Residents fight to protect natural beauty of an area
Hout Bay residents show their mettle in resisting unlawful development, writes AnnaMarie Smith
BY CHALLENGING proposed developments that infringe on the conservation and protection of its natural environment and urban edges The Hout Bay Residents Association ( RAH) has limited precedents that could affect the area negatively.
A vigilant watchdog of its suburb, its intentions are to protect residential areas from over-densification and the natural habitat from pollution and destruction.
The latest infringement on SA National Parks (Sanparks) property on Chapman’s Peak, land supposedly protected by environmental laws to retain its natural state, has resulted in private company Entilini gaining development rights to build a R54m luxury office block on this prime site.
Hout Bay residents awaiting the outcome of an application to halt construction of this development last weekend marched in protest to boost public awareness of this issue. RAH, no newcomer to legal battles against private development in national parks, initiated objections to private development on Chapman’s Peak as far back as 2008. This took place during Marthinus van Schalkwyk’s term as Minister of Environmental Affairs. His approval of the private development was followed by objections from the RAH that such development on SANParks property should only take place though an act of Parliament and following a complete environmental impact assessment.
Last week SA National Parks CEO David Mabunda responded publicly by stating his support for this development and was quoted in the Cape Times and Mail and Guardian as viewing this pocket of land in a quarry measuring about 2 100m² “to hold no significant biodiversity value, and that such a development is in the interest of the public”. Entilini management say the office block, which will have views of Table Mountain National Park across Hout Bay and Sentinel Peak, serve board meetings and ongoing training. Yet the HRA says this has come despite a number of alternative prime commercial property options available for occupation in the centre of Hout Bay, which, if occupied by Sanparks, would be both in the interest of the public and the local economy.
Commenting on the RAH’S ongoing battles, chairman Len Swimmer said last week that a place as beautiful and environ- mentally rich as Hout Bay is governed by a double edged sword, the only way in ensuring its longterm survival.
Swimmer said: “The RAH is not against development but only against inappropriate development not in the interest of the Hout Bay residents and its environment.”
He said that the associations' actions have resulted in a number of positive outcomes, such as last year’s agreement with Hangberg residents living on Sanparks property to move off the urban edge lower down the mountain above Hout Bay harbour and to free firebreaks essential for the safety of residents and the environment.
Another RAH victory was in the protection of the Disa River following legal action against Beach Club for filling in the nearby wetland in April last year.
Steps taken by the City of Cape Town resulted in the in-filling of the wetland of the Disa River in Hout Bay to be stopped, with the developer agreeing to comply with the city’s directive for remedial steps to restore the wetland.
One of the most complex issues for the RAH is the overdensification of local township Imizamo Yethu in the centre of Hout Bay. Current issues under scrutiny include shack farming and a proposed 19,8m service road parallel to the Hout Bay main road, adjacent to Imizamo Yethu, to be built, with taxi ranks and informal trading stalls.
This parallel road will be 10m wider than the present Main Road and wider than Victoria Ave Drive over Suikerbossie.
Swimmers says the road will obliterate most of the trees lining this picturesque route that gained historical and heritage value since it was named the Hout valley or Wood Bay by the Dutch.
RAH has proposed the road be constructed through the centre of the township instead.
Hout Bay has a tuna, snoek and crayfish industry at its busy harbour, with a yacht club and several restaurants close by.