Municipal Services and Infrastructure Development

Overview

The Municipal Services and Infrastructure Development Department, previously known as Public Works, comprises six sections, namely:

• Building control and infrastructure maintenance
• Town planning
• Civil works
• Water
• Electrical services
• Roads, infrastructure and cleansing

1. Building Control and Infrastructure Maintenance

Manager: Mr Creswell G Basson
Telephone: 044 501 3260
Fax: 044 533 3487
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Office hours: Mon to Thurs – 6.30 am to 4.30pm; Fridays till 1.30pm
Building plan submissions until 12.30pm daily

Overview

The Building Control department is mainly responsible for the enforcement of statutory National Legislation regulating to buildings. It also ensures that the relevant Acts, regulations, SABS/ SANS and other applicable laws are complied with, and also to ensure that municipal buildings are maintained to general accepted standards.

Vision

The vision of the Building Control Department is to strive to the best of its abilities to comply with the vision of Bitou municipality, “to be the best together”, by playing an active and leading role with regards to service delivery and to the development of the community and inter-departmental. That this service be regarded as a leader in the field of Building Control in the spheres of local governance.

Please note

It has been compulsory, since 30 June 2006, that all persons practising architecture be registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP). For further information, visit their website.
Following to the above, it is required that proof of registration must accompany all new applications on submission of plans. A register as received from SACAP will be accordingly updated.
Building plans approved for 2006/2007 can be provided on request.
Plans approved up to end October 2007 can also be provided.
The above reports are available on receipt of proof of payment, as per Council tariffs.

Policies and acts

All relevant acts .e.g. NBR and Standards Act 103 of 1977, can be obtained from www.acts.co.za

2. Town Planning

Manager Planning and Development: Mr Ludolph Gericke
Mobile: 083 461 9941
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3. Water and Quality Control

Manager: Mr P Lombard
Telephone: 044 501 3122
Fax: 044 501 3122
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The Water Department’s primary responsibility is the purification of water and sewerage, including:

• A 27 Ml /day sedimentation and DAF water purification works treating water from the Keurbooms River and the Roodefontein Dam in the Piesangs River. This is the water supply for Plettenberg Bay and the urban areas.
• A 500 kl/day water purification works in the Wit River. This is Kurland’s water supply.
• A 1 Ml/day ozone clear plant in the Groot River. This is Nature’s Valley’s water supply.

The sewerage purification takes place at Gansevalei sewer works, a 9 ML/day activated and phosphate removal plant, and at Kurland, a 500kl activated sewerage works.
This department is also responsible for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure. The priority over the next five years is to ensure that the infrastructure can accommodate the growth of the town in the long term. Planning of all infrastructure projects is done according to the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).

Sewerage Purification Services

This division is responsible for:
• The bio-treatment of domestic sewerage before discharge into surrounding natural streams and the Keurbooms lagoon and Soult River.
• The quality monitoring and treatment of domestic and industrial waste water are done by the division itself as well as by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
• Compiling of monthly reports indicating the standard of waste water discharged.
• The division currently operates the following treatment works:

• Gansevalei, classified by DWAF as a Class C works (9 Ml/day sewerage works)
• Kurland, classified by DWAF as a Class C Works (0.5 Ml/day sewerage works)

Water Purification Services

This division is responsible for:
• The abstraction of raw water for domestic consumption. Raw water is extracted from the following water sources:

• Plett Central Water Works: Keurbooms River, Roodefontein Dam in the Piesangs River and ground water (six boreholes)
• Kurland water purification works: Wit River
• Nature’s Valley purification works: Groot River

• The quality control monitoring and treatment of the raw water to government standard are done by the division itself as well as by the Departments of Health and Water Affairs and Forestry.
• Compiling of monthly reports indicating the standard of domestic water supply to consumers.
The division currently operates the following water purification works, classified by DWAF as:
Plettenberg Central Water Works: Class B works
Kurland water purification works: Class C works
Nature’s Valley Ozone Clear: Class E works

Reticulation

The Bitou Municipality has about 320 km of waterborne sewer pipe systems, varying from 100mm to 350mm in diameter. Thirty-five sewerage pump stations pump the effluent in the main sewerage works. Urban sewerage system consists of septic tanks, French drains and conservancy tanks.
The Bitou water reticulation system has 269km pipe systems, varying from 50mm to 350mm in diameter. Twenty five water reservoirs supply 24-hour storage capacity to the Bitou municipality. Urban areas are on rain water and underground water.

4. Civil Works

Manager: Mr Henry Geldenhuys
Telephone: 044 501 3261
Fax: 044 533 3487
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5. Electricity and Mechanical Engineer

Manager: Mr Lawrence Msibi
Telephone: 044 501 3277
Fax: 044 533 3487
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6. Roads, Infrastructure and Cleansing

Responsible Official: Randall Bower
Telephone: 044 501 3267
Fax: 044 533 3487
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Roads
Superintendent Roads: K Spencer
Telephone: 044 501 3282
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The roads section is primarily responsible for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the local roads within the Bitou area. Construction and rehabilitation of streets are being implemented according to the Integrated Development Plan (IDP)

Municipal Workshop

Manager fleet: Eric Solo
Telephone: 044 501 3300
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The municipal fleet comprises 80 vehicles, including earthmoving/construction machinery. The mechanical workshop only carries out minor repairs and consists of a staff component of one mechanic and two handymen.
Vehicles are monitored on an automotive fleet-tracking device which pinpoints the position of each vehicle at any given time.

Waste management

• Refuse removal
• Street cleaning
• Landfill site
• Recycling