Karoo Hoogland Rural Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan 2010 – Executive Summary Table of Contents 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5 2 Background to Karoo Hoogland Municipality ....................................................................... 5 3 Institutional context ............................................................................................................. 7 4 Spatial Development Realities ...........................................................................................10 4.1 Spatial Limitations .......................................................................................................10 4.2 Spatial Opportunities ...................................................................................................11 5 Spatial Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................11 5.1 Spatial Goal ................................................................................................................12 5.2 Spatial objectives and strategies .................................................................................12 6 Macro Strategic Development Concept ..............................................................................13 6.1 Activity Nodes .............................................................................................................13 6.2 Tourism Nodes ...........................................................................................................14 6.3 Transportation Corridor ...............................................................................................15 6.4 Tourism Corridors .......................................................................................................15 6.5 Environmental Conservation .......................................................................................16 6.6 Agriculture ..................................................................................................................17 6.7 Mining Development ...................................................................................................17 6.8 !Xam Cultural Landscape ............................................................................................17 6.9 Square Kilometer Array (SKA) ....................................................................................18 6.10 Wind farms .................................................................................................................18 6.11 Gas exploration ...........................................................................................................19 7 Micro Strategic Development Concept ...............................................................................19 7.1 Development Phasing .................................................................................................22 8 Project Prioritisation ...........................................................................................................22 9 Capital Expenditure Framework .........................................................................................23 10 Annexure A: Karoo Hoogland Macro Strategic Development Concept ...........................24 11 Annexure B: Sutherland Micro Strategic Development Concept .....................................25 12 Annexure C: Fraserburg Micro Strategic Development Concept .....................................26 13 Annexure D: Williston Micro Strategic Development Concept .........................................27 14 Annexure E: Project Prioritisation ...................................................................................28 Page 1 Karoo Hoogland Rural Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan 2010 – Executive Summary 15 Annexure F: Capital Expenditure Framework .................................................................29 16 Annexure G: Karoo Hoogland Spatial Development Framework Compilation Plan .........30 Page 2 Karoo Hoogland Rural Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan 2010 – Executive Summary List of Tables Page No. Table 1: Spatial Objectives and Strategies – Exploit Economic Opportunities 11 Table 2: Spatial Objectives and Strategies – Create Sustainable Urban and Rural 11 Settlements Table 3: Spatial Objectives and Strategies – Protect the Natural and Built 11 Environment Table 4: Characteristics of different nodes and interventions required 12 – 13 Table 5: Spatial proposals 19- 20 Page 3 Karoo Hoogland Rural Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan 2010 – Executive Summary The Rural Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan for Karoo Hoogland Municipality prepared in terms of the Northern Cape Planning and Development Act, 1998 (Act 7 of 1998) is hereby approved by Karoo Hoogland Council in terms of: Council Resolution _______ dated ____________ ______________________________________ (duly authorised representative of Municipality) Prepared by: Umsebe Development Planners ______________________________ B.J.L. VAN DER MERWE TRP (SA) Reg. no 1259 Page 4 Karoo Hoogland Rural Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan 2010 – Executive Summary 1 Introduction A Spatial Development Framework (SDF) is a tool to achieve the desired spatial form of the municipality. In other words, the SDF gives spatial effect to multi-sectoral projects identified in the IDP and assists the municipality in coordinating the implementation of the various sector plans. Therefore, the SDF cannot operate in isolation but is directly linked to the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). This report provides an executive summary of the Karoo Hoogland Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan 2010 and forms an integral part of the SDF. The executive summary focuses on the actual spatial strategies, projects and implementation thereof, although it also contains a brief overview of the municipal area and its current reality. The SDF consists of four (4) phases. Phase 1 considers the historical growth of the regions and towns of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality leading up to the current spatial interpretation of its Integrated Development Plan. Phase 2 focuses on an interpretation of the policies and strategic frameworks within which the municipality can align and achieve its developmental goals. Phase 2 also analyses the spatial environment. Phase 3 considers the desired spatial pattern of Karoo Hoogland and the social, geographic and economic context in which it can best be developed. Phase 4 defines the spatial goals and objectives of the municipality, the spatial strategies available to it and, out of this, to develop a strategic development concept. This has formed the basis for a set of implementable projects, which should contribute to the achievement of the overall spatial goals and objectives. 2 Background to Karoo Hoogland Municipality Karoo Hoogland Municipality is one of six local municipalities falling under the Namakwa District of the Northern Cape Province. The population of the Karoo Hoogland was estimated at 10 420 in 2007. The majority of the population (77.3%) resides in urban areas while the balance (22.7%) are in rural areas. Karoo Hoogland is a relatively large municipality in geographic terms, but has a corresponding low population density of 2.8 people per square kilometer. The municipality has experienced a steady decline in population and number of households over the ten-year period from 1996- 2007, with the population declining by 14% over that period and households decreasing by 8.8%. This has largely been attributed to the lack of economic opportunities in the region and the drift of the population to areas where they have better prospects of finding a job. Page 5 Karoo Hoogland Rural Spatial Development Framework/Land Development Plan 2010 – Executive Summary The main towns that fall within Karoo Hoogland include: Williston (3 072 people) Williston was established in 1845 as a mission station. It was first known as Amandelboom but renamed Williston in 1919. The town is largely populated by the agricultural community and supports approximately 90 occupied farms. It includes a few small businesses, four educational facilities ranging from pre-school to secondary school level, a police station, medical clinic and mobile medical unit, several churches and sports clubs. Williston does not have the same advantages as the other towns in terms of their association with the Sutherland Telescope, and is further disconnected from the rest of the municipality by the lack of tarred roads reaching it from the south. Fraserburg (2 642 people, 100km south east of Williston) Fraserburg was established in 1851 as an agricultural centre for the surrounding sheep farming community. Its facilities include a number of co-operatives and small businesses, four educational facilities that range from pre-school to secondary school level, a police station and medical clinic with a mobile medical unit, churches and sports clubs. Fraserburg is also promoted as a tourism destination and offers visitors the viewing of dinosaur footprints and fossils. Fraserburg, like Williston, has an interesting settlement history, which makes the town more attractive from an architectural standpoint, but it is also far from the main cities, presenting a sense of sereneness and a feeling of “getting away from the crowds.” It borrows from its sister city, Sutherland, the