GEORGE NEWS - Snippets of news from George Municipality.
Mediclinic application
Last week George Herald reported on the municipality's plans to rezone and sell the land on which Glenwood short golf course is situated, for the purposes of a regional hospital. The developers of Kraaibosch Estate are also preparing an application for a new hospital for Mediclinic on its own property after its initial application on one of its other sites was turned down.
While these processes are ongoing, there is suitable land available at Mountview Resort in York Street, says resort owner Frik Labuschagne.
"Mediclinic was on my premises long ago, but they could not make a decision. If these (other two) sites are approved, they still have to go through a rezoning process. I have rezoned land for a hospital or day hospital and am looking for someone to build either. The group can simply submit their plans, because everything else is already approved. I have 12 hectares available," says Labuschagne.
Mediclinic manager Kassie Karstens declined to comment.
Impact of fires on dam
George Herald contacted the municipality regarding the fire damage to the Outeniqua mountain catchment area and its effect on the capacity of the Garden Route Dam during a downpour like the city experienced last week.
The response was as follows: "The impact of the veld fires that basically cleared the catchment area cannot be underestimated and definitely leads to increased surface runoff and faster filling up of the dam. The water treatment process is continually adjusted through the performance of jar tests as standard practice to determine the percentage flocculant (a substance which promotes the clumping of particles) to be added to the raw water, therefore the removal of higher levels of dissolved solids are adequately catered for and has no impact on the final quality of drinking water."
The municipality stressed that no sludge formed as a result of the removal of undissolved solids during the water treatment process, is released into the dam.
Gap housing in Kleinkrantz
Thirteen erven in Kleinkrantz have been earmarked by George Municipality for a Gap housing development. Council approved a recommendation that the erven be sold on a plot and plan basis to first-time buyers from previously disadvantaged groups residing in the George municipal area.
The plots will be sold at R43 626 (25% of market value) as part of development proposals that Council will solicit early next year. The maximum combined household income by applicants must not exceed R20 000 per month.
The erven are located in Erica, Viooltjie, Vloksie, Fluweeltjie, Protea and Vuurpyl streets, among others.
University at Garden Route Dam
The process of rezoning and subdividing of land at the Garden Route Dam for the purposes of a university can start. Council approved recommendations that funding be secured to appoint an environmental practitioner and town planner, who must prepare reports to obtain environmental authorisation.
A public participation process will be conducted as part of the process. Facilities could also be in the form of a research institute or other tertiary training institution "of international standard".
Student accommodation will also be provided for.
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