AS the end of the current financial year approaches, councillors are gearing up for the lump sum of allocated fees to be spent on various projects within the wards.

People’s Post gives you a look at how your ward representatives used their budgets.

In Ward 77, a total of R140 000 will go towards playground irrigation systems in Bo-Kaap one at Leeuwen Playground and the other at Yusuf Drive Playground.

Ward councillor Dave Bryant says that both parks are in “desperate need” of irrigation. “The grass is quite dusty. The condition at both parks is bad. However, Yusuf Drive is slightly better. We want residents to be able to come and have picnics at the park, while enjoying the atmosphere and scenery,” he says.

The chairperson of the Bo-Kaap Civic Association, Osman Shabodien, says that in future budget allocations more priority issues, such as traffic safety, should be given consideration.

“Whilst we welcome the irrigation system being upgraded, there are other priorities in the area that can be given more input when the budget is being discussed. It’s one thing to put irrigation into the park, but its another thing to make sure that the park is made secure,” he says.

The representatives of Homestead Park and De Waal Park put a request through to the subcouncil for assistance in beautifying these heritage sites. The budget allocates R160 000 towards these projects.

Bryant says Homestead Park in Upper Orange Street has a great historical value in the area. “It is used by the civic association as well as the scout group. It’s important to preserve landmarks of a historical nature, and this park has fantastic heritage value,” he says.

At De Waal park, heritage signage will be put up so that tourists and visitors of the site can read about its history.

The chairperson of the Green Point Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, Bob Goebel, says that the organisation would have preferred that council allocated more funding to the ward. However, he does feel that with the amount of money the council is given, it is a fair allocation.

For Ward 54, it is a whole different ball game.

One of the biggest spends in the budget is for the Clifton Fourth Beach parking area upgrade. The upgrade will cost R140 000, and according to ward councillor Beverley Schäfer, it received “strong motivation by the community”.

“This area is a tourist attraction and it is vital that we create ample parking for the visitors who come here,” she says.

To establish more parking, R100 000 will go towards the removal of the rockery near Sea Point Pavilion.

Another “priority” project on ward 54’s list, costing R70 000, is the clearing away of bushes at Bantry Bay and Camps Bay, between Victoria and Kloof Road. “Those bushes are high-risk crime factors in the area. What we want to do is clear what we can and thin the bushes out so that criminals won’t be able to hide among them. Lots of people walk up and down the streets and we want to make it safe for them to do so,” she says.

A request for an Extended Public Works Programme has been put through the subcouncil, with an estimate allocated amount of R70 000.

“This is part of a government programme which will create jobs for people who were previously unemployed,” says Schäfer.

The programme, if approved by council, will employ people of the community to clean up and thin out bushes at Big Glen and Little Glen in Camps Bay.