in the queue waiting for their piece of the proverbial pie. The queue is getting longer … and the wait won’ t subside unless something changes in the fundamental way the industry‘ does things’. This year, the South African infrastructure sector will experience a 12 % decrease in infrastructure spending. Only perceived priority projects will receive attention, while less obvious but crucial infrastructure development will have to be placed on the backburner for an indefinite time. The infrastructure industry is reactive and fights an uphill battle, to a point where tendering for public infrastructure projects has become unsustainable. The number of infrastructure problems we currently face, especially in the water sector, has become insurmountable, and government is struggling to prioritise and roll out enough projects just to sustain the industry. Not that government isn’ t trying its level best to produce tender documentation to get a few projects off the ground, but the fact of the matter is, government has taken on too heavy a burden to carry. With constant internal politics, corruption, social grants, poverty, unemployment, the land issue, free education, downgrades, bureaucracy, and a legion of other issues, is it any wonder that there is little traction on the infrastructure sector? Our current infra problems need some creative resolve to get the ball rolling again. By blindly following the current system, where we reply to our client once they ask for a proposal, while neglecting to address sustainability in the long term, is a bit like driving imaginary nails into the wall. We are not solving the real problem, and by not solving the real problem we are creating new problems. The creative genius Mark Neumeier notes:“ The complex business problems we face today can ' t be solved with the same thinking that created them.” By simply following the status quo, we are not helping government achieve and implement the NDP goals. So how do we change this? In short, we need to get our hands dirty, have a good look at the real problem, get the right tools, and fix it. In the past, that would have meant bending nature to our will and beating it into submission, but the world awakened to a new reality and the opportunities are endless. Globally, the world has reached a point where the‘ green economy’ is no longer just an option, but an ethical responsibility for everyone involved in infrastructure development. Case studies increasingly show that a sustainable and green approach to infrastructure is essential in creating a sustainable society. To achieve sustainability, infrastructure and investment professionals need to engage in a coordinated approach to make the infrastructure sector more resource resilient and more restorative of the natural environment. An inclusive approach to infrastructure is now crucial to reduce poverty and inequality by creating the green jobs that are sustainable. It might mean creating new infrastructure or reviewing what we have in place and renewing it with the latest technology available. We must rethink who will provide finance for innovative solutions to the real problems. Finance for infrastructure projects requires a fresh approach— a new flow of finance to develop the green economy. The need for fresh water has risen dramatically over the past two decades in South Africa. Clean water is a surprisingly scarce resource, unevenly spread, and in areas with low rainfall and high evaporation, the scarcity can be a major problem. In recent years, South Africa suffered from the effects of severe droughts, increasing the strain on the already fragile resources with notable economic implications for millions of people. We need no reminder that approximately 3.8-million Capetonians are affected by scarcity and by the challenges associated with extracting and transporting water. The future is uncertain, but it is likely that long-term water scarcity will spread to other parts of South Africa. Water resources are over-utilised, and innovative ways are required to ensure that more water is replaced than what we consume. Furthermore, old water infrastructure has fallen into disrepair, leading to massive water losses of over 35 %. Innovative and feasible methods can be used to extend the life of water infrastructure, to meet the expected growth in water demand in South Africa over the coming years. Often overlooking our nature-based equivalent of built infrastructure, such as catchments, wetlands, and vegetation and the role it plays in replenishing and preserving precious water resources, the industry should be proactive in preserving and maintaining ecological infrastructure, instead of rehabilitating owing to neglect. Case studies indicate that proactive management of ecological infrastructure is far more feasible than reactive rehabilitation. Ultimately, we can only implement sustainable and green water infrastructure strategies if government provides the atmosphere of freedom to pursue this freely, but responsibly. A good start would be if government can provide a platform where‘ independent water management’ firms can present and implement projects to address the situation adequately before it is too late. In the meantime, be proactive by preparing for a new way of managing water infrastructure, and let us assist government in turning things around, instead of having a reactive approach, waiting for some project to land on our table. Let us get our hands dirty and create our own possibilities. nn
About the author Walter Scharf is an independent civil engineering professional and MD of Gestion, with an uncanny passion for innovation in the consulting engineering environment. He assists clients with infrastructure planning and enjoys working with highly skilled teams to create something extraordinary.
CEC May 2018- 27
INSIGHT