| A PROPOSED OUTWARD-LOOKING ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY The purpose of the strategy is to create a more stable
environment, in order to protect existing and future environmental resources. This plan
involves issues where the scope reaches beyond the boundaries of Greater Johannesburg (Walmsley,
1997).
- Plan - Improve the enforcement of legislation and
policy, in order to prevent further environmental damage and to protect future
environmental resources.
Implementation - Cohesion of, and communication between, government and
management on all levels.
- Plan - Improve communication between the various
levels of government, and between local government and the public in order to improve
public relations and to prompt change, through public awareness.
Implementation - Customer service; Employee training; Transparency; Newspapers
and newsletters; Public access to information.
- Plan - Firstly establish environmental education
programmes into the formal school cirriculum, in order to instil an environmental ethic
and to prevent current and future damage to environmental resources.
Implementation - Dedicated Education Department employees; Involve environmental
education from the start of the school career; Use natural resources for teaching purposes
e.g. parks, river courses, nature reserves etc.(Walmsley, 1997).
A PROPOSED INWARD-LOOKING ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY
The purpose of the strategy is to increase
environmental efficiency and effectiveness within local government. This plan also aims to
improve the state of the environment within the boundaries of the Greater Johannesburg
Metropolitan area (Walmsley, 1997).
- Plan - Provide local incentives for an improvement
in waste management, air and water pollution, in order to prevent illegal practices and
promote an environmental ethic.
Implementation - Green sanctions; Registers; Free publicity and advertising;
Stringent fines for environmental misconduct; Apply market-based incentives.
- Plan - Develop and Environmental Management System
for the Metropolitan Council in order to monitor environmental performance and improve
credibility.
Implementation - Commitment of upper management; Analysis of existing
administrative structure; Set up an EMS in GJMC; Review and SEA of existing Metropolitan
Policies; Provide clarity on applicable environmental standards; Establish annual
environmental audits.
- Plan - Produce a detailed inventory of open space
throughout the entire Metropolitan area with regards to facilities, uses, target public,
public needs and crime, in order to pin-point problem areas and the potential development
sites.
Implementation - User-friendly GIS system; Communication and sharing of
information between local government structures; Public access to information.
- Plan - Developing a detailed environmental data
base for each MSS, that is produced according to the same agenda and in the same format,
so that it may be integrated at all levels and used to aid decision making.
Implementation - User-friendly GIS system; Communication and sharing of
information between local government structures; Public access to information.
- Plan - Develop and implement community based
open space planning and waste management programmes, in order to provide for specific
needs and requirements, and reduce Council costs.
Implementation - Transparency; Extensive community participation programmes;
Financial incentives.
- Plan - Densify the existing city structure - this
will have positive impacts on waste management costs, service provision rates and costs,
and public transport development.
Implementation - Mixed land use; Land use zoning.
- Plan - Further research, and implement, the
rehabilitation of mine dumps and landfill sites in Greater Johannesburg, in order to
remedy serious pollution sources and make use of land resources.
Implementation - Comprehensive research; Exploratory trials; Commitment from
mining companies; Enforcement by DME; Financial incentives.
- Plan - Further research, and if possible, slowly
integrate the use of constructed wetlands into the landscape, in order to mitigate the
impacts of water pollution (especially industrial) in the area.
Implementation - Comprehensive research; Exploratory trials.
- Plan - Improve all forms of transport and extend
the network to all parts of Greater Johannesburg.
Implementation - Feasibility studies; Government subsidies; "Green"
taxes on fuel; Education and awareness programmes (Walmsley, 1997).
REFERENCES
Walmsley Environmental Consultants 1997: GJTMC
Integrated Metropolitan Development Plan - Report No. W262. WEC: Rivonia. |
