R1,2bn for cleaner vleis, improved beach facilities, and resilient

11 June 2023

STATEMENT BY THE CITY'S DEPUTY MAYOR AND MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR SPATIAL PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT, ALDERMAN EDDIE ANDREWS

The City of Cape Town's budget for the new financial year, starting 1 July 2023, is the foundation for our efforts in building a City of Hope with a brighter and better future for all of us who live and work here.

In Cape Town we are focusing on the basics: delivering services to all of our residents, ensuring safer communities, growing the economy and ensuring more resilience in times of growing uncertainty.

The City's Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate is responsible for a coastline covering 307km; to preserve our unique and world renowned biodiversity, among which in our 21 nature reserves; education and awareness; to sustainably manage 51 special rating areas and stabilise the 24 Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP) areas; and finally, to assess development and building plan applications while realising the spatial goals as determined by the City's Integrated Development Plan and our recently revised Municipal Spatial Development Framework.

Spatial and environmental planning, together with the execution of the built environment regulatory mandates, must enable and stimulate economic growth, address socio-economic challenges, and assist with spatial transformation. Our budget confirms our focus areas to ensure we deliver on our commitments.

The directorate's capital budget for the next three financial years amounts to over R1,2 billion with the rehabilitation of coastal facilities and vleis, and projects focused on improving Cape Town's resilience to climate change, among the key priorities.

We are committed to improving the quality of our inland waterbodies over time:

For the next financial year starting 1 July 2023, we have committed R17 million for the acquisition of a weed harvester for Rietvlei; and
R49 million over the next three financial years for the lowering of the Zeekoevlei weir to allow a greater draw down of water to assist in improving water quality

Included in the directorate's operational budget for the next three financial years are:

A total of R265 million for the dredging of vleis – R36,5 million in 2023/24; R106 million in 2024/25; and R122,7 million in 2025/26; and
R13,5 million for general rehabilitation of coastal infrastructure

Included in the capital budget over the next three financial years, are projects to improve coastal precincts in dire need of rehabilitation, and improved facilities at some of our most popular beach destinations. These interventions will also improve Cape Town's resilience to the impact of climate change in coastal areas:

R46 million is budgeted for the upgrade of the Monwabisi beachfront on the False Bay coast to improve safety and security
R7,2 million to complete the Fisherman's Lane/Strandfontein boardwalk
R6,8 million to complete the upgrade of the Seaforth beach precinct
Over R128 million is budgeted for the upgrade of the Muizenberg beachfront, one of the most popular destinations along the False Bay coastline. The work includes a new coastal defence structure to mitigate the impact of flooding and rising sea levels
A further R90 million is budgeted for the upgrade of the Table View beachfront on the Atlantic coastline to rehabilitate the dune cordon; refurbish all derelict infrastructure and services; refurbish all amenities; reconfigure existing parking areas along the seaside of Otto du Plessis Drive, and build a 4m wide walkway
R10,1 million is budgeted for completing the dune rehabilitation projects in Fish Hoek and Fleur Park, important buffers to mitigate the impact of storm surges
R124,6 million is budgeted for the upgrade of the Strand sea wall along Beach Road to protect adjacent properties and infrastructure against the impact of storm surges and rising sea levels; and to build a new promenade
R34,4 million is budgeted for a new sea wall at Small Bay, also to protect adjacent properties and infrastructure against the impact of storm surges and climate change, and for the relocation of a sewer main
R37,2 million is budgeted for the second phase of the upgrade of the Sea Point promenade, an iconic destination on the Atlantic coastline

Our nature reserves are home to Cape Town's exceptional biodiversity and provide a refuge to residents and visitors where they can explore nature in all its facets. These are also centres of education and learning. As such:

R105 million is budgeted for new nature reserve education centres in Bracken, Harmony Flats, Zandvlei and Westridge
A further R71,3 million will be spent on the upgrade of reserve infrastructure, among which upgrades to the Edith Stephens Nature Reserve and Helderberg Nature Reserve; and fencing for 11 nature reserves to ensure visitors can keep on enjoying these spaces.

The Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme focuses on areas in need of investment to address crime and grime, and spur economic activity. R194,5 million is budgeted for MURP projects over the next three financial years. These include, among others:

Upgrade of the Bonteheuwel ablutions
Upgrade and rehabilitation of the Goodwood and Parow central business districts
Upgrades of infrastructure in Hanover Park, Mfuleni Hives, Nyanga junction interchange, informal trading spaces in Site B and Site C in Khayelitsha
Upgrades in the Manenberg and Mitchells Plain precincts

Included in the capital budget for the medium-term is R37,7 million for local area priority initiatives (LAPIs), R29 million for the upgrade of Kruskal Avenue in Bellville; R33,7 million for local environment and heritage projects among which the rehabilitation of the Asanda Village wetland; upgrade of the Gordon's Bay milkwood forest; renovations to the Prestwich Memorial Building, replacement of the missing milestones and restoration of the Mowbray horse fountain; implementation of the District Six public realm along Chapel Street; as well as R57 million for the upgrade and refurbishment of the Philippi fresh produce market.

Spending a budget of this magnitude requires forward planning, adaptability, professionalism and hard work. We are committed to deliver on these projects, and I want to thank the officials in this directorate for their dedication, and our communities for their ongoing support and trust.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office