R20m boost for Mdantsane Urban Hub

The busy Mdantsane central business district (CBD) known as Highway has been earmarked for major upgrades and developments. 

This comes after the National Treasury approved a budget of R20-million for a plan of action for the Mdantsane Urban Hub.

The department and Buffalo City Metro have identified the CBD as an urban hub that needs to be upgraded. It has been earmarked for mixed-use development, including offering employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for residents.

The Mdantsane Urban Hub concept was revealed in a report submitted to council by acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana last month.

The R20-million funding has been allocated under the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant (NDPG) and a precinct plan, designed by the Urban Design Concept company, was earlier this year presented to National Treasury by a delegation sent by the city.

Mdantsane councillors who were presented with the project plan in June, also welcomed it and raised “minor issues” surrounding the proposed developments, Ncunyana said.

Project manager Sopna Kumar-Nair said the urban upgrades would focus on:

lExpanding and consolidating the existing economic heart of the CBD through the creation of new anchors and facilities;

lEnhancing existing streets and creating new tree-lined streets and spaces;

lCreating prominent and pedestrian-friendly gateways into the CBD;

lCreating new higher density social housing and mixed uses on strategic sites; and

lOpening up access bottlenecks and creating a network of well-connected streets and spaces throughout the CBD.

In his report, Ncunyana said urban hubs were largely characterised as points of connectivity clustered around a transport hub that should function as town centres.

“The urban hubs should offer important public services and commercial activities for local residents and attract people from a broader region or district. They should also include residential accommodation.”

He added that National Treasury had approved the R20-million budget to enable the city to initiate a plan of action for the precinct.

He said their presentation had received “progressive feedback with inconsequential amendments”.

“The precinct plan needs to be permitted by the BCM council before the funding can be unlocked at National Treasury. Treasury has been offering momentous assistance to the metro and will continue with those endeavours to warrant that the development of the hub becomes a reality,” Ncunyana said.

A detailed study by BCM is on the cards to determine the exact capacity of existing infrastructure and the upgrade requirements in relation to water, sanitation, storm water, electricity and roads, the report read.

Kumar-Nair told the Dispatch further funding would be available from Treasury to initiate the implementation of the anticipated projects.

“The historic, cultural and sporting significance of the hub is also acknowledged in the plan and various opportunities are identified for the further development of these,” Kumar-Nair said.