Spatial planning budget prioritises health of vleis, coastline, resilience to climate change

18 April 2023

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

In November last year, at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the City of Cape Town was granted accreditation as an international Wetland City. This is a huge honour and recognition of the best-practice work that the City has undertaken in implementing innovative policies and plans to ensure Cape Town's wetlands are protected, rehabilitated and restored.

The Directorate for Spatial Planning and Environment's capital budget and operational budget reflect our responsibility and commitment to, over time, improve the quality of our inland waterbodies.

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. 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, 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.

The City's proposed budget for the 2023/24 financial year is available for public comment until 5 May 2023, and will serve before Council on 31 May 2023 for approval.

I encourage residents to scrutinise the budget because the expenditure indicates our priorities for the next three years. Please submit your comments, as this is public money to be spent in the interest of all who live and work in Cape Town.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office

Wetland environment