Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille’s annual visit to Gordon’s Bay

Saturday 12^th November 2011 : Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club

Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille’s annual visit to Gordon’s Bay at the invitation of the Gordon’s Bay Village Action Group

It is the time of year when we welcome our Mayor Patricia de Lille to the Olde Village of Gordon’s Bay, Temperence Town and the Greater Helderberg Community.

FIND BELOW A SUMMARY OF THE QUESTIONS POSED TO THE MAYOR WITH SUPPLIED ANSWERS:

Responses prepared by Cllrs. Johan Middleton and Stuart Pringle

Question 1

In what way can the Department of Social Development be encouraged to open a permanent office in Gordon’s Bay, with a social worker in attendance 2-3 days per week? Drug and alcohol abuse is at the core of a moral breakdown of family units in areas of Gordon’s Bay.

Answer:

Social development personnel are stationed in the Helderberg – at the Strand offices. Gordon’s Bay forms part of the Helderberg and an additional office in Gordon’s Bay is neither financially possible nor very productive.

As a result of the growing vagrant and street people problem in the Helderberg, which is more severe during the festive season, Councilors (Cllrs Venter. Middleton and Alderman Jespersen) made funds available last year from their ward allocations to employ social workers and case workers for the Helderberg last year already.

A company by the name of OASIS is dealing with these matters. They have three field workers that are currently working in the area. We have had good results from this endeavour and the project is now on-going. The 3 councilors yet again provided funds for this as well as the next financial year. OASIS and Mr Jantjies of the City report back to the Sub Council on a monthly basis.

A CARES outpatient facility based in Somerset West is available to people in the Helderberg and deals with substance abuse matters. Several NGO’s and churches also work in this field in the Helderberg area.

Question 2

Why are owners of empty plots in Gordon’s Bay allowed to have their properties used as building yards and dumps? With weeds growing knee high the general appearance of Gordon’s Bay is that of a neglect and decay.

Answer:

It is the responsibility of every property owner to ensure that his/ her erf is kept tidy. The Council does not “allow” owners to use it as rubbish dumps.

People, including our own Helderberg residents sometimes dump garden and other refuse on vacant land without the owners even being aware of that.

Nevertheless, once the matter is reported to the City’s Health department or to a Councillor a notice is served on the owner to have the area cleared. The owner is given 30 days to clean it up. If it is not done the City appoints a contractor to do so and the owner is billed (and fined).

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Question 3

Special attention should be given to a municipal owned property at 24 Bickley Street, G.Bay, which has been a bone of contention for the past 6 years. Despite the wasteful expenditure of employing security guards, this house is regularly vandalized. Can the City allow such financial waste?

Answer:

This property is being sold via the tender process. Mrs Rachel Schnackenberg and/or Ruby Gelderbloem will be able to give details on the sale and how far the process is.

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Question 4

What is being done by the City to promote Gordon’s Bay as a tourist destination, with special reference to Bikini Beach with its Blue Flag status? Little is done by the City to promote our world renowned beaches from Klippies Bay to Maccassar, compared to the active campaigns relating to the Atlantic seaboard.

Answer:

City of Cape Town and its tourist destinations are dealt with by Cape Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes Unlimited. The Heidelberg, Including Gordon’s Bay, feature well in all their propaganda. The City’s Tourism department should be able to give accurate details of how, when and in which publications Gordon’s Bay, Strand and other beach attractions feature.

The Sub Council chair will be meeting with Cllr Pascoe, Mayco member for tourism specifically to look at the issue of the Stand Jetty in terms of tourism potential and will be discussing other tourist issues as well, such as promoting Gordons Bay as a tourist destination.

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Question 5

The Helderberg, particularly Gordon’s Bay has unique mountain trails. What is the city doing with regards maintaining the state of these trails?

Answer:

These trails are managed by the Bio-Diversity Department. Mrs Hayley Wittridge should be able to give more information on the condition and how it is maintained.

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Question 6

Both entrances into Gordon’s Bay from the N2 as well as from the Strand (R44) are in a state of decay. The shoulders on the side of these roads have “free trade” status. For years the civic organizations in Gordon’s Bay have objected to this wholly unacceptable situation, to no avail. The area is overrun by illegal traders, job-seekers and vagrants. With no public amenities, it has become an unbearable situation for residents with properties in close proximity of these “open sewers.” Residents pay rates and taxes, whilst they live in fear of their properties being vandalized and polluted. The Village Action Group has on numerous occasions met on site with City officials and Metro Police officials. These activities are being perceived by the community as By-law transgressions, and should therefore be addressed as such. We appeal to the Mayor to assist us in changing this unacceptable status.

 

Answer:

Vagrants and job seekers:

Vagrants – addressed in the Response 1. However it must be noted that residents of and tourists to Gordon’s Bay aggravate the situation by contributing to the problem. Vagrants will not come back to beg if they are not getting any donations financial or food and clothing. The case workers reported that vagrants tell them that this area is a gold mine they make enough money because residents of the Helderberg are friendly and generous. We have started a ‘Give Responsibly’ campaign in our areas Businesses and residents alike should rather donate to NGO’s who assist vagrants to get back into society rather than give them R5 just to get rid of them.

 

Job Seekers:

This is problem all over the City. The Helderberg i.e. Somerset West Strand, Gordon’s Bay, Macassar and even Lwandle and Nomzamo have job seekers on just about each corner. Social Development is busy with the help of various organisations to establish a skills centre where job seekers can obtain skills and potential employers can recruit them from. Mrs Hilda Oosthuisen will be able to supply more detail. An Organisation ‘Men On The Side Of The Road’ together with Rotary investigated the building of such centre a few years ago. Land in Chris Nissan park was identified – unfortunately this land belonged to a private trust and could it not be used. It was then shifted to council owned property in the Strand which is known as the Eagle Bar. Illegal occupants and inappropriate political interference (ANC) derailed the project. However Mrs Oosthuizen can inform you of new developments and how far the process is now.

It should also be mentioned that yet again employers are just as much to blame for the situation than the jobless people that stand on street corners. Too often it’s an employer looking for casual workers seen stopping and picking up job seekers.

 
Informal Trading R44 (Faure Marine Drive and Sir Lowry’s Pass Road.

Informal trading is governed by National Legislation and the City cannot forbid informal trading altogether. Cllrs Venter and Middleton have campaigned for years to stop and remove Informal Traders that trade along these roads. It would appear that the former municipalities Gordon’s Bay Strand and Somerset West never “regulated” Informal Trading. Although they demarcated and allowed some bays they never “gazetted” other areas as “non-trading zones”. Cllr Venter submitted motions and the Helderberg trading areas are reviewed and will be regulated and gazetted in due course. By laws cannot be effectively imposed if these areas are not officially declared “non-trading zones”

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Question 7

Huge costs were incurred with 2 forensic investigations:

Despite the costs to the tax payer, these reports have not beer released to the residents of the Helderberg. Why are we still awaiting the outcomes?

Answer:

(a) The sale of part of the Temperance Town Grave Yard to developers.

This is a long outstanding issue. The former Mayor called for the forensic investigation which was completed some time ago. Mayor Plato appointed Ald. Watkins to chair a committee of relatives of the deceased whose graves were allegedly disturbed. The forensic report is within the Mayor’s office and the mayor should decide whether it is in public interest to release the full report.

This matter was also reported on during the last subcouncil meeting and the sub council sent the item back with a request for further details from the City’s legal department.

(b) The forensic investigation into illegal developments condoned by the Helderberg Department Planning and Building Division.

The former Mayor and Ald Nieuwoudt ordered a forensic investigation which initiated by allegations of foul play relating to 177 Beach Road amongst other in Gordon’s bay. The investigation was completed after – the Mayor should decide if the report should be made public. Mrs Cheryl Walters can give full details in this regard.

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Question 8

The process followed by the Helderberg Municipality regarding “notice of applications for deviations”, the sub-council process in case of objections and the appeal process to the Western Cape Government is often flawed. The process of public / civilian participation in these matters is a Constitutional requirement. Yet it would appear that the City favours development at all and any cost, regardless of the negative effect of this policy on property values as well as peace of place for owners.

Answer:

The City follows national legislation in this regard.

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Question 9

The role of building inspectors is often questioned, considering the blatant violations of the Zoning Scheme Regulations. The residents question the responsibility and powers of building-plan / building-inspectors in an environment where developers simply overrule building regulations with impunity.

Answer:

This is a generalization and if there are specific examples these can be dealt with.

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Question 10

The Helderberg urgently needs an ombudsman: Politically independent Resident in the Helderberg Direct access to the Mayoral office.

The Helderberg was incorporated into the Metropolitan City of Cape Town despite our geographically closer ties with the Winelands Municipality. We request that our new Mayor seriously considers a position for an ombudsman for this area, under the auspices of the City of Cape Town.

Answer:

The City has an ombudsman’s office. Providing one for each geographic area is possible but will add to the rates account.

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Question 11

Gordon’s Bay and the Strand are regular tourist destinations in the City’s spatial development plan and the access routes of both these towns through Broadway Boulevard and Sir Lowry’s pass Road are both single lane roads the latter being a country road causing severe congestion over weekends and seasonal holiday periods.

Is the City aware of this, and the view of the City’s future residential development being planned, what is the City going to do with regards to these roads in this area?

Answer:

Both these roads are partly the responsibility of the Province. Funding is available on the three year budget to upgrade Broadway Boulevard. Sir Lowry’s Pass Road and proposed traffic circle at Faure Marine / Sir Lowry’s Pass Road intersection are in the planning stages. Mr Dennis de Villiers can provide more accurate information.

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Question 12

What is City planning for Gordon’s Bay with regards to high density housing, taking into consideration that Gordon’s Bay is in the buffer zone of the Koegelberg Reserve?

Answer:

(none)

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Question 13

ls the Mayor aware of the proposed quarry on the Firlands Farm area which is at the entrance to Gordon’s Bay and this proposed quarry will be built within the buffer zone against the Hottentots Holland Mountains?

Answer:

The ward councilor and the City strongly oppose such mining operation: Mr Daan Visser of Planning within the Helderberg will be able to inform the Mayor how far processing of the application is.

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Question 14

Is the Mayor aware of the lack of schooling for the high school children in the Gordon’s Bay area, thus parents have to use own transport to transport children to schools in Somerset West area, causing major congestion on our already inadequate road structure. Can the Mayor tell us what is being planned to alleviate this problem?

Answer:

This is a Provincial matter.

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Question 15

The Helderberg is to be severely impacted spatially by the proposed Spatial Development Framework. The Helderberg is to be subjected to extensive urban edge amendments as well as planned intensive land use of undeveloped areas. The total area planned for new development is in the region of 23 square kilometres. The Helderberg is to experience growth to a magnitude equivalent to a whole new town, equivalent in size to the whole of Somerset West but exacerbated by added intensification and densification.

QUOTE: “our sound financial management has also seen us balance a number of important priorities. These include: ensuring that we upgrade our ageing bulk infrastructure; investment in critical projects to build an inclusive city such as the IRT;” -: END QUOTE

FROM THE SPEECH BY EXECUTIVE MAYOR ALDERMAN PATRICIA DE LILLE AT COUNCIL MEETING: 27 JULY 2011

 

Bulk Infrastructure

Based on complaints from the community, there is absolutely no question that numbers of areas in the Helderberg district have severe sewer constraints, further confirmed by the City’s own official documentation. They include Sir Lowry’s Pass, the Gordon’s Bay / Firlands development area, Somerset West, Gordon’s Bay-Bikini Beach and Macassar new development areas. Complaints by communities about sewage overflows at Waste Water Treatment Plants have been going on for years.

Bulk Water infrastructure failings, especially in established areas of the Helderberg has become alarmingly endemic, due to the system being approximately 50+ years old. This not only has implications on the well-being of the residents but has an extreme impact on our very scarce water resources. As an example, due to the regular frequency of burst water mains serving one area in Somerset West (Golden Acre), it has been suggested that the area change its name to ‘The Fountains’. The prevalence of burst water mains are however not just confined to this specific area as these failings are experienced with unacceptable frequency throughout the Helderberg.

Consequently we are not seeing the required level of intervention. To make it worse these bulk infrastructure failings and limitations have not dampened the increasing development, intensification and densification in these impacted areas. This flies in the face of the all too often used quotation that “development is infrastructure led”. A moratorium on all new development until the infrastructure has been sufficiently upgraded would be the responsible thing to implement.

How is the City addressing this extremely dire situation and preventing it from getting worse?

 Answer:

The City has no intention of placing a moratorium on development but Cllr Simms did refer to the use of developer’s contributions to address the situation as well as the current budgeting process which is geared towards economic growth through infrastructure led development. Already, for instance the sewerage system in Gordon’s Bay is on the budget and is being developed.

Just a reminder, much of the infrastructure in the Helderberg has hot been replaced in 55 years! Not sure what the councillors back then were doing.

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Question 16

IRT

In 2008 the Helderberg was to fall under Phase 1 of the Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) system roll-out. The City now tells us that the Helderberg will now only see this service in 10 to 12 years.

Why is the Helderberg not seeing a similar level of services as enjoyed by other areas of the Metro?

On what basis does the City class itself as an “inclusive city”?

Answer:

Ald Walker answered this one when Mr Smith posed it at the meeting referred to above.

The IRT had to start somewhere and the decision was made to start up the West Coast which doesn’t even have a railway. According to Minister Robin Carlisle, who spoke two weeks ago in Somerset West, Integrated transport includes all forms of public transport, including rail, taxi’s and busses and rail can carry far more passengers than busses at less cost to the environment. The Helderberg is getting the same levels of service as other areas of the metro, but the City had to start somewhere. The City is inclusive because all areas will be covered by the IRT but because of budgetary constraints all development can’t happen at the same time in every part of the City.

The money being used is taxpayers’ money, not rates and the residents up the West Coast also pay taxes.

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