Make over for central town

Dundee's central business district is to undergo the biggest facelift in years.
Work will start in July on a R50 million project to re-surface Victoria and Willson Streets and Commercial Road.
Bart Maltman, Endumeni Municipality's Technical Services Manager, informed during a Ward 2 meeting that Mayor Thulani Mahaye and Speaker Mduli had assisted in securing Government funding for the much-needed work. The two-year programme is expected to start straight after the Karellandman Street upgrade is completed in June.
Mr Maltman said the road surface from the main traffic circle to Dundee Secondary School will be redone as will the paving and storm water drains. Willson Street will get a much-needed facelift from the Victoria Street intersection to past Commercial Road.
"Work will be done to improve the dangerous multi-junction intersection that merges Willson and Bulwer Streets and Commercial Road," he added.
The undertaking will do much to add to the aesthetics of the town and, hopefully, make it even more attractive to the many tourists who already flock here to visit the world famous battlefields, said Ward Councillor, Anthon Raubenheimer.
It was also said at the same meeting that a landscape gardener has been hired to ensure the new-look entrance to the town on Karellandman Street is beautified with the planting of indigenous trees, flowers and shrubs.
It was conceded that the continued shortage of bitumen in the country had hampered attempts to fix potholes - especially the crater at the Tatham Street traffic circle that was a result of a burst water pipe in October.
However, R2,2 million has been earmarked for road improvements with special mention of Glencoe, where the state of the road have left motorists 'rattling mad'.
"Biggar Street North is to be sealed and a weight restriction of 10 tons introduced following numerous complaints of heavy vehicles using this road," Mr Maltman said. Further good news on the 'rehabilitation of Dundee' is that the Civic Centre roof is to be repaired and a windowless floor added. The R3,4 million project has already started and public access to the building will be limited to the back entrance for safety. No parking will be allowed in front of the building during the construction phase. A temporary parking area is being made available behind the Civic Centre.
The existing roof slab has been leaking for some time now and Mr Maltman said that it was 'built in 1974 and has now reached the end of its life'.
The new floor will be a 'shell' which the Council hopes to rent out for offices - the tenant of which will be responsible for interior fittings.
This will be an additional source of income to the Council.
"This is a more practical option than replacing the slab, which would be a costly exercise," Mr Maltman concluded.