Denneoord group housing proposal
The Friends of the Kat river are concerned about an application for a group housing development on the edge of the Kat river in Denneoord.
George Municipality received an application from Adderley Development (Pty) Ltd from Cape Town for the rezoning of erf 231 from single residential to general residential (group housing). The application is for developing 20 houses, a private street and three private open areas, with access from Adderley Street.
According to Jan Vrolijk, the town planner who is handling the application, an environmental impact study has been launched and interested and affected parties will have the opportunity to comment.
The process will be advertised. “The town planning process is also currently running and this is also a public participation process where input from affected parties is being invited.”
The proposal is available at the planning department of the George Municipality. Objections was due Monday, 14 May.
Inge Redelinghuys, member of the Friends of the Kat river and a nearby resident, said erf 231 has a small area of wetland that slowly feeds the Kat river and developing the land will have a negative impact. “It is necessary to leave a green lung leading down the Kat river into the Kat river nature conservation area to provide a natural path for wildlife. The Kat river is coming under more and more pressure from human development and leaving wetland areas intact helps the river cope with this pressure. Wetlands purify water naturally,” she said, referring to recent newspaper articles of sewage leaks along the Kat river. “More houses upstream will put more pressure on the failing infrastructure.”
The 100-year floodline cuts into some of the proposed stands nearest to the river.
Average plot sizes are between 253m2 and 408m2.