GEORGE NEWS - The Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan Winde will be leading a task team that will coordinate and maximise the initiatives for the recovery and rebuilding of the fire-damaged sections of the Garden Route. 

The Garden Route Rebuild Committee will develop a long-term renewal plan, consider project proposals and ensure that they are adequately funded. The committee will include the province, Eden, Knysna, and Bitou municipalities, representatives of the major private donors, and non-governmental organisations. It will meet weekly and provide feedback to the community on progress with projects.

Work groups
On Thursday 13 July, Winde said work groups have been established that will design and implement projects related to:

• Humanitarian assistance, including further trauma counselling and assistance in accessing government grants and services;
• Reconstruction, including the development of a framework that will ensure all new buildings are more resilient to disasters, and the development of a system to fast-track building approvals. This work group will also develop temporary housing solutions;
• Environmental management, which will address slope stabilisation and alien eradication;
• Business support for businesses in distress and supporting the establishment of new businesses that can build on the opportunities that have arisen from the disaster; and
• Skills development, including the provision of construction skills to local people.

"Much of this work is urgent," Winde said.

"At the same time, a long-term renewal strategy will be developed that will result in legacy projects aimed at changing the nature of our economy and improving the sustainability of our residences and our environment. Some work groups have already met and are making progress. 

The infrastructure work group, which is chaired by Eden District Municipality, has completed its preliminary assessment of the damage to public infrastructure, which, once verified by national government, will form the basis for disaster management funding applications."

Prioritising
The environmental management work group has commissioned surveys of the burn scar to identify slopes at high risk of erosion and trees in danger of falling next to roads. The results will be available within a week and will help the work group to determine which areas need urgent intervention. 

The work group includes members from Knysna and Bitou municipalities, Southern Cape Fire Protection Association, SanParks, Cape Nature, Kishugu (a public benefit organisation), CSIR, Brenton Blue Trust, Western Heads Goukamma Conservancy, Southern Cape Landowners Initiative, and the national departments of Forestry and of Environmental Affairs.

"The same approach will be applied to the other work groups, which will draw in public officials, non-governmental organisations, business representatives and/or experts, depending on the focus of the work group," said Winde. 

"The Garden Route is rich with ideas and expertise, and by harnessing our local talent and working together we can create a more prosperous and resilient Garden Route."

Distribution of donations
The meeting also discussed the many donations that have been received. Eden District has received R995 000, Knysna R1,3-million (with another R2-million expected in the next three days), and Bitou R272 000. 

This money will only be spent as the work groups identify and receive committee approval for projects. It is expected that the first projects undertaken with donated funds will commence in the next two weeks. Until now, municipalities have been providing support using their existing budgets.

"The bulk of the donations has been given to public benefit organisations, and the committee is requesting these organisations to indicate what they have received and the purposes for which it was intended. We would like to include these organisations in the committee's overall planning and implementation processes, so that the donations can be aligned to where the needs are," said Winde. "To this end organisations are asked to contact Cabral Wicht at cabral.wicht@westerncape.gov.za. 

The Garden Route Rebuild Committee is convening again this week and will report on further progress after the meeting."

ARTICLE & PHOTO:  PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'