uMhlanga Rocks Works To Enhance Green Spaces
uMhlanga Rocks focuses its efforts on the long-term enhancement of its green spaces.
uMhlanga Rocks is privileged to have diverse green spaces that, with the support of the uMhlanga
Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) business and other community structures, are looked after and
recognized as critical assets. “Understanding and harnessing the value of green spaces in urban
communities is essential to creating well-used public environments, and goes a long way in creating places that people want to visit,” said UIP project leader Brian Wright.
Ensuring the sustainable future of these assets, the UIP is overseeing two long-term projects namely the uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve upgrade project and the Tree Naming And Self Guide Walk Initiative, both aimed at ensure they can be fully enjoyed by local and visitors alike.
The Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve Upgrade Project
Four years ago the uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve was a liability and crime was rampant. Since then a stakeholder management plan, driven by the uMhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), has reclaimed this wonderful asset to great success.
The area is now safe, environmental management has been enhanced and daily guided walks have been re-introduced and have proved popular with visitors and locals alike. The Nature Reserve and northern beaches have seen a return of tourists and local families in numbers to this beautiful area.
With the area now reclaimed, the future vision is to upgrade the reserve infrastructure; provide
improved operational management and enhanced on-the-ground safety services, which together will improve access to and enjoyment of this wonderful natural asset. It is anticipated that the upgrade will become a major attraction for uMhlanga Rocks and will unlock eco-tourism and job creation opportunities.
The upgrade plan, which aligns with the KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife Protected Area Management Plan,
aims to benefit adjacent communities, managed precincts and greenbelts and further reinforce
environmental and Local Economic Development (LED) objectives.
All upgraded infrastructure will follow the required environmental approval process with the aim of
enhancing access while reducing the impact of the unregulated use of the reserve. The proposed
infrastructure will focus on ensuring ‘sense of place’ is not compromised while only using existing trail and infrastructure footprints.
Funds to complete this project have to be raised and the UIP is driving this process.
The Tree Naming And Self Guide Walk Initiative
Proposed by and researched by local resident Phoebe Carnegie, this initiative aims to expose visitors to the beauty and diversity of the trees and shrubs in and around the uMhlanga Lagoon from the northern end of the promenade to the lagoon itself.
This project will see the renaming of the trees with more visible nametags, including a number on each nameplate.
These numbers will correspond with a map in the self-guided walk brochure, will not only allow people to see what trees they are looking at but it will also point out interesting sites and facts about the area.
The tree naming process is underway and the self-guiding walking maps should be available by the
start of the Festive Season.
Find out more about the Umhlanga UIP and their initiatives…