Collaborative Spatial Expressions of Sustainability: River Rehabilitation Projects in Durban, South Africa

Abstract

This chapter explores the value of river rehabilitation projects and their associated ecological infrastructure in supporting sustainable development across the social, economic, environmental and governance landscapes of Durban in South Africa. The chapter examines the projects’ value as emergent spatial “sustainable development” pathways in the city, drawing on empirical research conducted on four river rehabilitation projects. A number of spatial determinants influence sustainable development in Durban. Some are physical and hence contingent, while others are produced through socio-economic, political and governance processes. The Strategic Spatial Planning Branch, which forms part of Development Planning and Environmental Management in eThekwini Municipality, leads and directs spatial transformation for sustainable urban growth in the municipality by producing spatial plans. Through the efforts of officials in environmental and engineering departments in eThekwini Municipality, in partnership with research institutions and civil society groups, innovative, participatory river rehabilitation projects are beginning to emerge as important spatial determinants for sustainability in Durban. These projects support built infrastructure and social learning and provide ecosystem services to urban residents at multiple scales. This chapter argues that these spatial projects which integrate the social, economic, environmental and political dimensions of life in the city, reflect a new form of planning for sustainability in cities in Africa.