The Master Builders Association North (MBA North) indicated at its annual general meeting (AGM) last month, in Midrand, that it planned to establish strategic partnerships for innovation in the construction sector for government’s National Development Plan (NDP).

The partnerships would involve investments in research and development to deal with issues of new building materials, new design concepts and innovative building techniques, as well as cost reduction in materials for low-income, residential and retail environments along transit corridors, Johannesburg City manager Trevor Fowler said at the AGM.

To achieve the MBA North’s objectives, the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) has developed an infrastructure investment programme that includes the 17 Strategic Infrastructure Programmes.

The PICC initiative requires partnerships with the private-sector construction industry, owing to government not being able to fund all of these initiatives on its own.

Fowler noted that there would be major opportunities and responsibilities for the construction industry in the future development of the City of Johannesburg and other key infrastructure investments.

Government and the City of Johannesburg are going to change the spatial patterns through transit-orientated development, which means the sector should adopt a different approach to construction and investment.

Such ‘new’ approaches include upgrading and modernising existing infrastructure, working on brownfield sites, paying more attention to infrastructure efficiency and focusing on effectively moving people, goods and services.

Fowler said Johannesburg was developing its own R110-billion infrastructure plan for the next ten years, with funding from the city’s financial development plan.

The plan includes new council offices and social infrastructure, such as libraries, recreation centres, sports stadiums, bus rapid transit stations, markets and weigh bridges.

Engineering infrastructure, such as water and sanitation, parks, impoundments and improved communication networks will be planned.

The City of Johannesburg must improve confidence in the civil engineering and construction industry, ensure that there are more bankable infrastructure projects and be transparent in procurement activities.

“We have to ensure certainty for major projects, improve payment systems, develop our procurement processes and help small companies build their capacities to tender, as well as eradicate corruption,” said Fowler.

He added that, for the construction-sector companies to benefit from the NDP, they should commit to project deadlines and skills and training, maintain talent and build career paths. The construction industry bodies should provide better regulation and oversight.