News from
Residents’Association of Hout Bay
PO Box 27031, Hout Bay, 7872
rahb@houtbay.org.za
www.houtbay.org.za
Sept 2006
GOODHOPE SUBCOUNCIL NEWS
The City has recently been subdivided into twenty-one Subcouncils to facilitate dealing with local issues and, hopefully, help bring decision-making closer to the people whom it affects. Hout Bay, Llandudno and part of Camps Bay (Ward 74) has been combined with Ward 54 (City Bowl including BoKaap) and Ward 77 (Camps Bay, Sea Point, Green Point) to form the Good Hope Subcouncil (number 16).
We attended the meeting on Thursday 17 August and found that the Subcouncil currently has 6 members viz. Cllrs JP Smith, V.M Walker, P J Venter (Hout Bay), P Chapple (proportional representative for Hout Bay), J M Mokoena and A Serritslev, and is supported by various officials. At this meeting, the departments of planning, sport and recreation, parks and forest, and transport were represented. Subcouncil support staff included Ruth Adams (acting Manager), Lucille Muller and Vivienne Sasman (Tel: 487-2201/-2055/-2207). Members of the press were also present.
Cheryl Walters, Director of Planning for the City, introduced a presentation by consultant, Sydney Holden, on planning generally. This evoked some interesting debate, aspects of which we very much identified with, including illegal building construction, the paucity of land-use and building inspectors, the relevance of title deed restrictions, the need for local spatial plans and the importance of community input into decision-making. It seems that the Subcouncil will allow the public opportunities to participate in certain discussions. They are expecting that much of the local planning work will be delegated to the Subcouncils.
Various issues were addressed, and, for Hout Bay, Jan Botes from Parks and Forests gave an overview presentation on our Public Open Spaces to introduce Subcouncil members to the open spaces themselves, their various characters, conditions, needs and strengths. A report on beach facilities was partially given but was lacking in information and so postponed to the next meeting.
It was hoped that watering of the Open Spaces (identified for exemption from restrictions) will be facilitated by allowing workers to use ‘flexitime’ and so start work earlier than normal so as to do the watering before 10 a.m. - very sensible.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 19 September at 44 Wale Street in Cape Town.
NEW APPLICATION
Erf 3656, corner Valley Road and Ave de Chevonne: application for a conditional use to permit a church and a land-use departure for a Christian Guest House including an increase of the total coverage from maximum of 800 sq.m to 1000 sq.m,, . Deadline for comment is 16 October 06.
Comments and objections may be sent to: The Municipal Manager, Urban and Environmental Services, South Peninsula Admin, City of Cape Town, Private Bag X5, Plumstead 7801 or faxed to 021 710-8283 (tel.-8202); attention Mr. M. Barnes. The general telephone number for the SPA is 710-8000.
DEVELOPERS PROVE TO BE SOPPING WET BEHIND
THE EARS!
Building next to a wetland has the advantage of uninterrupted views. What developers do not appear to realise is that the ‘wet’ part of a ‘wetland’ poses a serious environmental threat to the structures they are building. A worrying trend in Beach Estate, Hout Bay is the purchase of fully functional houses for prices up to a third higher than market value to allow for sufficient land to build blocks of flats. While many of these houses are within the 50-100year flood line this does not appear to deter either the developer or the council officials that OK these projects. The relevant difference here between the existing houses and a new apartment block is the depth of the foundations. The apartment blocks have had to dig deeper foundations – all the way down into the water table and consequently the structures are at serious risk from long-term water damage.
The new block under construction off Empire Rd (known by local residents as the “rabbit hutches”) has had to have a pump running for up to 24 hours a day just to keep the water levels at ankle height during construction.
We have recently heard rumours that Old Mutual is to provide the funding for the next Wetland development – “Kingfisher” off Empire Rd. Surely these “wise investors” will avoid such an obvious development gaffe given the hard evidence of ecological folly only a block away? Time will tell and we will endeavour to bring sanity to the officials who are allowing these developments to proceed.
ALIEN vs INDIGENOUS VEG
The ongoing debate on alien vs indigenous species gets some people rather excited from time to time which is healthy as it exposes the underling reasons for these various perspectives. In our residential areas, for example, we believe that alien vegetation per se is not necessarily a problem; it is only when the species are invasive and/or very thirsty that they create problems. However, when it comes to declared natural areas, then, we are of the opinion that indigenous species should take preference.
Not withstanding this, our Association promotes indigenous and water-wise gardens, street verges and open spaces because, amongst other benefits, they tend to use less water (and so save resources, infrastructure extensions and your money!), they are naturally suited to the local environment, they promote bio-diversity, help create corridors for plants and animals between natural areas which have been increasingly reduced by development over the years (this is particularly important in Hout Bay which is known for its natural beauty and setting between the mountains and the sea with a river corridor connecting the two), and they are just very beautiful! (Also bear in mind that the pollen of the invasive Australian wattles causes allergies and the feathery seeds of the pampas grass damage lungs similarly to asbestos fibres.)
Over the years many people have seen the importance of conserving our natural heritage and the rural ambiance of Hout Bay with the result that it has long since been declared a ‘special area’ attractive to locals and tourists alike (people come from all over the world to appreciate the beauty and biodiversity of the fynbos kingdom!
Let us make sure that our children and grandchildren and theirs will also be able to appreciate this special place.
LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND MAINTENENCE
Security issue continue to have the support of the Neighbourhood Watch and residents are reminded to help prevent crime by keeping doors at home locked and leaving nothing of value in cars.
In spite of contacting the rental company whose cars are illegally parked on the open space at the Princess / Main Circle, and informing the police, the problem continues. A letter will be written to them warning them that the SAPS will in future tow away these vehicles.
Speeding on Valley Road is problematic as is the fact that many drivers are
ignoring the “stop” signs. ‘Law
enforcement’ are to be invited to sit in Valley Road simply to view the traffic
infringements with the view to encouraging the authorities to set up
traps.
Unapproved signage is being taken up
with the offending agents as well as the authorities and official attention is
also being drawn to the many potholes developing on our roads. Some progress is being made in both these
areas.
Rates inspectors are
currently doing the rounds of properties in preparation for the calculation
(based on market values) of new rates – to be introduced next year.
Please
remember that your subscriptions
were due on at the beginning of March 2006.
They may be paid electronically (use your full name as a reference on
the payment – to ensure that we correctly credit your membership as this
information appears on our Bank Statement.
Banking Details: First National Bank, Hout Bay Branch (branch
code 204 009), Account name - Residents Association of Hout Bay, Account Number
– 5345 1027 173. If you prefer, payment can also be dropped into our wooden box at the
Library (next to the Hall doors) or posted to our Post Office Box: 27031 Hout
Bay, 7872.
Chairperson, Residents’ Assoc of Hout Bay
Tel: 790-0268, Email: lens@telkomsa.net
Sept 2006
Dear Hout Bay resident
Would you like warning of any of the following possibilities?
- Your neighbour is about to sell their house to a developer who will be bulldozing it and others in your street to construct a block of flats
- The beach is covered in raw sewerage following another failure by the pump station
- Your neighbour is going to subdivide their property and build four more houses
- Imizamo Yethu is going to expand or shrink
- A new hotel is to be constructed right on the beach front
- Safety & Security issues which affect house values and desirability of living in Hout Bay
(R50 per couple, R30 per individual)
Forms from Chairperson or Library.