Beachfront residents frustrated over unsightly ‘Jojo farm’
THE Table View Ratepayers’ Association (TVRA) and other property owners in Bloubergstrand were frustrated after trying to engage the City regarding the Table View Beachfront upgrade, and the installation of a “Jojo water tank farm” in front of their properties along the beachfront.
A meeting was held at the Sea Spray complex in Bloubergstrand on Wednesday, where the trustees of a number of complexes in the area joined City officials to discuss their concerns surrounding the City’s plans to restore the Table View beachfront and its dune rehabilitation project.
A particular point of concern was the installation of a water tank farm situated next to a park along Bloubergstrand beach, to support the ongoing dune rehabilitation that formed part of the beachfront upgrade.
Residents were concerned that these tanks had been erected without notification, and that they weren’t included in the original plans for the upgrade, but would now be a permanent feature.
Some of their other concerns were the lack of transparency and public disclosure, lack of traffic calming measures, vagrants and the non-existent or locked/demolished ablution facilities.
Jacoos van Aardt, a trustee of the Sea Spray complex, said they had been back and forth with the City about the location of the tanks, but it was clear that the City wasn’t going to listen.
“The only way we can do anything about it is to go the legal route. It’s like putting up a Jojo water tank farm in the most beautiful place on the beachfront. If you go to Table Mountain, you will look down and see it,” Van Aardt said.
TVRA member Illse Schelhase added that the placement of the water tanks defeated the object of the current upgrade and beautification of the beachfront.
Almur Killian, a property owner in the area, added that they didn’t make any progress at the meeting and it seemed that the City wasn’t prepared to compromise in any way.
Deputy mayor and Spatial Planning and Environment mayco member Eddie Andrews explained that the tank farm was needed to ensure the success of the dune rehabilitation at Table View. It would also minimise the impact of windblown sand on the adjacent infrastructure; irrigation was required in perpetuity.
Andrews said the tanks weren’t specifically referred to as part of the public participation process. Up until very recently, their position wasn’t fixed and they were also considered to be a part of the broader dune rehabilitation project and not the civil works.