The competition aims to promote improved service delivery that restores community pride and commitment in caring for the living environment. It also focuses on improved integrated sustainable development strategies in municipalities.
Creating clean living spaces, exploring avenues for job opportunities, restoring community pride and creating a sense of belonging for the people are the socio-economic issues that were addressed through this competition.
The competition is now in its third year in the Western Cape Province and includes two categories for evaluation i.e. local and district municipalities.
Both local and district municipalities were evaluated on six different themes as follows:
- Waste management
- Energy efficiency and conservation
- Biodiversity management, coastal management and beautification
- Water management and conservation
- Air quality management
- Leadership, compliance, institutional arrangements and public participation
- Eden District Municipality
The Eden Air quality unit, under Johan Schoeman, is playing a coordinating role pertaining air quality within the district. During 2012/2013 the unit was instrumental in developing air quality management plans for the seven B-authorities in the Eden District, ensuring compliance with the National Environmental: Air Quality Act, 39 of 2004. It also embarked on an Eden Clean Fires Campaign where informal residencies are educated on air pollution. Eden's main air quality function is licensing of listed activities and the conditions set in the various licences led to improved air quality on the industrial level. It is furthermore conducting vehicle emission testing, air quality monitoring activities and ongoing compliance and enforcement initiatives. Eden is also chairing the Eden Air Quality working group whereby the industry meets with the authorities on a quarterly basis ensuring compliance, coordination and distribution of important air quality information.
Top local municipalities
- Mossel Bay Municipality (winner)- prize money - R120 000
- Drakenstein Municipality (first runner-up)- prize money - R80 000
- Swartland Municipality (second runner-up) - prize money - R50 000
- Overstrand (second runner-up)- prize money - R50 000
- Top district municipalities
- Eden District Municipality (winner)- prize money - R120 000
- West Coast (first runner-up)- prize money - R80 000
