City proposes brand new wetland park in Strand
7 April 2016
The City is taking the next step in an urban renewal project to develop the Asanda Village Wetland Park on what is currently an unused land parcel in Strand.
The land identified for the project comprises erven 32680 and 29865 in Strand, which are zoned as public open space (POS) and located between the N2 and Asanda Village. The site is bordered by the N2 to the north, ASLA Park to the west, Asanda Village to the south, and the Christmas Tinto Primary school to the east. Currently, it is widely used as a thoroughfare by pedestrians traveling towards Van der Stel train station, to the N2 and back.
The three neighbouring schools make this an ideal site to upgrade for educational and recreational purposes, and to create a positive space for community and youth interaction. The size and location of the site means that it can serve a much wider locality (Nomzamo, Lwandle and surrounding areas) in a part of the city where quality parklands are in short supply. In addition, its proximity to the N2 and Van der Stel train station makes it easy to access from other areas.
‘While the drive to accelerate the delivery of more housing opportunities will continue, there should be an equal drive to improve the livelihood of the poor through green urban renewal.
‘The City’s Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning Directorate is in the process of securing a professional services tender that the successful applicant can implement over a six-year period. It will include the design detail, phasing, legislative compliance requirements, implementation costing, drafting of the tender for construction, and oversight implementation.
‘Once we have outlined the specific phases and the detailed design, the Environmental Resource Management Department will be in a position to apply for further funds and cultivate partnerships to implement the phased targets of the project,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Councillor Johan van der Merwe.
On 10 March 2015, the Environmental Resource Management Department hosted a World Design Capital Co-Design Workshop for the Asanda Village Wetland Park, which was attended by 123 participants. Following from the collective information gathered during the co-design workshop, a framework for the transformation of the site was compiled and a Conceptual Development Framework established, based on the outcomes of the workshop. This Conceptual Development Framework was informed by the following:
- Analysis and investigations performed by the design team in order to understand the various informants of the site
- Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) strategy, including the development of safe urban environments through the use of active boxes, clear sight lines, unobstructed pedestrian routes, activated edges and well-lit areas, etc.
- Identification of key informants on site as identified by the workshop participants
- Development of a proposed design strategy
- An indication of issues that would require further investigation and clarification in order to proceed with the next design phase
Based on the Development Framework, the project team is required to obtain detail design, phasing, legislative compliance requirements, and costing for the implementation of the above project. It is envisaged that this project will contribute to achieving an improved living and built environment, through various objectives, including:
- promoting local economic development in order to alleviate poverty and unemployment
- fighting crime in order to provide a safe and secure environment
- improving infrastructure, including stormwater management and open space management
- supporting education, training, and skills development
- creating a quality urban environment where residents can live with dignity and pride
- developing efficient, integrated, and user-friendly spaces
- creating job opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme
- creating awareness around the environment, recycling and sustainability
‘The City is utilising an unused and neglected space to uplift the area in an environmentally sustainable manner. The proposal for the Asanda Village Wetland Park is also vital for the survival of countless plant, insect, and animal species which contribute to the delicate balance of our ecosystem,’ said the City’s Chairperson for Subcouncil, Councillor Stuart Pringle.
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