The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has upgraded its Department of Human Settlements’ centralised information centre (CIC), introducing a new integrated land planning information system (ILIS) and refurbishing the interior and exterior of the centre, using three-dimensional design software developer Autodesk’s Revit software.
The upgrade, which cost R800 000 excluding value-added tax, was completed last year.
The ILIS at the centre, which was responsible for town-planning enquiries and the approval of building plans, would allow any member of the public to access a range of information regarding building plans, site information, zoning and town planning.
The system would also be able to generate a new standard application reference system and be a central point of call for all applications pertaining to the council and built environment matters.
Two extra staff members were employed to provide these additional services at the refurbished 20-year-old building, which now boasted energy efficient lighting and minimalist finishes.
All lighting and hot water was controlled by motion sensors resulting in the building using almost no electricity when it is not occupied. Fewer light fittings were also needed throughout the building as two of the interior walls are full-length windows, which allowed “more than adequate” natural light to enter the building.
In its plan to create vibrant and inviting workplaces throughout the metropole, the CIC was the first of “many” interior upgrades planned by the municipality, commented Nelson Mandela Bay Human Settlements Directorate’s Architectural Division senior technologist Ajay Nathoo.
The next municipal building in the metropole to be upgraded would be the 13th floor of the Department of Water and Sanitation