Members of the Sedibeng Delegation to Bilboa and Lisbon: (L-R) Cllr Fundiswa Ngubentombi (Exec. Mayor, Metsimaholo), Albert De Klerk (Acting MM, Midvaal), Cllr Mlungisi Hlongwane (Exec. Mayor, Sedibeng), Pieter van Heerden (MM, Lesedi), Cllr Busi Modisakeng (Exec. Mayor, Lesedi), Cllr Johnny Tsotetsi (MMC for LED, Sedibeng), Lisa Seftel (MM, Sedibeng), Cllr Marti Wenger (Exec Mayor, Midvaal), Cllr Sakhiwe Khumalo (MMC for Housing, Emfuleni)

‘River Mayors’ Visit Bilbao and Lisbon

[08.10.07] “The river is our future” and “Everything towards the river” were the key messages coming out of a visit led by the Executive Mayors of Sedibeng, Lesedi, Metsi Maholo and Midvaal to Bilboa in Spain and Lisbon in Portugal from 28 September to 5 October.

The visit to these places was prompted by the desire to look at ways in which the region can develop the Vaal River and its associated tributaries and Dam into a dynamic series of waterfront creating opportunities for tourism, economic development and leisure.

The Sedibeng Growth and Development Summit held in November 2006 resolved on the need to seek ways to reinvent the economy, regenerate our communities, revive our environment, reintegrate our region and release our human potential.

And there is no better asset to use to do this than the Vaal River our natural asset which has unrealized potential to transform the economy and nature of our region.

Executive Mayor of Sedibeng, Clr Mlungisi Hlongwane led the delegation and was accompanied by the local Executive Mayors of Lesedi,  Clr Busi Modisakeng, Midvaal,  Clr Martie Wenger and Metsi Maholo Clr Fundiswa Ngubentombi.

The delegation also included the Member of Mayoral Committee of Sedibeng responsible for local economic development, Clr Johnny Tsotetsi and the new Emfuleni Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Housing, Clr. Sakhiwe Khumalo.

The Executive Mayors were accompanied by their municipal managers in the case of Lesedi, Sedibeng and Midvaal.

The two day visit to Bilboa in northern Spain was primarily to explore how a region which faced very similar circumstances to the Vaal has managed to reinvent itself. 

Faced with high unemployment, high levels of air and water pollution and a declining steel industry, Bilbao set up an agency called Bilbao Ria 2000 which set up transforming the economy from one based on steel to one based on tourism and services.

They very successfully turned a dirty river into a beautiful tourist attraction and place for locals and tourist to enjoy the water front.  From never seeing a tourist, they now have over 600 000 tourists visiting them, including to see a world famous Guggenheim Art Museum.

The visiting mayors were tremendously impressed by the achievements of Bilboa and resolved to work together to achieve a similar reinvention along both banks of the Vaal River.

In particular they were impressed to learn that the first flagship project to revive the area was the construction of a new sewer works. Something which is also in the pipeline in Sedibeng.

The delegation then traveled to Lisbon to attend the Waterfront Expo 2007 where in addition to seeing what Lisbon is doing along their vast Tagus River, were able to listen to experiences of cities across the world in reviving their waterfronts.

The story was repeated over and over again. Areas which had become derelict and neglected due to changing nature of industry and often the declining shipping sector, were being transformed into dynamic places for leisure, tourism, recreation, exhibition centres, housing, retail etc.

Some of the key lessons the delegation learnt was that:

• Everything should face the river: Buildings and public spaces should be along the river;
• The public must feel the river: There should be parks,  foot paths and cycle paths right along the river for people to enjoy;
• There have been very successful public private partnerships in respect of waterfront regeneration.

“The knowledge and experience gained from the Waterfront Expo and visit to Bilbao is a treasure that will be shared with the stakeholders of the region including the tourism sector,” says Clr Mlunigisi Hlongwane, Executive Mayor of Sedibeng.

Some of the sharing will happen through the 2010 working groups set up with stakeholders arising out of the launch of the 2010 strategy.  Key lessons learnt will also be included in the IDP consultations which have already begun and will continue until year end. 

A report will also be presented to the SDM Mayoral Committee suggesting that Sedibeng seek ways of partnering or twinning with Bilboa Local Council specifically on the development of the Vaal River.  In this way we can be able to tap into the knowledge and experience of Bilbao Rio 2000.