Five City of Johannesburg entities will spend a combined total of R220-million on the delivery of a range of capital projects in Region B in the 2016-2017 financial year.

This was revealed at an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting at Marks Park, Emmarentia, recently.

Region B includes areas such as Coronationville, Riverlea, Maraisburg, Industria, Westbury, Mayfair, Auckland Park, Douglasdale, Westdene, Sandhurst, Randpark, Melville, Cresta, Montgomery, Parkmore, Parktown, Rosebank, Kensington B and Northcliff.

The projects – to be undertaken by the Johannesburg Roads Agency, Johannesburg Development Agency, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Johannesburg Social Housing Company and Johannesburg Water – include the increased rollout of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, continued development of the Empire-Perth Corridor, rehabilitation of Emmarentia Dam and improvement of several roads and intersections.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing Councillor Dan Bovu said the City had made several gains over the past five years, including receiving an unqualified audit opinion, achieving a surplus of R3.9-billion and retaining respectable credit ratings.

“Going forward we wish to continue on this positive trajectory and actively address poverty and inequality,” said MMC Bovu.

Projects include

• Construction of the Bond Street relief system at a cost of R40-million;
• Embankment protection and storm water management works on William Nicol Road (R5-million);
• Erection of Gabion fencing and a retaining wall along the Braamfontein Spruit in Melville to prevent soil erosion (R30-million);
• Improvement of the M2 West Main Reef Extension intersection (R13-million);
• Upgrading of the Coronationville public swimming pool (R1.5-million);
• Construction of Westbury Clinic (R20.4-million);
• Westbury Precinct Renewal Project, including upgrades to roads, sidewalks and storm water infrastructure (R11.2-million);
• Upgrading and refurbishment of Union Stadium, Westbury (R9.8 million);
• Construction of a new community centre in Westbury (R6-million);
• Phase 2 of the Westbury non-motorised transport project, including construction of pedestrian walkways, storm water upgrades, resurfacing, cycle lanes as well as hard and soft landscaping (R20.2-million);
• Westdene Dam Redevelopment project (R10-million);
• Establishment of a new park in Brixton as part of the Empire-Perth Corridor development (R3-million);
• Upgrading of Westbury Park (R1.5-million);
• Upgrading of Plateau (R1.5-million);
• Upgrading of the Sir Drummond Park (R2-million);
• Development of social housing in Pennyville (R3-million);
• Upgrading and repairs to communal rooms in Pennyville (R1-million);
• Development of mixed-use housing in Pennyville (R10-million);
• Rehabilitation of the Bosmontspruit wetlands (R3-million);
• Development of the Auckland Park non-motorised transport system (R9-million;
• Campus Square pedestrian bridge (R10-million); and
• Development of a water reservoir along the Empire-Perth Corridor (R10-million).