News from
Residents’Association of
rahb@houtbay.org.za
www.houtbay.org.za
October 2007
Frogs versus foundations? – fauna, flora and folk -
the time is, NOW.
It is remarkable to see a previously alien infested, virtually lifeless piece of land being transformed into a vibrant haven for endangered animals. Such has been the success of the recent Hout Bay Wetland Rehabilitation Project that after the first winter, two endangered species of frog have arrived and left the waters teaming with their tadpoles. It is wonderful that natural systems are so resilient - if you offer them a lifeline.
Unfortunately there is little to offer once
a concrete foundation has been laid and entire areas are developed. The next time you walk, or motor along
Another happy developer, another lost
ecological jewel –
So, here we sit with the left hand restoring areas to their former functional glory, while the right hand signs off plans to put houses in dune fields and wetlands. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) have their hands full, ploughing through the paperwork of ‘for versus against’ arguments. They have impressed upon us (RAHB) that the more people from our community that add their voices to the outcry for a semblance of reason, the better. We have to think beyond the short term windfalls realised by the few developers and fight hard for the preservation of a landscape shaped over the millennia that is fit for fauna, flora and folk. Your voice will be asked for in the near future and we hope you will sing as one.
PENDING DESTRUCTION OF THE BEACH DUNE-FIELDS
It is urgent that the attention of the public is drawn to what is happening regarding the future of the dune-fields between Princess Street and the Beach, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE AND THE DUNES ARE COVERED IN HARD DEVELOPMENT / CONCRETE and lost forever as a natural system and buffer area between the beach and the residential area of Beach Estate!
This existing ‘dune field’ has long since been identified as an area worth conserving – it is the beach-end remnant of the original large dune which, until about 20 years ago, used to stretch from Hout Bay Beach over the nek to Sandy Bay, much of the rest of which has been covered by houses. This remaining dune field forms an important interface between the beach and the residential area and acts not only to absorb much of the energy and sand generated by the southeaster which can blow very intensely for days or even weeks at a time between September and April, but also to maintain an aesthetic and environmental boundary heralding the beach area and creating a unique sense of space and identity that makes Hout Bay the special place that it is.
Specifically, in this current case, an
application was lodged in March this year and comment/objections were invited
on the proposed rezoning of erf 559, situated in the
dunes along
We have asked our Councillor to get the City Council to look at the area as a whole, before any decision is made on erf 559 and other applications, in order to reassess how to deal with this sensitive area, generally. As a result of this, a Motion (see below) was tabled at the Good Hope Subcouncil which will be dealt with at PEPCO – Planning Environment Portfolio Committee.
Good Hope SubCouncil Motion regarding the Beach area was submitted by Cllr Haywood on 20 the 20th September 2007, accepted and passed on to the City’s Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee (PEPCO).
THE MOTION -
Background: A number of
inappropriate hard developments have been proposed recently in the vicinity of
the dune fields between
It is proposed
that:
(a) a Master Plan
for the Hout Bay coastal area including the Beach,
Dunes, River and Estuary and adjacent public and private land be developed as a
matter of urgency, taking into consideration biodiversity conservation,
environmental management, amenity, sport, recreation and landscape plans, in
consultation with interested and affected parties;
(b) all new developments on public land and the sale of
public land in these affected areas in the interim be halted until this plan
has been developed and approved;
(c) the Director:
Spatial Planning be requested to submit a report in the above regard to PEPCO
for consideration
We have not heard yet when the motion will be discussed at PEPCO.
REPORT BACK ON SQUATTERS ON THE BEACH:
Most of the illegal shacks have been removed. It has been established that some of the squatting was due to absentee landlords owning properties on the beach. These landlords have been issued with Notices by the Municipality to have these shacks removed off their properties, or face prosecution. They have also been advised to remove the alien vegetation on their land.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
1. Erf 4870, Karbonkelberg (mountainside above Harbour Road): A background information document (BID) has
been received on the proposed rezoning of a portion of Erf 4870 which is one
of 5 rural erven in this area (each about 21
hectares), all of which are completely
outside the urban edge. The purpose
of the BID is to inform interested and affected parties (IAPs)
about the undertaking of a Basic Assessment (BA) for the proposed project and
it constitutes the beginnings of of an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) as required by law.
This is dealt with by the Provincial Government’s Department of
Environment Affairs and Development Planning
According to the BID, a planning application will also be lodged with
the local authority in parallel with the EIA.
We have not received this. No
doubt this will be a substantial set of documents because such a proposal will
require substantial departures and changes to numerous aspects of legislation
and policy.
Our Association, amongst others, has consistently and vigorously
opposed proposals for development beyond the Urban Edge as they make a mockery
of the Urban Edge Policy which was established with extensive public
participation over a number of years.
There will be a public meeting
at 18h00 on Tuesday 23 October
2007 in the Library Hall (and posters will be displayed
from 17h00) and the deadline
for written comments is Monday 5 November 2007. To register for this process contact Jeremy
Blood, CCA Environmental,
DHILSHAAD SAMAAI
FOR DIRECTOR: PLANNING & BUILDING DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT
Comments and objections may be sent to: The Municipal Manager, Strategy & Planning –Directorate: Town Planning, South Peninsula Region, City of Cape Town, Private Bag X5, Plumstead 7801 or faxed to 021 710-8283 (tel.-8202); attention Mrs D. Samaai. The general telephone number for the SPA is 710-8000.
Report back on previous applications
We attended Goodhope Subcouncil
meeting on the 20th September when our issues (see below) were remanded to be
heard on the 1st October as the Planning Officials were asked to
prepare a proper presentation to the Subcouncil on
VAMP – the Victoria Avenue Management Plan.
Erf 8622 Bethal Rd: application for a temporary land use
departure to permit a B&B
This recommended for approval subject to certain conditions, among these
was to regularise the wooden out buildings.
Erf 8623 Boardwalk,
Erf
Erf 5681 Curves Gym,
The initial application was for a temporary
land use departure to permit an art gallery later changed to permit operation
of a wellness gym for ladies – a franchise called “Curves”. As with the previous application,
this erf, above
Signage proliferation on
“6.5
Urban design and landscaping
(2nd para.)
The current proliferation of advertising
signage should be restricted, with an indication of the location and format of
signage. It is recommended
that signage should not transgress the
current 5 m building line”.
Our Association will be dealing with the Municipality on this issue and businesses
with unlawful signage will be given notice for such signs to be removed.
Chairperson, Residents’ Assoc of
Tel: 790-0268, Email: lens@telkomsa.net
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 beachfront
- Safety
& Security issues which affect house values and desirability of living in
(R50 per couple, R30 per
individual)
Forms from
Chairperson or Library. Please
Note: As from 1st March all Membership fees for the year 2007 were due and
payable. No accounts will be sent out.
Association Banking Details:
First National Bank, Hout Bay Branch (branch code 204 009), Account name
- Residents Association of Hout Bay, Account Number – 5345 1027 173.
Subscriptions
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
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