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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS & VIDEOS - For his maiden visit to the Garden Route, newly appointed Minister of Transport and Public Works Daylin Mitchell met with mayors of the district to learn first-hand about their challenges.
The dire condition of the district's dirt roads was the main point of discussion.
District Mayor Memory Booysen said the Garden Route has the biggest road network among the district municipalities in the Western Cape. "George and Hessequa are the food baskets of the Garden Route," said Booysen.
He said roads in other districts are used as economic networks for farmers getting their harvest to airports and harbours in Cape Town and that those critical roads are tarred.
"There should be no difference in the Garden Route," said Booysen. He requested that the upcoming Service Level Agreement between the provincial department and the Garden Route District Municipality address problems identified in previous years.
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A map of issues
George Mayor Leon van Wyk and mayors Elrick van Aswegen (Knysna) and Grant Riddles (Hessequa) each raised serious road matters in their respective municipal areas.
Van Wyk's list of roads that desperately need repairs include Geelhoutboom Road, roads in the Wilderness and Hoekwil areas, Montagu Pass, the road to Uniondale, the tarred road between Blanco and the airport, and the portion of Nelson Mandela Boulevard going into Thembalethu.
Van Wyk stressed the importance of the roll-out of the Go George bus network to Thembalethu. He said the possibility to complete the road as a dual carriageway needs to be discussed.
Riddles invited the minister to visit Hessequa and experience the condition of the roads himself.
From left are Hessequa Mayor Grant Riddles; District Municipal Manager Monde Stratu; Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works Daylin Mitchell; District Mayor Memory Booysen; George Mayor Leon van Wyk; and Garden Route mayco member Rowan Spies. Photos: Michelle Pienaar
Site visits
Mitchell said the main reason for this engagement is to listen. "Going forward, site visits will follow. We will come back with feedback within the next two weeks and will address the concerns raised," he said.
He added that it is important to realise that there is a need to prioritise, especially in the current economic situation in the country. He also stressed the importance of access to water for the building of roads.
Mitchell and his delegation joined Van Wyk and Booysen for site visits in the George municipal area, including the Provincial Traffic Department.
District Mayor Memory Booysen. Photo: Michelle Pienaar
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