Plett To Extract Water From Keurbooms

Previous page 28th August 2008

The Bitou Local Municipality received notification that their application to abstract additional water from the Keurbooms River has been approved by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
The municipality has been pursuing the license for a significant period of time to enable the local government to increase the water supply for Plettenberg Bay and surrounds.

The licence will authorise the municipality to increase the volume of water pumped from the Keurbooms River to 5.32-million cubic metres per year, which will significantly improve the water supply for domestic, industrial and commercial use. The licence is valid for a period of 20 years and subject to specific conditions set by the department's Chief Directorate of Water Use.

According to municipal manager Lonwabo Ngoqo, the granting of this license is a boost to Bitou Municipality's commitment to service delivery. "The additional water supply means that we can extend our efforts in terms of the key performance deliverables that form part of the Integrated Development Plan of this municipality. Not only will we as a local government be able to improve on basic service delivery to all our communities, but we can also continue to promote economic development, which has a direct impact on economic growth and job creation. This valuable resource is also an essential element if we want to continue growing our tourism industry of local and international visitors," said Ngoqo.

Ngoqo was, however, adamant that water conservation will remain an important aspect of the municipal agenda. "As part of our commitment to exceptional governance, we take cognisance of the specific conditions and criteria attached to the grant of this licence. Water conservation and sustainable best practise in terms of water usage will remain a strong focus area and Bitou Municipality will continue to surpass expectations in this regard," stated Ngoqo.
Coming Together project

This announcement follows in the wake of the hand-over of the first 265 serviced plots in the Qolweni and Bossiesgif informal settlement earlier this month as part of the municipality's Coming Together project. The local municipality has consistently been recognised for exceptional service delivery during the past year. Bitou was voted the Best Municipality on Housing Delivery in Southern Africa by the Institute of Housing for Southern Africa, while the N2 pedestrian bridge received an award for innovative design by the Civil Engineering Institute of South Africa.

Robberg Beach recently regained its Blue Flag Status and the Bitou Municipality has also just been named as the top performer in the Western Cape Province in terms of Municipal Infrastructure Grant expenditure for 100% delivery during the first quarter of the current provincial financial year. This performance was in line with the objectives set by the municipality in its IDP. Bitou has also reached the finals for the Neighbourhood Partnership Development Grant offered by national government.