GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Five Garden Route municipalities are set to receive a combined R26m to fast-track the repairs to critical infrastructure damaged during the severe weather events of May.
The funding, transferred by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) through the Municipal Disaster Response Grant, will allow the repair work to get under way without the municipalities having to wait for their next budget cycles.
According to Gerhard Otto, head of disaster management at the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Bitou and George will each receive R5m, while Kannaland will receive R6m.
The money will target urgent repairs identified across the district. In Bitou and Oudtshoorn, the funding will be used for emergency road repairs, while George will focus mainly on repairs to the main water supply line from the Haarlem Dam to Uniondale.
Gerhard Otto, head of disaster management
In Kannaland, funding will go towards repairs to a main access bridge in Calitzdorp and emergency repairs and protection for a transformer in Ladismith.
Knysna will use its allocation for slope remediation and repairs at Fedricks Street.
The municipalities have six months to spend the funding on damage caused by the May weather events.
"The allocations typically prioritise basic services related to water and sanitation, including repairs to main water supply pipelines and sewerage infrastructure," Otto said.
The funding forms part of R213.4m released nationally to three provinces, with the Western Cape receiving R71.4m.
More projects from the Garden Route will be submitted for consideration under the National Disaster Rehabilitation Grant, which is due to be presented to Cabinet later this month alongside the national budget adjustment.
The GRDM said in a statement on Tuesday 15 September that it, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the NDMC will work with the municipalities to monitor implementation and ensure compliance with the grant conditions.
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