Lephalale 4 times bigger by 2030

It is estimated that Lephalale will grow between four and five times its current size by 2030, if all foreseen developments take place within the projected time frames. This has necessitated the drafting of a CBD development plan to coordinate future
developments.
The draft report of the Lephalale CBD development plan was made public last week Thursday when developers and interested parties gathered at the municipality to have a look at proposed future development plans for the town. Chaired by Infrastructure manager, Khoroshi Motebele and Astrid Basson, chairperson of the Mayoral planning committee the meeting not only gave a summary of future plans, but also allowed for concerns and questions from the public. Basson said it is very important that the public participate in the process. A lot of questions were raised about the building of a Northern Bypass to link the town with Marapong.
The Lephalale Strategic Development Forum proposed the construction of both a northern and a southern bypass route to direct regional traffic around Lephalale town. The bypass routes are extensions of the regional road network. The CBD Development Plan proposes that the northern bypass route be constructed as a matter of urgency.
The bypass will likely stimulate the northwards expansion of Lephalale CBD and the Onverwacht light industrial area. Once fully developed, the strip will also serve as an interface between the mining activities to the north and the town, while protecting the residential fabric of the town.
According to the report the main objective of the Lephalale CBD Development Plan is to revitalizes the Central Business Districts and thereby also upgrade the living conditions of people within the Lephalale and Marapong areas; creating an integrated and functional urban environment and rehabilitating the
dysfunctional components of the CBD areas with economic development.
The draft is available on the municipa-
lity’s web site at www.lephalale.gov.za and the deadline for comments is 20 January 2014. - Valerie Cilliers (valerie@noordnuus.co.za)