Email from Godfrey van Wyk dated 28 January 2019

Kindly note that the project is currently with Property Optimisation and Rationalisation. We have commenced with the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations and to date we have completed the mandatory Internal Circulation and the Market Valuation. As part of the in-principle-approval-to-dispose-of regulations the property will be advertised on Friday, 15th February 2019 for public comment (30 day period).

Where after, the sub-council, IPAC and Council report submissions will follow.

The Supply Chain Management Process for the disposal of the property will follow once the Council’s-in-principle-approval-to-dispose is in place.

Email from Godfrey van Wyk dated 11/03/19 refers:

I am fully aware of the public meeting that was held with the community and that there is a requirement for a portion of the premises to be used for a skills/community centre. Property Management are currently in the process of obtaining Council’s in-principle-approval to dispose of the property. As part of the aforesaid process we are awaiting the market value for the property. Once market value has been obtained we need to advertise the property. We will meet with Councillor Isaacs, once we are close to putting the tender out for the property, to determine the best way of achieving the community request.

Response from Helene Wilson dated 26 March 2019 refers:

A meeting will be held on 9 April 2019 to discuss the way forward regarding the property, erf 4374, Cnr Albatross and Link Roads, Macassar.

Email from Franz Von Moltke dated 28 March 2019 refers:

This property is definitely affected by the floodlines indicated in blue.
Not just that, also with the high hazard zone indicated in red.
Below is an aerial picture with levels (contours) on it.
The second picture is with 1:50 and 1:100 year flood levels.
Take note where the 10m amsl contour is and compare with the levels indicated on the bottom plan.
1:50 = 9,66m 1:100 = 10.01m
The flooding is coming from 4 sides indicated below during extreme flood events.
A is from the combined Kuils River/Eerste River that will push over the road into Macassar.
B is from the Eerste River that will push over the Macassar/Kramat Road
C is from the Sitari side
D is from the Moddergat Spruit side
Excuse the pun, but a lot of water will have to flow into the ocean before the floodlines will look like the last picture below.

Response from Siwakhile Mba dated 29 March 2019 refers:

Franz: We did circulate to the Water & Sanitation Department and received ‘No Objections’ but it’s clear that your department is massive & diverse, apologies for that.

Just for the record and my ease of reference in the event a developer asks:

How does the impacts of the floodlines affecting this Erf differ from the already built up area of Macassar that appears to be affected by the same floodlines.
Are there any measures that a developer could introduce to mitigate the effects of this?

Response from Franz von Moltke dated 1 April 2019 refers:

When Macassar was established different rules were applied.
Then (long long ago, 1980’s) no development was allowed within/below the 1:20 yr floodline.
Subsequently it changed to no development to be allowed within/below the 1:50 yr floodline.
Then in 2009 we added another 15% climate change to the equation.
So that is the new rules that apply.

Infilling the property will affect the properties surrounding this site.
It is not impossible, but major modelling studies will have to be done.
Engineers will have to ascertain what the impact will be.
Personally I think you will just waste your money, as the erf is also affected by the High Hazard Zone.(Red bits)

This branch already have a plan of action in place for the Greater Macassar area, BUT !!!
• Detail Planning must still be done
• EIA approval must be obtained
• Budget must be sourced (± R400 million)
• The last picture in the email trail below indicates the final solution where this property will not be affected by the Kuils/Eerste River anymore.

So there is no quick fix here. (Unfortunately)

Email from Siwakhile Mba dated 4 April 2019 refers:

During our investigation and branch circulation on Erf 4374 Macassar, we have established that the site is located within the 1:50year & 1:100year floodlines. Furthermore, the site is said to be located within a High Hazard Zone.
We have extensively engaged the responsible department (Water and Sanitation: Catchment & Stormwater & River Management ) for any mitigating factors/alternatives and implications. According to the advice and the information received, the site displays minimal viability potential for disposal & the subsequent development.

Without these incumbents, the site represents a huge potential for the area & people of Macassar. Property Management acknowledges that it would be unfortunate if the site is undevelopable in its entirety, hence we intend to further consult and seek more information and precedents on similar cases around the City.

Given the above, it is our considered opinion that the proposed disposal and development of the site be held in abeyance until the plan of action by Water and Sanitation: Catchment & Stormwater & River Management for the greater Macassar area is finalized & more information and precedents on similar cases is gathered.
For detailed information, please see subjoined e-mail correspondence.

P/S: Helen: Please advise if the scheduled meeting of the 09/04/2019 will still take place, given the above-mentioned information.

Activity Day Meeting: 18 September 2019

• 
  Cllr Isaacs stated gave a background on the motion and stated that the community of Macassar went through a public participation want the land to be used for a multipurpose centre and unfortunately this won’t happen because the according to the Catchment Stormwater & River Management Department the particular area lies in a flood plain.  He said the community of Macassar is not happy about this that all of sudden they receive this information that Macassar is lying in a flooding area and yet a housing project will be implemented soon that is also lying in a flood plain and cannot understand this and asked that the official explain and clarify the reasoning behind this.  He said the land is lying vacant and overgrown, people being mugged and a murder took place.

 

• 
  Franz von Moltke responded that Council made a resolution in 2013 to include climate change into its policy and they added water into this whole system.  The City is busy revising the policy regarding the flood line.  He said the property covered in a flood line and if they want to develop the area then they need to look to appoint someone and filling up the area and how it will affect other people.  Legislation will come into play and according to NEMA; you not allowed developing in a flood line and this is a technical point. He said they can appoint someone to look at the impact if they should develop the property and what happens if you do get a flood plain and build something and fill it up and then someone else get flooded that shouldn’t have been flooded and this is part of the reasons. He said that it is not a big no that you can never do anything.  Not sure when they will receive funding from the Council to upgrade the whole system of Eersteriver/Kuilsriver area from Baden Powell Drive all the way through to the ocean and from the N2 to the ocean of Eersteriver, then these areas will be outside the flood line.  He said all these will be mitigating factors when they look at the application and that he cannot say go ahead and develop then he would be making a mistake by saying so. They do not have the capacity currently to do it and their term tender for this type of work will only be in March 2020 to appoint consultants to do the study.

 

• 
  He further stated that they have done the preliminary study for the whole of Macassar and the flood line because they saw this problem beforehand and looked at different solutions.  He said the current solution cost between R360 million and R400 million to upgrade the whole of the river that can develop most of Sandvlei between Baden Powell and then Macassar would be out of the flood line and there won’t be flood problems.  It will take a few years but a detailed study needs to be done on it.

 

• 
  The Chairperson suggested that this item be removed and that Cllr Isaacs submit a new motion indicating that the Department appoint a consultant to do the investigation on the whole of the Macassar area.

 

RESOLVED

 

• 
  That item be removed at the Subcouncil meeting dated 19 September 2019 and that Cllr Isaacs submit a new motion indicating that the Department appoint a consultant to do the investigation on the whole of the Macassar area regarding the flood lines.

 

• 
  That the item REMAIN on the agenda.

Activity Day Meeting: 20 November 2019



RESOLVED



That the item be REMOVED and that Cllr Isaacs submit a new motion indicating to the Catchment Stormwater & River Management Department to appoint a consultant to do the investigation on the whole of the Macassar regarding the flood lines.