northern border with EM.

Ndwedwe

 One of the rural/traditional/

agricultural Local Municipalities

 Has poor level of services and infrastructure,

 Has high unemployment,

 Tongaat Hulett

Developments is buying tracks of land in Ilembe

 shares north western border with EM

abutting the municipal boundaries.

 Due to high unemployment there is difficulty in building a tax base.

 Employment opportunities available in KwaDukuza but not Ndwedwe.

KwaDukuza

 Vision of an economic corridor along N2 &

R102,

 Degree of unregulated economic and residential development may lead to conflict and competition between the municipalities.

 The southern Local Area Plan underway will respond to aerotropolis planning.

 Proposals at Compensation for 500ha of industrial development. This may not align with the land use planning on the EM boundary.

 Based on discussions, there is general alignment with KwaDukuza Municipality and EM around the industrial land use at the boundary near Greylands.

 However, the intentions of the KwaDukuza Municipality to have industrial land use across the R102 will conflict with residential land uses on the EM side as per the SDF 2016-2017.

Ndwedwe

 Large proportion of residents in Ndwedwe employed in EM and cross boundary issues almost inseparable.

 The raising of the Hazelmere Dam wall will have positive impacts for Ndwedwe

 P100 offers potential for development as it can connect directly with Dube Trade Port

 Poverty, unemployment, unregulated development all threatens the UDL and the environmental sensitivity of EM’s

northwestern border.

 The lack of infrastructure has initiated discussions with EM for possible solutions.

General planning issues to emerge:

 The need to establish a common

communication and co-ordination platform

 Establish a cross border urban-rural management committee to address a wide range of issues include climate change with the private sector involved where applicable

 Enter into MoU regarding servicing, socio-

70 economic and any other pertinent issues that may arise resulting from Cross Border Spatial Planning

 Factor in political leadership and buy-in for cross border planning issues

 Factor in geo-political aspects inclusive of socio-economic aspects which can and may influence development realized

 To hold special meetings to discuss

development applications and proposals with specific reference to:-

a) Conservation Areas:-KDM Biodiversity and Open Space Plan and eThekwini DMOSS;

Future developments in eThekwini to consider KDM and iLembe environmental layers as development proposals in

eThekwini may have adverse effect on KDM and iLembe natural environment and vice versa.

b) New Planned Projects: The provision of bulks could influence influx of PDA submissions to the south of KDM where Tongaat Hullet is a major land owner c) Infrastructure Development: Alignment of

land use planning to iLembe services provision. Possible scenarios where for example major WTW or WWTW plants are located on either municipality but service the other. This could also have an effect as such infrastructure could be susceptible to

development pressures in either municipality d) Role of settlements: Housing plans vs

housing subsidies

e) Key Development Proposals: Wewe Driefontein Mixed Use Development and Tongaat Hullet Compensation Area f) Influence of Catalytic Projects: Dube

Trade Port at its current state of development, DTP at 2035 and 2060 development horizon and rail transport g) Corridors and Linkages-PSEDS and

PGDS: Role of the North South corridor in the context of the eThekwini-Umhlathuze corridor. Influence on space economy with regard to release of industrial. Need to ensure the sustainable management of industrial and residential land development between eThekwini and KwaDukuza Municipalities as well as R102. Need to strengthen East West Corridors.

h) R102: Cross boundary engagement between the municipalities with the involvement of eThekwini Transport Authority to discuss the role and land uses along the R102

i) Western Bypass: Input is needed from the Provincial Department of Transport and

71 eThekwini Transport Authority on the timing of the Western Bypass as KwaDukuza intends developing the R614 as a corridor linking to Wewe Driefontein.

j) Aerotropolis Masterplanning: Involvement in the cross boundary municipalities in the development of the Aerotropolis Masterplan is important so that areas of misalignment are addressed and there is seamless alignment as per the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy.

k) M28 and M36: iLembe has identified the M28 and M36 for Priority Infrastructure Routing. The M28 aligns with the draft Rural Develop Strategy currently underway which has identified the route as a rural corridor.

The EM acknowledges the proposal for the M36 but no provision has been made in our planning to extend the corridor. The EM will investigate the links further.

l) Regional Plan: COGTA needs to initiate a plan to consolidate development between Ilembe Municipality and EM.

UMgungundlovu Municipality Local municipalities within

uMgungundlovu include the following:

 uMshwathi

 uMngeni

 MooiMpofana

 Impendle

 UMsunduzi

 Mkhambathini

 Richmond

Mkhambathini

MkhambathiniLocal Municipality existsalongside the Cato Ridge and Mpumalanga local areas of the Outer West region of eThekwini Municipality.

Between the years 1996 and 2007 this Municipality has experienced an increase in population mainly because of its proximity to Pietermaritzburg and Durban which are the main centers of economy.

The spatial character of the Mkhambathinimunicipality can be defined as follows:

 It has always been considered as a rural and traditional Municipality.

 It mainly focuses on agriculture and tourism development, however there are some industrial activities which are emerging along Umlaas road.

 Agricultural production in the municipality comprise ofvegetable growth for local and hinterland fresh produce markets, maize and

Mkhambathini

The methodology for this alignment has been the collection of data through meetings held with the neighbouring municipalities.

 Meetings were held with both Mkhambathini Local Municipality and uMgungundlovu District Municipality on the 06^th of April 2016 and 08^th of April 2016 respectively.

 It was agreed that joint planning and alignment is needed on the following areas:

the IDP, SDF, GIS, and development proposals.

 It was noted that there is a broad alignment in terms of both strategic planning and land use intentions (zoning), however there are elements of misalignments that are emerging at the land use level. These areas of misalignment can be attributed to new applications for zoning/rezoning, general contraventions and illegal developments.

This is mainly due to the unavailability of lower spatial plans as most of the areas of eThekwini that are close to Mkhambathini (i.eGeorgedale, Sankontshe and Mophela) falling outside of the TP Scheme.

 With regard to the current N3 Corridor project (SIP 2), both municipalities hold the same view in terms how it will impact on our current spatial plans and what should be done in order to minimize adverse impact.

 An agreement was reached that regular engagements between the two municipalities

72 sugarcane production. The

area features the second highest concentration of poultry producers in the world, supported by a network of service suppliers, as well as pig and beef farming.

 A number of sites with tourism potential are scattered throughout the municipality. These include the game reserves, being Nagel Dam Nature Reserve, GwaHumbe Game Reserve and Spa.

 Also included are other private game ranches, like Tala Game Reserve, Mayibuye Game Reserve and wild life sanctuaries including the African Bird of Prey Centre, the Lion Park and the Natal Zoological Gardens.

 There are two heritage sites identified within the borders of the Mkhambathini municipal area, being Mgwahumbe and Hope Valley.

 The Umlaas Road

development has adequate water supplies from the Umgeni Water pump station and reservoirs in that area,

 Although a sewage works

has already been

constructed to accommodate immediate development pressures in Umlaas Road, a new works of R60 million has been funded (in part), designed and reticulations plans finalised to

accommodate the

developable area identified in the SDF expansion plans which commences in the Camperdown locality.

 Development approved to date centres on Provincial main roads and are considered sufficient.

ESKOM has not placed any restrictions on the supply of

will be held to address local planning and alignment issues.

 The possibility of shared services was raised as an area which requires further investigation and attention.It was agreed that this would need to be explored and be facilitated by COGTA.

Planning alignment issues

 EThekwini Municipality SDF identifies Cato Ridge as a major focus for industrial expansion of Local, Provincial and National significance.Mkhambathini

Municipalitywhich shares the boundary with eThekwini in the western side of Cato Ridge and Mpumalanga area, mainly focuses on agriculture, tourism and Biodiversity.

 Mkhambathini Municipality plays an importantrole to ensure food security and conservation of natural resources. This implies that land use distribution and development for Cato Ridge and Mpumalanga (specifically in areas attributing the boundary of Mkhambathini) will need to be sensitive to the activities across the boundary in Mkhambathiniin order to minimize potential negative impact.

 Improving linkages between the two Municipalitieswill facilitate better access to the economic and social services between the communities of the two Municipalities.

 Cognisance need to be given to the Mayibuye Game Reserve on the north western boundary of Cato Ridge.

 Greater emphasis need to be placed on the Umbumbulu region with its rapid urbanisation and impact on the R603 which serves as an alternative major route through the region.

General planning issues

 Cross border mapping (to include terminology of nodes, corridors and uniform colour coding).

 Special meetings regarding development applications and proposals along N3 corridor and/or encroaching the boundary of the municipalities particularly on Umlaas Road, Camperdown, Cato Ridge and Umbumbulu. This also involved housing and bulk infrastructure projects.

 It was also proposed that joint site inspections be undertaken on the identified strategic projects that could be a point of

73 electricity to any proposed

projects.

integration between the two Municipalities, with the aim of analysing and making possible land use adjustment to ensure sustainability and also to ensure that these projects will benefit the wider communities.

Planning interventions

In addition to the agreements reached between the two municipalities in terms of dealing with cross boundary planning alignment issues, the recent planning interventions taken by eThekwini Municipality and COGTA KZN,will provide necessary supportin addressing the remaining cross boundary issues as follows:

 The Cato Ridge Review (currently underway) will look at the area adjacent to the game reserve to ensure that land use proposals are compatible to the game reserve.

 The recently approved Mpumalanga Local Area Plan (LAP) (2014), discourages industrial developments close to the boundary and recommends for the formalization of the existing informal settlements in Sankontshe and Georgedale.

 The SIP 2 project is still in progress and both municipalities are actively involved as part of the steering committee to guide against any conflicting land uses across the boundary and to ensure alignment with the two municipalities strategic plans.

UGu Municipality Local municipalities within UGu include the following

 Vulamehlo

 uMdoni

 Umzumbe

 Umuziwabantu

 Ezingolweni

 Hibiscus Coast

uMdoni

 The Municipality is located about 50 km from Durban, which makes it has both competitive and comparative advantage with EM particularly in terms of tourism.

 Umdoni has an approximate coastline of 40 km and stretches inland as far as Umzinto.

 Umdoni has established tourism infrastructure and an existing tourism market for coastal, golf and diving adventure tourism

The methodology for this alignment has been the collection of data through meetings held with the neighbouring municipalities. The meeting was held on the 18^th of March 2016, with Vulamehlo and Umdoni Municipalities. The municipalities have agreed that joint planning and alignment is needed on the following issues: the IDP, SDF, GIS, and project Proposals.

uMdoni

 At the boundary of EM where the two municipalities border each other; there are disparities in densities. The EM proposes low densities with a level of services to match low density areas in order to maintain and promote rural and agricultural activities. On the other hand Umdoni is proposing high income housing coupled with mixed use developments. This creates non alignment in term of densities and service requirements.

 It has emerged that development in the northern portion of Umdoni may be dependent on a services level agreement

74 Vulamehlo

 Predominantly rural in nature

 Has limited services and infrastructure

 Has high levels of unemployment

with eThekwini.

 There are potential synergies from tourism and agricultural development that will be explored

Vulamehlo

 There are disparities in services in areas towards the border of EM and areas towards the boundary of Vulamehlo. In this regard, EM is about to embark on a planning exercise to understand these disparities and to determine the interventions required in order to develop the level of services to align with EM.

 There is alignment in terms of proposed uses as both municipalities have low density rural housing developments at their boundaries.

 There are issue in terms of access routes for the areas that are within the boundary (eThekwini and Vulamehlo), making it difficult for the municipalities to share services and opportunities. This will be a challenge in future hence these areas will be under eThekwini and should be linked.

 There is a strong alignment of environmentally sensitive areas; the border between eThekwini and Vulamehlo also indicates an alignment potential of areas considered to be traditional agriculture (Vulamehlo) and future residential (eThekwini).

 There is alignment in terms of land uses, eThekwini has rural residential which aligns with the Vulamehlo rural residential.

General planning issues to emerge:

 The need to establish one forum: consisting of the IDP, SDF and GIS representatives from Department of COGTA and relevant municipalities.

 A forum has been established between eThekwini, Vulamehlo, Ugu and Umdoni.

 Umdoni Municipality held an Ethekwini, Umdoni, Vulemehlo Strategic Workshop on both the 28 of January 2016 and on 11^th February 2016 to address alignment of Incorporation of Vulemehlo into eThekwini &

Umdoni in which EM has participated and key service deliver issues and challenges were discussed.

 Umdoni Municipality convened a SDF status quo meeting on 3^rd March 2016 of which

75 eThekwini officials attended.The status quo was presented Tshani Consulting which is still in progress and further engagement is anticipated.

 Both Umdoni and EM agreed to have ongoing engagements to discuss

development applications and proposals with specific reference to:

o Agricultural areas in decline- o Land reform issues

o Use of rail for commuting and tourism purposes

The Municipality has engaged neighbouring municipalities, other key government departmental sectors and parastatals. These include the Department of Water and Environment Affairs (DWEA), Umgeni Water, ESKOM, Department of Transport (DOT), Public Rail Association of South Africa (PRASA) as well as ILembe, KwaDukuza, Ndwedwe, UGu, UMkhambathini and UMsunduzi local and district municipalities.

In addition there is currently a demarcation process underway of which eThekwini Municipality is the recipient of four wards from Vulamehlo Municipality. As part of the process of incorporating these wards into the Municipality planning structures a study has been undertaken to determine the level of planning that has been done and to identify available information for further planning. The available information was insufficient; hence eThekwini Municipality and Umdoni Municipality through a number of engagements collaborated to have a detailed ward profiling project undertaken for the demarcation areas. The main aim of the survey is to gain an understanding of the status of each ward, so that eThekwini Municipality and Umdoni Municipality will have an understanding of the nature of the areas that they are inheriting, and be able to plan for those wards. COGTA is currently running with this initiative

A steering committee between eThekwini Municipality, Umdoni Municipality and Vulamehlo Municipality has been formulated where constant engagements, planning and decisions regarding the way forward are being taken.