ee r F
py o C
Est 2009 Issue 18 - 2015 Tel : 011 023-7588 / 011 402 - 1977
7 - 14 May 2015 Fax: 086 609 8601
Inner-City Gazette
Email : info@inner-city-gazette.co.za
inner_gazette
Website : www.inner-city-gazette.co.za
076 681 0577
75D960F6
Distributed free to households, churches, schools, libraries and businesses in Bellevue East • Bellevue • Benrose • Berea • Bertrams • Braamfontein • City and Suburban • City and Suburban Industrial • City Deep • City West • Crown Gardens • Denver • Doornfontein • Elandspark • Elcedes • Fairview • Fordsburg • Glenanda • Heriotdale • Hillbrow • Jeppestown South • Jeppestown • Johannesburg Inner City • Kensington • Lorentzville • Malvern • Marshallstown • New Doornfontein • Newtown • North Doornfontein • Rosettenville • Troyeville • Turffontein • Village Main Ext 3 and Yeoville .
Innovative investments to improve lives - Mayor ‘The objective is to use smart innovation to solve complex problems, through new innovations we are making sure that today is better than yesterday and tomorrows are better than today’ Staff Reporter news@inner-city-gazette.co.za
D
Joburg Mayor Parks Tau delivers his State of the City speech. Pic: Nkosinathi Banda
elivering his State of the City Address on Wednesday Joburg Mayor Parks Tau said innovative enterprises that will address water shortages, generate energy from underground water pipes and turn rubble from dumpsites into paper will soon be established in the city. He said these are among a range of investments in the ‘Blue Economy’. “The objective is to use smart innovation to solve complex problems. Through the introduction of new innovations we are making sure that today is better than yesterday and all our tomorrows are better than today,” he said. The City’s new Blue Economy strategy includes the introduction of turbines within the underground water network to harness the energy generated by the water flow and feed it into the power system, the
Mayor explained. “Incentives will be given to households, office buildings and commercial sites to install low-flush toilets and water-saving urinals to encourage behaviour that will lead to savings on this scarce natural resource. The City’s investment in maintenance programmes to prevent unaccounted for water has achieved measurable results. We have maintained the same water reserve margin for several years, despite our increasing population,” said Mayor Tau. He added that a new initiative will be to collect 250 000 tons of rubble from illegal dumpsites and turn it into stone paper used for packaging, containers and shopping bags. “This will “unlock the value in such rubble and subsidise the cost of removing it. Organic waste will be diverted to bio-digesters to harvest gas for fuel and energy.” Mayor Tau added that the City is looking at ways to introduce fruit
trimmings from the Fresh Produce Market as a flour replacement for bread-making. “This will not only result in healthier bread but also create new entrepreneurial opportunities for communities. Micro mushroom farms will turn nutrition into viable businesses for thousands of community-based operators.” In October Joburg will host the international EcoMobility Festival, where the emphasis will be on sustainable transport alternatives. Mayor Tau said during this weeklong event in the Sandton CBD the City will highlight its investments in the Rea Vaya rapid bus network and the introduction of dedicated cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. “The City’s innovations represent a new approach to energy, roads, water management and waste processing, but also open opportunities for large sectors of the community to make money and improve their living conditions,” the Mayor said.