| Two weeks left for comments on draft Code of Conduct for Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve | Two weeks left for comments on draft Code of Conduct for Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Focus%20on%20fynbos%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Last month, the City of Cape Town extended the commenting period for the draft Code of Conduct for the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve (WANR) to 31 October 2024 | <span><p>The WANR is one of the most popular destinations in the Western Cape for recreational activities on the dunes, among which 4X4 off-roading, quad biking, and sandboarding, entry of which is controlled through a permit system. </p><p>Since 2019 to 2023, however, the City has recorded a disconcerting 1 501% increase in the number of visitors and permits issued:<br>• The total visitor numbers increased from 4 244 in 2019/20 to 67 980 in 2022/23, or over 1 501%<br>• Quad biking and off-road motorcycles increased from 4 387 to 51 972 or nearly 1 085%<br>• Sandboarding visitors increased from 4 057 to 4 827, or nearly 19%<br>• Off-road vehicle activity increased from 3 369 to 5 151, or nearly 52%<br>• The busiest months are December, January, March, and April</p><p>Given the exceptional increase in the above activities, the reserve has reached capacity. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/WANR%202.jpg" alt="" style="width:856px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>The draft Code of Conduct is proposing a number of interventions to ensure the safety and security of visitors, operators, and reserve personnel, and continued preservation of the unique natural environment. </p><p>Concerns related to overcrowding <br>• The impact on the natural and cultural environment, amongst which loss of ecosystem function, value, and attraction<br>• Increase in adventure sport accidents<br>• Impact on the sense of place<br>• Impact on visitors who are not participating in motorised activities, such as schools’ programmes, birdwatchers and hikers<br>• Littering<br>• Increase in illegal activities such as consumption of alcohol<br>• Impact on the reserve’s efforts to conserve energy and water<br>• Impact on the reserve’s conservancy tank that regularly overflows during peak visitor months<br>• Parking bay area filled to capacity and beyond</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/WANR%203.jfif" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘The City is responsible for managing and conserving the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve, which is renowned for its water catchment source, surface biodiversity, and mobile dunes. We all agree that this is an irreplaceable natural asset that must be preserved for current and future generations. </p><p>‘However, we are also well aware that many stakeholders rely on the reserve for their business operations and that these outdoor activities contribute immensely to our local adventure tourism industry. Our intention with the proposed Code of Conduct is to find a balance between conservation and business opportunities. I believe the right balance will assist us in creating a safe and secure environment for residents and visitors to fully experience and enjoy this beautiful nature reserve,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.</p><p>The Code of Conduct proposes:<br>• A daily limit of 80 permits for off-road vehicles, and no individual or operator may purchase more than 50% of the daily permits<br>• A daily limit of 250 permits for quad bikes and off-road motorcycles, and no individual or operator may purchase more than 50% of the daily permits<br>• A daily limit of 80 permits for sandboarding, and no individual or operator may purchase more than 50% of the daily permits<br>• All tour operators must have a valid tour guide certificate as required by the Tourism Act; and First Aid accreditation, and are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of injured clients<br>• The wearing of personal protective equipment is mandatory<br>• Service providers are allowed to use only one parking bay per service provider, and must park their vehicles at their depots<br>• Day visitor pre-bookings constitute 80% of the daily visitor limit, with 20% being kept open for visitors on a first-come-first-served basis<br>• Mondays are reserved for non-motorised activities, such as nature based education, walking and bird watching, except when a Monday falls on a public holiday<br>• Any person who contravenes the City of Cape Town Nature Reserve By-law or the proposed Code of Conduct may be liable for a compliance notice, a fine, or be banned from the reserve for a period of time</p><p>The relevant documents with all of the information and applicable background are available on the City’s website at www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay, and at the Avondale and Wesfleur public libraries.</p><p>Importantly, the City intends to implement the Code of Conduct as from 1 February 2025, if all goes as planned.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/WANR%205.jpg" alt="" style="width:802px;" /></figure></span><p>How to comment:<br>• Online, at www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay <br>• By email to Witzandsnature.Reserve@capetown.gov.za<br>• By hand at your local Subcouncil office</p><p>Caption: The Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve is one of the most popular destinations in the Western Cape for recreational activities on the dunes, among which 4X4 off-roading, quad biking, and sandboarding. Given the exceptional increase in visitor numbers the City is proposing a Code of Conduct to limit the number of visitors and operators in the interest of safety and security, and the conservation of this unique natural asset. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments by 31 October 2024. Alderman Eddie Andrews visited the nature reserve earlier this week and took a short ride on a quadbike himself. </p><p><br><strong>End</strong><br></p><span><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"> </figure></span><span></span><span></span> | 2024-10-12T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| City Khayelitsha R3,5 m LED public lighting refurbishment project makes progress | City Khayelitsha R3,5 m LED public lighting refurbishment project makes progress | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The City Energy Directorate’s ongoing work of installing and maintaining its light-emitting diodes (LED) on public lights in Khayelitsha is making significant progress. | <p><br>Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg visited Khayelitsha where the City’s public lighting teams were doing inspections on recently installed LED infrastructure, as well as new installations of the energy efficient LED fittings. This forms part of the City’s LED refurbishment public lighting project, which is being rolled out across the city.</p><p>‘This week, we visited Eyethu and the surrounding neighbourhoods in Khayelitsha to have a closer look at the LED retrofitting and refurbishment programme. The City is responsible for more than 700 high masts public lights in the metro with more than 222 high masts, as one type of public lighting, in the Khayelisha network alone. We have committed to investing R3,5 million into retrofitting of our existing high mast lights with energy efficient LEDs that more than halve energy consumption rates compared to the old fittings. This critical work requires a 40 tonne crane truck and a team of experts to carry out the inspections, retrofitting and maintenance of the high masts.</p><span><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/DSC_0170.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /><p></p><span><p>‘The City is placing a special focus on public lighting as part of our targeted strategies to significantly increase area safety, compliment crime prevention efforts and enhance economic activities in the entire community. </p><p>‘The City’s streetlight intervention programme is also making huge progress, with more than 5 000 streetlight related repairs between 11 and 24 September 2024 across the city. While we continue protecting our staff and securing public infrastructure, vandalism, theft and intimidation continue to pose a significant challenge, undermining the City’s service delivery efforts. We ask communities to report suspicious behaviour anonymously to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700,’ said Alderman Limberg.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/DSC_0200ssd.jpg" alt="" style="width:949px;" /> </figure></span></span><span><p><br>The Khayelitsha LED lighting project aims to:</p><p>• Increase area visibility – improved public lighting will provide better visibility at night for all residents<br>• Reduce crime and enhance safety – enhanced visibility at night will act as a deterrent for criminals <br>• Improve economic benefits for the community – improved lighting can assist with boosting economic and entrepreneurial activity in the evening<br>• Install energy-efficient infrastructure in the community – LEDs are much more energy-efficient than traditional lightingc<br></p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/DSC_0238.jpg" alt="" style="width:980px;" /> </figure></span><span></span><p><strong>Let’s ACT: Protect Your Power</strong><br><strong>Report suspicious behaviour related to theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre: 021 480 7700 </strong></p><p><strong>End</strong></p><span><span></span><p><br> </p></span><p><br> </p> | 2024-10-12T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Your City in 60 seconds | Your City in 60 seconds | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Site%20Images/Media%20Centre%20Header%20Image.jpeg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Catch up on the latest important City news updates with your City in 60 seconds. | <p>Each week, we share a new video giving you a snapshot of what we are up to in your community.</p><div class="responsive-media">
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<img class="responsive" alt="Construction begins on SA’s first City-run solar PV plant in Atlantis" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Geord-zanth-sod-380.jpg" />
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<strong>Construction begins on SA’s first City-run solar PV plant in Atlantis</strong></a>
<br>Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, and Energy Mayco Member, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, have turned the sod at the City’s 7MW – 10 MW Atlantis solar photovoltaic (PV) plant.
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<strong>Reminder: City’s Urban Mobility team heading to Table View to talk transport</strong>
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<br>The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate teams will be going out to Table View on Tuesday, 15 October 2024 at the Leibrandt van Niekerk Community Hall.
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<strong>Cape Town ready to host Prince of Wales for The Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony</strong>
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<br>Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City is excited to host the Prince of Wales for The Earthshot Prize Awards, set to take place during Earthshot Week on 6 November 2024.
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<strong>City reconstructing Cape Town’s historical information</strong></a>
<br>The City of Cape Town’s Environment and Heritage Resources Information Centre (EHRIC) has expanded its collection to include more material relating to the history and development of Cape Town.
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| Young readers hit milestone | Young readers hit milestone | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/durbanville_library_header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | The 1000 Stories before School Reading campaign has been running for just over two years | <span><p>The 1000 Stories before School Reading campaign has been running for just over two years.</p><p>Recently, five-year-old Leandri Roodman became the first young patron to reach the milestone of 1000 stories.<br><br>Her mom shared that she loves story time and enjoys choosing her own books. Parents can sign up their children at any City library. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Durbanville%20Library.jpg" alt="" style="width:1898px;" /> </figure></span><span><p>‘Children are never too young to join the library, visit or be exposed to books. Reading to your child helps them build language skills and once they are able to read on their own, it supports their education, social and cognitive development, as well as their wellbeing and mental health. Well done to Leandri and I hope many more of our young patrons will take on the challenge,' said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.</p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/Leandri.jpg" alt="" style="width:1898px;" /> </figure><strong>End</strong></span><span></span> | 2024-10-10T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
