| Přispěvatelé: |
Cilliers, E.J., Cilliers, S.S., 12248029 - Cilliers, Elizelle Juanee (Supervisor), 10064559 - Cilliers, Sarel Stephanus (Supervisor) |
| Popis: |
MSc (Urban and regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus Water is considered a vital resource for human survival. The management of water and water resource planning is increasingly being recognised, from a spatial planning perspective, as vital components within the broader sustainability discourse (Engel et al., 2017). Communities worldwide are facing enormous challenges regarding the management of water resources. Due to various reasons, such as increasing populations, struggling economies, water availability and the expensive supply thereof (ICLEI et al., 2012), water management is a complex process and includes various spheres of government and different role players. Climate change is deemed responsible for significant impacts on water availability in South Africa, the conservation and sustainable management of water should thus be regarded as an important investment in South Africa’s future (Tewari, 2009:639). According to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF, 2004), there should be an equilibrium between the conservation of water resources and the delivery infrastructure, thus water demand and water conservation should be managed together to create an effective system. This research reflected on the evolution of spatial planning and water management in South Africa to better understand the unique challenges South Africa faces, along with the transdisciplinary environment in which water planning and management are now embedded (Todes, 2009:414, van Wyk & Oranje, 2014:8). The urgent need for a comprehensive national water plan, aligned with broader spatial planning approaches, has become apparent. This research aims to provide a point of departure for a Water Sensitive Planning (WSP) approach, based on a theoretical investigation and perspectives of current, professional planners and to ‘set the scene’ for a national water plan. This research, therefore, reflected on WSP from a planning perspective and identified gaps relating to WSP in South Africa, specifically pertaining to the knowledge of professional planners in terms of effective management of water resources in South Africa. The literature considered the evolution of spatial planning and water management on a global and South African scale to identify trends, solutions, and innovative approaches to South Africa’s WSP challenges. The literature then proceeded to reflect on sustainability and governance to further contribute to the construction of a national WSP plan for South Africa and to understand the status quo of WSP. The empirical investigation considered the perspectives of a sample of current, professional planners, pertaining to South Africa’s unique water-related challenges, along with possible solutions in quest of the development of a national water plan. The research concluded that water security and investment in water management could prevent a global catastrophe, however, if policymakers and planners are to recognise the importance of WSP (Zhuwakinyu & Creamer media, 2012:3) and recognise water as one of the most important resources on earth, the effective management of WSP may be possible. The consideration of transdisciplinary planning and lifelong learning was also highlighted as a key to achieve the above-mentioned goal. Based on the theoretical investigation, as well as the empirical investigation and perceptions of professional planners, this research recommended guidelines as a first step in creating a national water-sensitive plan for South Africa and aims to provide this perspective and pose a point of the departure, based on the viewpoints of professional planners, to structure a national water plan. Masters |
