Ivory Park sets a shining example
Michelle Nel
Ivory Park is a sprawling township in Midrand, composed largely of informal dwellings, which is far ahead of other areas in terms of environmentally conscious living. And if the project has its way, the Johannesburg unicity will be soon be transformed by following the shining example set by the informal settlement.
For example, unemployed people in Ivory Park have grouped themselves in six primary agricultural cooperatives to grow organic vegetables for the community. An area has been zoned and planned for an eco-village consisting of 30 houses.
To combat winter air pollution, a comprehensive programme is under way to retrofit ceilings in all government-subsidised houses. Last year R22-million was pledged to clean up the polluted Kaalspruit, which runs through the township.
About R1-million has been pledged by the Department of Transport to build a bicycle track linking schools in Ivory Park, and a thriving second-hand bicycle franchise is making this clean form of transport available to scholars at minimal cost.
These environmentally friendly innovations have largely been driven by the Midrand EcoCity Project, a collaboration between the Midrand EcoCity Trust, the Johannesburg City Council and local communities.
“The project addresses poverty alleviation through local economic development,” says Anne Sugrue, executive director of the Midrand EcoCity Trust. “EcoCity seeks out innovative, technically relevant and ecologically sound solutions, such as rammed earth building, organic farming, grey water recycling and low smoke braziers.”
Ivory Park suffers from many environmental and social problems: it is overcrowded (93% of people in Midrand live on 7% of the land), one in five homes has an occupant suffering from a respiratory illness and the unemployment rate is high. Of the employed, 65% earn less than R800 a month. The area is riddled with water leaks and 30% more water is used than paid for. What’s more, the water in the Kaalspruit (which runs through Ivory Park) is more polluted than water arriving at sewerage farms.
But the EcoCity project has seen these problems as challenges and is tackling them one by one. “We hope to develop innovative solutions that can be implemented all over the Johannesburg unicity,” says Sugrue.
Midrand has clearly shown the way through its comprehensive state of the environment (SOE) report, which provides the baseline to develop environmental management principles. Midrand is one of only 20 cities in the world that has an SOE report.
It is also working closely with the United Nations through Local Agenda 21 initiatives. These aim to encourage town councils to change the pattern of development in their cities.
EcoCity’s first organic food cooperative was set up recently by 25 women, and a further 200 have shown an interest in joining. Benefits of the organic food cooperative will include lower medical bills, decreased transport costs, savings in food costs and food security. Cooperatives are member-driven marketing organisations that fight poverty and offer buying power. A secondary agricultural cooperative, which was recently registered, will provide the overall regulation, marketing and sales service for the primary cooperatives.
An eco-village has been planned and workshopped with the Ivory Park community and the water, sanitation and electricity should be in place this month. The organic market at its hub is already up and running. A prototype eco-house has been built and is currently being used as an office by one of the cooperatives. The whole village of 30 houses will hopefully be completed as a showcase for the Earth Summit in 2002.
Energy has presented EcoCity with many opportunities for action. With overnight coal smoke pollution levels at 1 100 higher on the Highveld during winter than the international standard set by the World Health Organisation (an estimated 12 000 coal fires are made daily in Ivory Park alone) the EcoCity Project has developed a number of green energy projects. One initiative is a prototype imbawula designed to be more energy-efficient and smoke-free. Local manufacture of this type of brazier could create “green” jobs and income.
Another way of saving energy and lowering pollution levels is being addressed by a joint effort between Eskom and TEMM International a low-cost ceiling that saves 15% on coal. If all formal low-cost dwellings in South Africa could be supplied with ceilings, it could save R60-million in electricity costs and reduce the amount of dust in the home.
Another basic need being addressed is water. Midrand town council has already started a R1,9-million project to clean and rehabilitate the Kaalspruit. The project should create 66 permanent jobs and include a nursery to propagate indigenous medicinal plants, a farmer-support centre, irrigation infrastructure for four hectares of food gardens, a wetland and trash-catching racks.
A comprehensive water-demand strategy has been completed that will save the council R15-million over a five-year period. The council is spending R11-million on installing water meters, retrofitting the regional offices with water meters and training two learners from each school to fix leaking taps.
Midrand is also monitoring its solid waste. Currently it throws away more than 3 000 tons of rubbish a month, much of it recoverable. Hopefully that will be reduced with a buy-back centre in Ivory Park collecting such recyclables as paper, tin, plastic and glass. Environmental workshops have been held with the Khayalami Local Youth Development Council, which has formed a task group on environment. Fourteen “eco-warriors” have been trained and are embarking on educational activities at youth clubs, clinics and schools.
What will keep these initiatives sustainable is their ability to provide income for the people of Ivory Park. But what of the local economy itself?
A green banking system is being explored to create a more people-friendly financial environment. Relevant projects include community banking, a local parallel currency and cooperatives providing an alternative to the present world economic system. “We hope to initiate green solutions and a green economy to create a better world, not just for Ivory Park residents but for all citizens of Johannesburg,” says Sugrue.
Urban Renewal Winner
Winner: Midrand EcoCity
Prize: R10 000, sponsored by the Green Industries Council
Judges’ comments: “The project epitomises the criteria of this award: it is in the process of making an urban environment a safer, healthier and happier place for people to live.
“Last year Midrand EcoCity was a finalist in this category. It has grown in leaps and bounds since then, and is an inspiring winner.”