The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department is hard at work on a project to green a new low cost housing settlement in Kewtown.

Once complete, the development, which is known as Statice Heights, will feature ground cover, trees and shrubs. The plants will not only improve the residents’ quality of life by beautifying the area, but will also protect it from the effects of climate change. The department also plans to help residents plant food gardens.

Statice Heights comprises 270 low cost houses funded via the National Housing subsidy. The units are built on highly erodible sandy soil, which makes them vulnerable to flooding and excessive erosion. The situation has been exacerbated by the lack of greening interventions during construction.

Each household in the development will be given a tree, shrubs and lawn. Planting the lawn and shrubs around the houses will increase the soil’s ability to withstand erosion and protect the foundations. The lawn will also limit the rain water run-off during winter and the chances of the sandy soil being blown into storm water drains.

An additional 300 indigenous trees will also be planted throughout the development to increase its aesthetic appeal.

Residents will be trained in how to use the various greening mechanisms efficiently, such as how to harvest rain water by redirecting it from the houses’ roofs. This will enable them to support their own home food gardens. They will also be trained to become more aware of the value of the environment. Some of the residents have been trained in solar water heater installation and maintenance, and are therefore better equipped to find jobs in the industry.

A flourishing Greening Committee has already been set up with the aim of establishing a community food garden. Committee members will be able to assist their neighbours in planting deciduous and indigenous trees. Even the children have participated by collecting litter and helping to keep their streets clean.

The initiative, which has thus far cost R200 000, may be rolled out to other appropriate low cost housing settlements .

Wherever possible, the department has backed other greening initiatives that enable communities to be more resilient to the effects of climate change, such as the Smart Living Handbook, which is available via its website (click here for easy access).