4 September 2006
By Neil Fraser
LAST week witnessed what, to my knowledge, was another first for the city - a unique infrastructure conference held by the City to attract more investment to Johannesburg.
Held at the Sandton Convention Centre over two days, each and every department, utility company and municipal-owned entity of the City provided an overview of what they were doing, or hoped to be doing, during the current and next few financial years, and what opportunities existed for collaboration with the private sector.
Nothing unique about this, you say. Well, what was unique was that all registered attendees were invited to submit proposals on any of the opportunities that had been highlighted, or other issues that might be of interest. In other words, making what amounts to 'unsolicited bids'.
Usually, anything that might be considered an 'unsolicited bid' is rebuffed by the City as being outside of its normal procurement procedures.
This time the City is inviting the submission of projects that are in the interest of the city and promised that each and every one would be considered on its merits - a genuine effort to attract more investment and partnerships between itself and the private sector.
Preparing for a 'green' World Cup?
I was particularly interested in what might fall into issues relative to 2010 and of these, more particularly, what was being offered and suggested relative to environmental issues.
Why? I think it is a wonderful opportunity to get the city on a 'green' path.
Other than some limited initiatives, the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002 http://www.joburg.org.za/summit/index.stm really had little impact on our environment or on our approach to this critical aspect.
2010 provides us with another opportunity. In Citichat of May 2004, May the beautiful game rub off on Joburg's slums, I looked at what the World Cup could mean for the Joburg inner city and said: "If you watched some of the 2002 games on TV in which South Korea participated, you may have been struck by the massive crowds in Seoul watching giant TV screens constantly collecting the detritus they themselves were generating. Why? Because the South Korean Ministry of the Environment saw the event as an opportunity to realise a 'Green World Cup' because 'environmental conditions are widely used as a yardstick for measuring the quality of life'. Their leadership on this aspect resulted in civic groups drafting a four-point action plan for citizens. This was posted in subways and included recommendations to grow flowers and plant trees for public display - 'these little actions not only satisfy the individuals who do them, but also uplift other people by making our society a better place to live'."
Then, at the opening of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Cape Town recently, Achim Steiner, the executive director of the UN's Environment Programme said that we had a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup conformed to the principles of sustainable development.
He said, "You have to look at multiple benefits ... that is the key to making a green World Cup, not just a four weeks fireworks event … but to use the four years that you now have to trigger the imagination of the nation."
So is the City planning that the World Cup will indeed be 'green'?
Yes and no, from what I found from four presentations made by relevant departments/companies at the infrastructure conference: 2010 Projects, Pikitup, environmental management and City Parks.
2010 Projects
The City department dedicated to '2010 Projects' listed two streams of projects. Firstly, those that emerged by viewing 2010 as an infrastructure catalyst/accelerator and, secondly, those that emerged by viewing 2010 as a vehicle to leave legacies for the city.
Legacy projects were subdivided into three categories:
- Community development and Arts, culture and heritage;
- Transportation; and
- Environmental management.
Two macro projects are listed under environmental management: the rehabilitation of the Klip River catchment and its tributaries; and waste management.
On the rehabilitation of the Klip River catchment and its tributaries
"The momentum created by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2003" in respect of the greening of Soweto is to be enhanced through an initiative to progressively and sustainability rehabilitate and green the Klipspruit River System and its tributaries within Soweto.
"The programme will be integrated into cleaning and clearing of the river of litter, managed clearance of reeds, establishment of weirs and retention ponds where possible to improve river flow, upgrading of sewers and stormwater systems flowing into the river and its tributaries, stabilisation of river banks and greening of the banks and creation of pedestrian and cycle walkways."
On waste management
"In view of the potential inadequate disposal facilities and low levels of waste minimisation, this calls for alternative strategies on waste management, which include:
- Separation at source
- Waste minimisation through recycling
- Multi-waste bin system that separates waste material in public places
- Technology options that are not necessarily capital intensive."
Pikitup
The company, whose vision is "to be the most pioneering and environmentally focused waste management company in Africa", lists the following requirements for 2010 as:
- 2010 has a zero waste event (sic)
- Recycling bins to be placed at all stadiums prior to 2010
- Public education and awareness
- Introduced to schools and big sporting events
- Bins to separate waste into paper, plastic, cans and glass
(The capital required for the above is R12.5-million.)
A further 2010 requirement is underground waste system at stadiums:
- Storage for waste that can be removed after events
- Allow for sorting of the waste after the event
- System has been widely used in World Cup events
(The operating cost is R1-million, the capital cost R10-million.)
Environmental management department
This department rightly starts its presentation by asking the question: "Can we afford to leave future generations a bleak future?"
Looking at their budget, surely one of the smallest of all the City departments, one can see exactly why they ask this question. This raises the issue as to how serious the City is about environmental management.
Anyway, in relation to 2010, there appear to be only two projects, the Klip River catchment rehabilitation previously referred to as a 2010 legacy project, the aim of which is to restore the riverine corridor linking Ellis Park precinct to the Bruma gateway node which is listed as 'important for success of Ellis Park sporting precinct for 2010'.
What they are looking for is what should be in a budget for this type of department: air-quality monitoring equipment; alternative heating devices to reduce air pollution; low cost alternative waste solutions; and so on.
City Parks
Their stated mission is "to develop, maintain and conserve the green environment and cemeteries for present and future generations".
I couldn't find anything specifically targeting the 2010 World Cup.
The year 2010 is referred to relative to the Greening of Soweto project, which runs from 2006/7 to 2010/11. This project over this period appears to have a budget of R41,5-million, which is short of some R180,4-million of what is needed.
Clearly there is some good news in the above story. But I doubt that it is enough to make 2010 truly 'green'. I don't see anything being done about the thousands of buses and trucks that continue to pump diesel fumes into the environment; I don't see a massive tree planting programme around the stadiums (which needs to start today with mature trees rather than saplings); I don't see a unique and definitive anti-litter programme with strong penalties; I don't see City-funded and co-ordinated community recycling initiatives at scale; and so on.
The impact of Gautrain
Then the low blow! A recent report advises that a total of 317 trees have been identified by Bombela, the construction company responsible for the Gautrain project, as being a problem for road widening - part of the initial works programme in preparation for construction.
Around 50 of these trees have been identified for pruning, while some 270 will have to be removed.
All the large plane trees in Sturdee Avenue between Bolton and Jellicoe avenues are to be removed, along with several white stinkwoods, which are indigenous. Jacarandas and palm trees along Bolton Road and Jellicoe Avenue are also to be removed.
The value of the trees to be removed is estimated at R1,8-million, without the cost of removal and possible transplanting or any value in terms of contribution towards the trees filtering air pollution, contributing towards efficient microclimates or the urban forest canopy which has a significantly positive impact on the city's rainfall.
"The removal of trees is guided by the Environmental Management Plan, which advocates that every tree removed as part of the project, will be replaced where possible," says a statement from Bombela.
Where possible? Every tree that is removed should be replanted in Soweto as part of the greening programme and a new (mature) tree should be planted wherever the existing trees are removed, thereby ensuring the sustainability of our unique urban forest.
And don't give me that lame excuse that a lot of the trees that are being removed aren't indigenous. That is no reason to support their removal and every reason to support their replacement with indigenous species where removed AND in Soweto.
Have a glorious spring,
Neil
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