New public transport hub for Dunoon
THE CITY of Cape Town has announced major plans for its minibus-taxi facility that are expected to transform the area of Dunoon into a well-developed neighbourhood.
The City shared with Dunoon leadership its vision for the development of a new neighbourhood opposite Dunoon, as well as details about the upgrading of the minibus-taxi facility in Dumani Road, during a workshop at the Civic Centre on Saturday.
“I believe that these two infrastructure projects have the potential to turn Dunoon into a well-developed neighbourhood, and that residents will reap the fruits of our investment for years to come,” the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Brett Herron said.
He added that the City will commence with the upgrade of the minibus-taxi facility within the next two months, if all goes as planned.
Herron said they expect the new public transport hub to be fully operational within the next two years. “And once completed, residents of Dunoon will have access to a first-class facility which will make their commuting more convenient.
“As for the new neighbourhood which we intend to establish across from Dunoon, work is under way to prepare the land for an integrated human settlement development. We are extremely excited about these projects. I am also looking forward to further engagements with the local community once the planning process for the new neighbourhood has been finalised,” Herron said.
The open land is situated on the other side of the N7 highway across from Dunoon and north of Richwood.
The City’s Transport and Urban Development Authority will spend over R42 million on the upgrade of the minibus-taxi facility on the corner of Potsdam and Dumani Roads.
“Nearly 8 000 commuters make use of the minibus-taxi facility on weekdays, from which they travel to destinations such as Bellville, Nyanga, Centre Point, Witsand and Wolwerivier. The taxis operate from an open piece of land with no public transport infrastructure and facilities. During the winter months the area turns into a mud bath, and commuters have to queue in wind, rain and sun with no protection against the elements.”
He said the purpose of the project was to convert the minibus-taxi facility into a public transport interchange.