Remove acacia trees, resident suggests
It was suggested by a Mossel Bay resident on a community Facebook site last week that the municipality remove the acacia (rooipitjie) trees alongside Louis Fourie Road, in Dias, so that criminals would not have a hiding place.
A number of pedestrians and cyclists have been robbed at knife point on the stretch of Louis Fourie Road skirting Boland Park and Dias.
Mossel Bay Advertiser asked the municipality if it would remove the acacia trees, which are an alien invader plant species.
The municipality pointed out that Louis Fourie was a provincial road, falling under provincial government, not the municipality, and the rail reserve was under the authority of Transnet, which immediately limited any action that could be taken by the municipality.
It noted: "The road is currently being upgraded. During the upgrade and the construction work, vegetation has been removed in the area in question.
"The upgrade includes sidewalks next to Louis Fourie Road, within the road reserve. The sidewalks will stop on the southern side of Park Crescent at Boland Park/The Lofts apartment.
Legal framework
The municipality stated that it could only remove listed alien vegetation species in public areas under its jurisdiction within the legal framework provided.
"This includes the submission of detailed environmental plans to the relevant provincial and national departments.
"According to the municipality’s Spatial Development Framework (SDF), adopted by council, the area between The Point and Hartenbos is identified as a tourist activity core, where the establishment of tourist activities should be prioritised.
“The adopted SDF provides for, among others, the establishment of a boardwalk from The Point to Hartenbos. However, public-private partnerships are vital to ensure efficiency and funding availability.”
Municipal manager Colin Puren said: “The municipality, as always, is willing to engage in discussions with any departments or private entities to ensure the community thrives in a safe, harmonious environment.”