Strandfontein Pavilion plans tabled

Strandfontein pavilion users, including bathers, fishermen, holiday-makers and residents living close by, have been called to make submissions to develop the coastal resort area.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the City of Cape Town’s allocation of R2 million in the January adjustment budget was for a first planning phase upgrade, which would be followed by further allocations for construction to restore the Strandfontein Pavilion to its former glory (“R2 million for development assessment of Strandfontein Pavilion”, Plainsman, February 23).

The City hosted a stakeholder meeting, which was attended by representatives of various community organisations drawn from Sub-council 17’s database, at Strandfontein community hall, in Cruiser Street, on Wednesday March 30.

Danny Christians, councillor for Ward 79, said he had been fighting for the past 40 years for "coloured folk“ to claim their “sovereign right“ to the coast.

He said in 2002 he and some community members had submitted a plan for the development of the coast, which came at a cost of R126 million.

Mr Christians also had a set of plans which had been submitted to the council in 1976, which he wanted City officials to have a look at.

Deputy mayor and mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews said that all plans had to be resubmitted as a matter of urgency as consultants would be appointed this week.

At last week’s meeting, City officials and consultants out-weighed the number of residents and other parties interested in the upgrade of the dilapidated, white elephant the pavilion had become (“Putting ‘Plain on the map”, Plainsman, December 14, 2016).

Derrick Ongansie, from StrandBay Business Development Forum, said they had been working on proposals to have another Waterfront on the False Bay coast.

He said that much could be achieved if everyone, particularly residents, were able to benefit in terms of job creation and economic development.

Previously Strandfontein resident Igshaan Carstens, founder of Strandfontein Agricultural, Aquamarine and Boating Association (SAAMBA), formerly known as Strandfontein Boating Association (SBA), had spoken to the Plainsman about their plans, including the need for boat slipways, improving ablution blocks and having locals take care of the maintenance and security of infrastructure (“Upset over demolition”, Plainsman, June 3, 2020).

There were also suggestions of a fuel station and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.

Sean Achim, chief executive officer and chairman of Plein Chamber of Commerce, had tabled a plan to grow Mitchell’s Plain’s gross domestic product (GDP) by reframing the area as a coastal town, a place which tourists would frequent. This was proposed at a “Re-Imagining Mitchell’s Plain Summit” hosted by the Mitchell’s Plain United Residents’ Association and the Development Action Group (DAG) three years ago (“Follow-up summit re-examines vision”, Plainsman February Feb 13, 2019).

On the “Roadmap to 2076” marking the centenary of Mitchell’s Plain, Mr Achim details that two piers should be built and frequently used; and that developments should include small commercial fishing boat launch facilities; five decades of hotel and oceanic construction; a thriving fish farming industry; earning and holding position of greatest contributor to the Western Cape’s GDP.

Mr Andrews said a key objective of this project was to determine the extent, boundaries, size, and type or mix of potential future development in this Strandfontein coastal resort area which is focused around the pool, pavilion, parking and lawns.

“To achieve this objective, a detailed assessment is needed of key issues such as infrastructure capacity and plans - for water, waste water, electricity, roads, coastal processes, future sea and wind or sand impacts, environmental issues and development viability.”

He said the project aimed to identify two or three potential future development options that were “possible, realistic, and achievable, including their likely boundaries, size and development mix”.

The first phase of the project ends on June 30, 2022 and is focused only on assessing all of the key issues such as infrastructure capacity, coastal processes, environmental issues, and development viability in the area and formulating appropriate possible development options.

“All other required development processes such as government infrastructure commitments, impact assessments such as an Environmental Impact Assessment and Transport Impact Assessment, site development and business plans, possible rezoning and subdivisions, and comprehensive public participation processes where the community will have the opportunity to submit their views and comments on these proposals, will only occur after the assessment phase,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the City was keen to understand market appetite for the area, in other words, interest from developers from the private sector to get involved.

This project is still at an early stage and an advertisement of a tender for a bidder to develop the area, as identified during the assessment phase, will only go out later this year if all goes as planned.

All organisations registered on the Sub-council 17 database are invited to establish the Strandfontein nodal development community oversight committee at Strandfontein community hall on Wednesday April 13 at 7.30pm. For more information contact Elton Jansen, councillor for Ward 43 and chairman of Sub-council 17, via email EltonEnrique.Jansen@capetown.gov.za or call 062 591 7840.

The City will be hosting a public participation meeting between 6pm and 10pm at Strandfontein community hall, in Cruiser Road, tomorrow Thursday April 7, and at Rocklands community hall, in Park Avenue, on Tuesday April 12. The draft budget will be presented in a simplified manner to ensure that the communities are aware of developments within their areas and are given an opportunity to give input.

For more information call 080 021 2176 or email budget.comments@capetown.gov.za