MBDA to clean up decaying suburbs

THE Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) wants to clean up the filthy and decaying Korsten/Schauderville area to make it more attractive to live in.

Yesterday, the MBDA issued a request for proposals for the development of a master plan for the environmental upgrading of Schauderville/Korsten.

In a report to the economic development, tourism and agriculture portfolio committee, which will meet next month, MBDA chief executive Pierre Voges said there was a general scene of decay and urban blight in the Korsten/Schauderville area.

He wrote this was due to low maintenance of houses, open spaces and buildings in the area.

"Korsten/Schauderville are mainly residential suburbs that were developed during the apartheid years with limited services.

"Many vacant stands and empty plots can be seen and which [are] currently used for garbage disposal or some illegal activity," Voges reported.

He said the MBDA had started broad public engagement with the public to share the good and bad in their neighbourhoods.

The master plan for environmental upgrading – which should be submitted by November 28 – will be used "as a means to lobby funding agencies and government to assist in the environmental upgrading of the areas". - Rochelle de Kock