MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 181/ 2010
11 MARCH 2010


The City of Cape Town’s 2010 team will be meeting with representatives of residents’ associations in the Green Point area this evening to inform them of the proposals for the redevelopment of the Green Point Park.

Date: Thursday 11 March

Time: 17:30

Venue: Ray Alexander Boardroom, 6th Floor, Podium Block, Civic Centre

All media are welcome to attend and observe the briefing.

The City’s technical specialists will be available after the meeting to answer questions.

Copies and images of the proposed concept document are available on request – please respond to this e-mail to do so.

* Background information appears below.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS THUS FAR

Who proposed the development of the park?

• The initiative to rationalise the strategic and publicly owned Green Point Common was started as part of a pro-active Forward Spatial Planning process in 1995. This culminated in the final adoption and approval of the Green Point Urban Park Concept Plan in June 2009 by the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs & Development Planning (MEC) as well as the accommodation of the new Cape Town Stadium within the park. The approved Green Point Urban Park Site Development Plan and related Landscape Master Plan is currently being implemented in a phased manner at a total cost of approximately R35 million (pre- and post-the World Cup event) and is to be completed by July 2011.
• The Green Point Park (12.5 ha Public Park) is a social/public space within the greater Green Point Urban Park (105 ha Green Point Common).
• In 1995 a Public Participation Forum with over 90 organisations within the Metro area was set up with a professional facilitator. A 2.5 year period of consultation produced a Concept Plan to rationalise the Common. The Development Framework and Concept Plan were approved by Council in October 1998.
• In January 2007 the MEC issued a Record of Decision (ROD) stating that the Cape Town Stadium would be located on the Metropolitan Golf Course on the Green Point Common (which was zoned as Public Open Space).
• In January 2007 the MEC approved the Rezoning of a portion of the remainder of Erf 1056 to a Community Facilities Zone (in order to accommodate a multi-purpose stadium). The MEC issued an ROD stating that architectural and landscape guidelines should be identified together with a site development plan for the Common. A further requirement was that a formal metropolitan public participation process (PPP) be followed using a facilitator before approval is given. The GP Development Framework Concept Plan was used as the basis to identify a Draft Site Development Concept Plan (Plan A) which was used during the formal PPP.
• From March to May 2007 the formal PPP was conducted with extensive advertising and communication throughout the Cape Metro area. Public meetings were held at Atlantis, Woodstock, Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain, Muizenberg, Athlone, Green Point, Strand, Parow, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontain and Bo-Kaap.
• In March 2007 consent was granted for a ‘Place of Assembly’ and a ‘Place of Instruction’ on the portion zoned for community facilities.
• In July 2007 Council adopted Architectural and Landscape Guidelines and Concept Plan A (SDP).
• In December 2007 the MEC approved the Architectural and Landscape Guidelines but rejected Concept Plan A, necessitating the identification of a modified SDP (Concept Plan B) which interested and affected parties overwhelmingly rejected. This led to the final adoption of Concept Plan C Site Development Plan by Council in May 2008 and approval by the MEC in June 2009. This plan includes the Green Point Park.
• The MEC’s ROD and approved Concept Plan C drives all the detailed planning and design of the various precincts. It is undertaken by a consortium of specialist stadium and urban park consultants in a formal design review process. There is ongoing interaction with the interested and affected parties (including the ratepayer associations in the vicinity: Green Point Residents & Ratepayers Association, Mouille Point Resident & Ratepayers Association, Sea Point Bantry Bay RRA and Waterkant Ratepayers Association).

What role does SAIL Stadefrance play in the proposed Green Point Park?

• SAIL Stadefrance (stadium operator) is the leaseholder of the stadium and Green Point Park (GPP) and acts as an agent for the management and operation of these metropolitan amenities.
• The Operator is to pay a nominal rental of R100 during the lease period. In addition to the rental, the operator is obliged to maintain the leased area, including structures in “clean, tidy and sanitary condition”, take responsibility for providing security and for payment of all utility service charges.
• The public park will be open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year except when there is an event. No fee will be charged for the use of the public facility. It is envisaged that a fee will be charged for special events within the park.

What public participation has been undertaken?

• A formal public participation process as stipulated by the ROD issued by the MEC was followed before the Concept Plan C was adopted by the City and approved by the MEC.
• The City followed all legal/statutory advertising processes.
• The site development plan has been approved and is being implemented
• There is currently an application for the removal of a schedule condition, temporary departure and consent.
• The advertisement for comment appeared on Friday 05 March 2010. The comment period closes on 06 April 2010. The public are encouraged to comment.
• The application deals with the deletion of the schedule 2 condition to allow for recreation uses within the park, departures to allow for trading (informal and craft) and film shoots within the stadium, stadium forecourt and Green Point Park and consent use to accommodate activities relating to the functionality of a Metropolitan amenity and public park. All of this is in terms of the MEC’s Record of Decision and approval of the site development plan.

Why is the park being developed?

• The Common was granted by the Union Government to the City of Cape Town (TITLE DEED CF of 31, 28 September 1923) as vested land, to be retained as Commonage, used for general public recreation purposes and sports usage.
• When the Land Use Planning Ordinance and City’s Zoning Scheme came into operation, the zoning for the Common was Public Open Space Use: “for use of playing fields”, omitting the Recreation Use as originally intended in the Title Deed condition. This anomaly now needs to be rectified.
• In order to make the Park a ‘living, vibrant, busy and safe one’ as found in many cities in the world, this condition has to be lifted to accommodate a range of recreational uses. This is also the vision of the MEC and the City. A public park which does not allow activities cannot function as a public amenity and will not attract visitors.
• The City proposes implementation of a compliance management system (CMS) adopted by Council in December 2009 to environmentally monitor all future activities within the broader Green Point Urban Park.

What kind of organised events will take place at the park?

• The envisaged themes within the park could include an environmental park (bio-diversity garden, water-wheel, worm farms, wetland park, and water-wise garden); sustainable park (eco-centre and training facilities); learning park (training and skills transfer re: eco- centre and Green Futures training facility); play park (passive & recreational, disabled tot lot, and outdoor gymnasium); art park (exhibitions, specialist lectures and training); adventure park (cycling, outdoor climbing wall, and jungle gyms); events park (smaller outdoor concerts, farmers’ fresh produce market, crafts, dog shows, and flower shows); heritage park (Fort Wynyard, artifact exhibitions, etc).
• Facilities envisaged could include a tea garden, Eco Café, biodiversity nursery, auditorium, events, bicycle hiring, and craft markets. These uses are strictly park-related and will be carefully managed and monitored using the CMS.
• Events could include the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, Big Walk and Rugby Tens. Again, these will be carefully managed through the CMS.

How will revenue generated for the events be managed?

• Income-streams generated will be used for ongoing management and operational costs to ensure its functional and environmental sustainability.

What budget will fund the maintenance of the park?

• Operators’ proceeds and maintenance obligation.

Additional information

• The urban park is likely to be one of the City’s great metropolitan assets for use by all of the city’s residents and visitors.
• The City is committed to an ongoing, transparent, all-inclusive planning process during both the implementation and management

END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT
CITY OF CAPE TOWN


MEDIA QUERIES:
PETER VAN HEERDEN
CO-ORDINATOR 2010: PLANNING
TEL: 021 400 9351 CELL: 076 803 9614

NICHOLAS WHITELEY
2010 MEDIA CONSULTANT
TEL: 021 400 3192 CELL: 082 4100 797