By Nangamso Mabindla
1 September 2005

THE threat of rain could not dampen the mood of dignitaries gathered on the West Bank to celebrate the first birthday of the Gately Stream Park as part of Arbor Day celebrations today.

Launched in September last year, the Gately Stream Park - the first joint environmental project set up by Buffalo City and DaimlerChrysler South Africa (DCSA) - is at the manufacturer's West Bank Plant and aims to promote environmental awareness.

The celebrations were attended by members of the business community, local authorities and learners from the nearby West Bank High School.

Planting trees for Arbor Day: DaimlerChrysler's Joachim Follman and Niels Anderson with Buffalo City Mayor Sindisile Maclean and City Manager Mxolisi Tsika

The car company's Joachim Follman said the park was going to be an integral part of the West Bank and the lives of its residents. "They will enjoy themselves here; they can even have cultural events in this park.

"Even though we are a business entity people do still matter to us because they are an integral part of our success," he said.

The park's success also showed the company's commitment to improving environmental conditions in Buffalo City. "Our corporate social responsibility strategy encourages us to contribute to the socio-economic development of our communities," Follman said.

"We, together with the municipality, want to make a pro-active and meaningful contribution to the quality of life in our city and contribute to a clean environment."

Buffalo City Mayor Sindisile Maclean agreed, saying the partnership between local authorities and businesses was vital to maintaining a clean environment.

The planting of trees played a big role in the promotion of a clean and healthy environment.

"We need trees to help us save our environment. I am told that one big tree gives oxygen to four people for a lifetime ... so planting trees here today contributes to a healthy environment," Maclean said.

He thanked DCSA for investing in the welfare of the West Bank community and of the greater Buffalo City. "I challenge other businesses to identify an area that needs to be turned from an environmental hazard to an environmentally friendly place like the park we have here on the West Bank."

To prove the importance of trees to the environment, Maclean, City Manager Mxolisi Tsika, Follman and DCSA's Niels Andersen planted more trees in the park. The two chosen Arbor Day trees planted this year were the false cabbage and the rare baobab.