Work on the multimillion-rand project to transform Lavender Valley is under way and will be completed in November 2011, according to the municipality's Director of Local Economic Development, Riana Meiring.
Work on the multimillion-rand project to transform Lavender Valley is under way and will be completed in November 2011, according to the municipality's Director of Local Economic Development, Riana Meiring.
She said the R5 million contract, awarded to Port Elizabeth company BRO Civils, included the construction of walkways along Albany Road and in the park; parking bays along Albany Road; widening of Albany Road to accommodate parallel parking bays, kerbs and channels, as well as trees.
It also included the removal of sections of pre-cast walls, the erection of new palisade fencing, irrigation lines, braai facilities and seating, street lighting and rehabilitation of the existing parking area.
In Grocott's Mail of 29 April 2011, the Ward 10 councillor at the time, Xolani Simakuhle, was quoted telling residents that the project also included the rehabilitation of the old building once used to store Dias ambulances, in Currie Street, and the Dakawa Arts Centre. “The building [Dias] will be turned into a business hub, where members of the community will be taught skills to sustain themselves,” Simakuhle said at the time.
He said there would be employment opportunities for 30 people in the project. In the same report, Makana Municipality's spokesperson, Thandy Matebese, was quoted saying that the project also included planting grass and flowers, the upgrading of sports fields and the construction of a basketball court and a skateboard park.
"The Lavender Valley project is seen as a recreational node and, according to the Township Regeneration Strategy, it will eventually link with other projects to unlock the potential in this area,” Matebese said at the time.
He said the project had been awarded on a Expanded Public Works Programme basis, which meant the contractor was obliged to use labour-intensive construction methods, thus providing employment opportunities and providing training.
The project is funded through Makana Municipality's Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant programme. Meiring said the project had been awarded to BRO Civils on the basis that it had done work of similar nature, size, value and scope and also would be able to complete the work satisfactorily.
The site was a hive of activity when Grocott's Mail visited the area this week. “We will complete the job in September. The only challenge we faced was the rain. It has delayed us,” said company surveyor, Keegan Bergins. He said the company was providing employment for 20 local people.
