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Item Open Access From the guest editor(University of the Free State, 2017) Cilliers, JuaneeThe past is known for an epoch of overflowing and abundant resources. The present reality predicts the next World War to most likely be fought due to water scarcity. This is also true for South Africa, being the world’s 30th driest country and where water conservation, and water-use efficiency is a key national priority to address water scarcity.Item Open Access A water sensitive urban design framework for South Africa(University of the Free State, 2017) Fisher-Jeffes, Lloyd; Carden, Kirsty; Armitage, NeilSouth Africa (RSA) is a ‘developing country’ still facing the challenge of providing basic water services to a significant proportion of the population. Water security is increasingly a matter of major concern, with most of the surface water resources fully accounted for and poor water quality downstream of urban areas. Whereas service delivery and social upliftment are high on the political agenda, the challenge is to promote economic and social equity, whilst simultaneously ensuring environmental sustainability; this challenge is greatest in the rapidly growing urban areas. Alternative approaches to conventional urban water management, which account for these water-supply and -quality constraints as well as the impacts of extreme weather-related events, are thus required. It is postulated that, from a water-management perspective, this will require strategic planning for the wide-scale implementation of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) – a systems-based approach that focuses on the interactions between the built form and water-resources management. This article describes a way forward for an integrated management (infrastructure and planning) approach for urban water. It defines what ‘water sensitivity’ might mean in the RSA context, and outlines the process that was followed to develop a framework and guidelines for implementing WSUD in South Africa. The four complementary components of the framework – research, vision, narrative, and implementation – highlight what will be required in order to manage the challenges facing the country’s urban water sector and enable the transition towards water sensitivity.Item Open Access Spatial planning and land-use management tools in aid of securing water sustainability: the case study of Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa(University of the Free State, 2017) Rohr, Hildegard; Cilliers, Juanee; Fourie, WernerThe concept of Water-Sensitive Settlements is gaining importance within broader sustainability thinking. There is limited research in urban planning literature, in particular, on the quantitative impact of land-use decisions on water resources. This article proposes a spatial modelling approach that combines land-use and water-consumption data in order to identify areas of intervention, which could feed into future development plans and strategies. The research considers the Mogalakwena Local Municipality as a case study, because of its socio-economic characteristics as well as the spatial and billing data that were generated from an ongoing research project funded by the Water Research Commission. It was evident that spatial modelling of land use and water consumption can be utilised as a tool to determine the impact of land-use decision on water resources. Having generated spatial information on ‘where’ and by ‘which’ land use the demand for water is highest, municipal planners are able to make informed future land-use decisions, which will ultimately affect water resources. In addition, the information can be used to enforce new thinking within the municipal spatial planning domain on, among others, implementing water-sensitive mitigation measures such as revisiting water tariff structures; re-evaluating the promised level of services; implementing water-efficiency building regulations, and rethinking the business-as-usual approach to settlement planning.Item Open Access Ecosystem-based climate change adaptation for Essenvelt, Middelburg, The Netherlands(University of the Free State, 2017) Timmermans, Wim; Jacobs, Cor; Van Hattum, Tim; Lategan, Louis; Cilliers, JuanClimate change is an internationally recognised phenomenon generally held accountable for the increasing magnitude of extremes in both climatic events and temperature. With increasing urbanization and the concentration of socio-economic activities in urban areas, the challenge to contend with climate change is particularly pertinent in cities. In response to climate-change impacts, a range of climate-adaptation strategies have been developed to make cities increasingly ‘climate proof’. A qualitative research approach is employed to review climate change, its impacts and some adaptation strategies, focusing on ecosystem-based adaptation strategies from Belgium and The Netherlands and Water-Sensitive Urban Design approaches developed in Australia. The article engages a case study of Essenvelt, Middelburg, The Netherlands, where unanticipated warmer night-time temperatures are a primary concern, related to natural variability, the urban heat island effect and climate change. The article proposes certain adaptation measures for Essenvelt, based on the adaptation strategies reviewed.Item Open Access SPLUMA: a practical guide(University of the Free State, 2017) Denton-Stevens, StuartThis represents one of the first comprehensive attempts to dissect the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) and to examine all of its constituent parts. As such, the book is structured using the act, with each chapter of SPLUMA having a corresponding chapter in this book. The intent of the book (seemingly) is to provide a practical day-to-day guide on how to interpret SPLUMA. It attempts to achieve this through showing how the different sections of SPLUMA should be interpreted given the relevant case law, as well as the linkages to other legislation, in particular, the Municipal Systems Act. In terms of case law, more than 150 cases are cited, and in terms of legislation, more than 120 pieces of legislation are mentioned. Noting this, this is clearly an exhaustive review of existing thinking on planning law in South Africa.