George invited to participate in WC Property Development Forum Conference
George Municipality was well represented at the most recent tenth annual Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) Conference held from 8-9 June in Cape Town, CTICC. The WCPDF is a registered non-profit organisation founded in 2008 to create awareness, address the challenges that face the property development and construction industry and to be the collective voice of the industry in the Western Cape. The Forum is a representative body for the property development and construction industry in the Western which promotes the interests of the industry. The Forum also facilitates relations between the industry and authorities, as well as actively engaging in the education and transformation of the industry.
Executive Mayor, Ald Leon van Wyk, noted that the value of George attending the WCPDF conference was recognised in having the Municipal Manager, Dr Michele Gratz and the Director Human Settlements, Planning and Development, Lauren Waring participating in two panel discussions relating to the role of municipalities and their policies in unlocking land for development and the ease of doing business. “They proudly communicated George’s offering to the 350 delegates. The conference also covered micro-development, the product offered by the Western Cape and infrastructure. We believe that there will be positive outcomes from useful discussions that took place on the sidelines of the conference,” he said.
While the rest of South Africa remains suspended in a political and economic holding pattern, the Western Cape is moving forward, with the huge contribution made by the property development and construction industry. This trend is certainly being seen in George, where the city is experiencing exponential investment and growth. The annual WCPDF conference brings together thought leaders from the public and private sectors involved in fixed capital investment, and who aim to work together to tackle the challenges and celebrate the achievements of our sector. Delegates range from across the built environment, representative of the many facets that make up the industry, from large-scale developers to micro-developers and the many professional consultants, contractors and other service providers who work within the sector.
Ms Waring formed part of a panel for Day One which discussed how to unlock municipal land for development, and which was facilitated by Kobus Munro, Director Development Management: Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Dr Gratz participated in a panel discussion on the role of the Municipal Manager facilitated by Deon Van Zyl, Chairperson of the WCPDF. Discussions ranged from the challenge of obtaining clean audits, to stressing the importance of being development-orientated and making provision for the growth of the town through the provision of adequate infrastructure. Dr Gratz highlighted the phenomenal expansion in infrastructure projects over the past three years and the allocation of the BFI funding, with George being the first non-metro to be awarded such funding which has raided the city’s budget over the R1 Billion mark.
The invitation to participate on the panels emanated from a presentation at the 2022 WCPDF Conference, where Ald Van Wyk presented the opportunities that George offers. Another result from last year’s conference was the establishment of a local chapter of the WCPDF: the Southern Cape Property Development Forum which has been actively engaging with the municipality.
In the photograph George team take a selfie in auditorium – from left Lauren Waring, Director Human Settlements, Planning and Development; Dr Michele Gratz, Municipal Manager and Ald Leon Van Wyk.
Dr Michele Gratz Municipal Manager for George and Joggie Scholtz, Municipal Manager for Swartland Municipality.
