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Author: Marlene Nqumse

15 January 2024 Media Release:  Garden Route District Municipality’s Roads Services improves diesel infrastructure to ensure operational continuity

Media Release:  Garden Route District Municipality’s Roads Services improves diesel infrastructure to ensure operational continuity

For Immediate Release
15 January 2024

Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Roads Services have successfully addressed decades of challenges related to diesel and infrastructure procurement. Last year, the GRDM embarked on a tender process for the procurement of diesel, however, complications arose as the existing diesel tanks and infrastructure were owned by the previous service provider, who declined access to the new appointee to use their storage facilities.

To overcome this obstacle, the Roads Services Department temporarily used diesel bowsers for fuel storage. Later, the municipality conducted a second tender process for the installation of above-ground diesel tanks at its four largest depots, in George, Oudtshoorn, Riversdale and Ladismith.

In George, above-ground diesel tanks are currently being installed at the depot on Mission Street.

The tender, valued at 5.9 million for the tanks, was approved by the Western Cape Department of Transport and was allocated from the Roads Services budget. The above-ground tanks, each with a capacity of 23,000 liters, are currently being installed and are expected to be commissioned by the end of January 2024.

Once operational, the George depot will receive two (2) tanks with a combined capacity of 46,000 liters, sufficient to fuel the different depots for three weeks. The other deport will each be equipped with one (1) 23,000 liters above-ground tanks.

This initiative is part of phase 1 of the GRDM’s plan to upgrade and install diesel storage infrastructure, with future rollouts planned for the smaller depots as well. The decision to replace the more than 30-year-old Total diesel tanks, which were decommissioned due to leaks, brings several advantages. The above-ground tanks are cost-effective, have a longer lifespan, are easy to monitor, versatile, safer, and environmentally friendly.

Feature image caption: George will have two above-ground diesel tanks, while the other three depots will have one each.

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14 December 2023 Media Release: GRDM’s Victoria Bay Caravan Park now has new offices

Media Release: GRDM’s Victoria Bay Caravan Park now has new offices

For Immediate Release
14 December 2023

In a momentous occasion yesterday, Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDMS) Victoria Bay Caravan Park celebrated the official opening of its new office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The newly established office, situated within an old, but renovated house on the property. The building was vacant for the past decade.

Renovations, including the roof replacement, tiling, painting, and cupboard construction were completed by GRDM’s own maintenance team. The culmination of these efforts resulted in a revamped space that is now equipped to serve as functional and modern offices. The signage and interior of the office, were arranged and designed by the Communication Unit of GRDM.

During a very intimate gathering attended by councillors and staff members, just as the festive season begins, Councillor Jobieth Hoogbaard welcomed everyone present. He extended a special word of welcome to the maintenance team and staff of Victoria Bay Caravan Park.

Acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the team, Councillor Hoogbaard commended their commitment to improve and upgrade the facilities at Victoria Bay Caravan Park.

Lusanda Menze, GRDM Executive Manager for Planning and Economic Development, provided a brief background on the project and articulated the vision behind the transformation of the old house into a functional office space. In his remarks, he explained the battered state the property and building were in and highlighted the extent to which the maintenance team went to breathe new life into it.

GRDM Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen, expressed his surprise at discovering the hidden gem on the property. Covered with trees and bushes, the building had gone unnoticed until its recent transformation. Mayor Booysen referred to the offices as a pleasant surprise and extended his congratulations to the maintenance team for a job well done.

Victoria Bay Caravan Park’s new offices will play an essential role in enhancing the park’s operational capabilities, providing a welcoming and efficient space for visitors seeking peace, quiet, and nature-based activities. As the holiday season approaches, the unveiling of these offices adds a touch of renewal and modernisation to the beloved caravan park, promising good services and experiences for all.

Featured Image Caption:  The GRDM Maintenance Team with the Executive Mayor who was in charge of renovating the new office.

Pictures from Victoria Bay Caravan Park’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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08 December 2023 Impact Based Weather Warning: Level 2 for disruptive rain

Impact Based Weather Warning: Level 2 for disruptive rain

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a level 2 disruptive rain warning for Saturday, 9 December 2023.

Areas in the district affected by level 2 disruptive rain warning include Hessequa and Mossel Bay.

Report weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.

06 December 2023 Media Release: GREF to reflect on COP28

Media Release: GREF to reflect on COP28

For immediate release
6 December 2023

The COP28 Climate Change Conference is hosted by the United Nations running from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai and is intended for governments to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change, says Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF) on the eve of its Key Stake- holder event taking place on 13 December in Wilderness.

Reducing the drivers of climate change is easier said than done as the global dependence on fossil fuels is universal and the transition to alternative sources of energy is extremely slow and complex in their implementation as the South African effort towards the Just energy Transition (JET) is a case in point.

COP28 is already finding itself in a highly politicised milieu as major role players, including the United Arab Emirates which is hosting the event in Dubai is questioning the very essence of the global drive towards the reduction of emissions contributing to the global rise in temperature, with 2023 already described as the warmest year in recorded history and 2024 predicted to be worse according to the latest UN report on the matter.

The fact that South Africa is already experiencing an increase in climate related disasters including severe flooding, fire and drought is concerning, and it comes at a time where the country is suffering from the effects of retarded economic growth and environmental mismanagement at all levels manifesting in unbridled development, poverty, joblessness and social unrest as expectations in terms of service delivery are not met by the powers that be.

In the face of the challenges South Africa has to face as the climate changes irreversibly, there is much the country can do to be better prepared for environmental changes, including changes in rainfall patterns which will no doubt impact on the quality of life and future prospects of a fast- growing population facing food, energy and water security uncertainty.

Past and present failure by government at all levels to plan ahead and develop policies that will contribute to better environmental management and the safeguarding of natural resources, especially water and the infrastructure required to ensure that future generations don’t suffer as a result of a lack of responding to early warnings must serve as a wake- up call to all.

The state of South Africa rivers and effluent from defunct sewerage plants, water resource management as well as the failure to address the spread of invasive alien plants and the resultant destruction of bio- diversity will prove detrimental to the country’s ability to cope with the challenges a change in climate will impose upon the nation with its limited resources.

GREF will revisit the outcomes of COP28 during its Annual Climate Change and Environmental Management Indaba to be co- hosted with the Nelson Mandela University in June 2024.

GREF is the premier public platform for regional environmental and conservation managers in the Southern Cape.

For more information and enquiries, send an e-mail to louisamare@gmail.com.

Visit www.grefscli.co.za for more information on the GREF

20 November 2023 Impact Based Weather Warning: Level 1 for damaging waves

Impact Based Weather Warning: Level 1 for damaging waves

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a level 1 damaging waves warning for Monday, 20 November 2023 until Wednesday, 22 November 2023.

Areas in the district affected by level 1 damaging waves warning include Hessequa, Bitou, George, Knysna and Mossel Bay.

Report weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.