The economic rejuvenation of Knysna on the Garden Route comes under the spotlight next week.
Executive mayor, Georlene Wolmarans, will be meeting Western Cape Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Minister, Alan Windee on Monday.
Speaking to Algoa FM News this morning, mayor Wolmarans outlined the objecives of the meeting with the Western Cape government.
The full transcript of the interview follows below.
1) What are your objectives for the meeting with Minister Winde?
"Minister Winde and I both have the same objectives for this meeting. We wish to strengthen the ties between existing businesses in Knysna and also to identify innovative ways to create revenue and also to identify ways to rejuvenate existing businesses."
"I also want to encourage all businesses in Knysna to join us on Monday at 11 am in the Council Chamber where we are going to have a discussion on this topic."
2) How do you see the Western Cape government assisting with the economic rejuvenation of Knysna?
"At this stage the Western Cape government is assisting us with the knowledge and skills that we need in order to put comprehensive plans in place to encourage all forms of development in Knysna."
3) What is the current state of the local economy?
"Knysna was not immune to the global financial turn-down. And this we have suffered a lot in the past two years. Tourism globally is down and as this was one of the main driving forces of the areas economy, Knysna definitely felt that downturn. Businesses are closing down."
"If you drive through our main road you will see a lot empty shops and that on its own is telling its own story.
So, we have to find alternative ways to stimulate the economy and I believe we have to use all the resources available."
4) Where are the economic growth prospects outside of the tourism sector?
"In the past the timber and construction sectors used to contribute considerably to our economy and we hope to find ways to once again create opportunities in these sectors. In addition to this, we also launched Naturally Knynsa Programme last year.
"This initiative asks us to model the workings of our town on the natural system of our indigenous forest. For example, there is no waste in the forest, the one organism's waste is the other organism's resource. So, if we start modelling our industries according to these principles we can sustainable environment with substantial benefits for the community."
"Let me make a practical example. Mitchells Brewery indicated that they would like to be one of the businesses to be modelled on the Naturally Knysna principles so if they convert there are at least 12 new business opportunities by re-using their waste. So that is one of the things we are looking into."
5) What is your vision for the growth of the town?
"It is imperative that Knysna starts to work for Knysna. We have to support local resources and businesses where possible. We have to identify opportunities for local entrepreneurs and companies to develop businesses within our town which can perform services which would otherwise be outsourced to other towns or cities."
"On the other hand we also need investment from outside and we have to create the environment and opportunity that will make it viable for them to do so. That can only happen if we team up with the private sector and other sectors of government, and that is exactly what we are doing. We are teaming up with our provincial department."
