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storyThe City of Cape Town, pursuing, as always, a strict, environmentally conscious policy, has introduced a new flood plain and river management policy which, says Paul Henry, MD of Rawson Developers, is well intentioned but likely to give rise to numerous problems.
“The long term effect of the new rulings will be to reduce the value of any developable property close to a wetland or river system – for the simple reason that the owner cannot now be sure that the original zoning status of the land e.g. for a high density project, will be honoured.
“All property owners, but especially those who had hoped to capitalise on their site’s proximity to a wetland, are bound to challenge the law if it results in their projects being reduced in bulk or held back.
“I get the impression that these new rulings have been pushed through without much consultation with the ratepayers and/or developers who have been, or might be, involved with developments close to water systems.”
The laudable objections of the new policy, says Henry, are
- to reduce the risk of buildings being exposed to flood areas;
- to protect and enhance the water courses and wetlands’ ability to act as drainage systems;
- to enhance the appeal and value of these areas;
- to facilitate their integration in an aesthetically pleasing and socially uplifting way with the urban landscape; and
- to introduce an element of standardisation in the approval and/or modification processes that are applied to development near ecologically sensitive areas.
Henry said that many of SA’s river systems are choked by invader species such as water hyacinth and typha (the common bulrush) and the proliferation of these has been boosted by nutrient runoff from artificially fertilised agricultural holdings. Pollution is noticeable in most SA rivers today – the Jukskei in Gauteng and Umsinduzi in Kwazulu Natal being among the worst affected.
Often, too, raw effluent is found in rivers which, it was thought, were protected by supposedly sophisticated but now overloaded sewerage schemes nearby.
Henry said that in one area with which he is especially familiar, the Diep River estuary (of which the Milnerton Lagoon forms a part) canoeists are now way of taking to the water in summer because faecal pollution is so prevalent.
“This can cause a whole range of infections and is particularly dangerous if swallowed, as does happen with children playing in the beach area. It is now accepted that the choking of Diep River has gone so far that the river would be totally stagnant in summer if it were not for the inflow of waste water effluent.”
Asked what he would do if he was in a position to dictate council policy, Henry said that he would try to introduce plans for appropriate wetland associated developments and would at once set about cleaning up the rivers – “a perfect opportunity to create useful employment for those out of work”. In many areas, such as the suburbs of D’urbanvale in Durbanville, volunteers do valuable work cleaning up wetlands under the guidance of a nature conservation office – but this type of work, says Henry, should be in the hands of full time employees trained by the local authorities.
In the Cape, he said, rivers such as the Kuil, draining into False Bay, the Disa running into Hout Bay and the Diep draining into Zeekoeivlei, are now very real carriers of disease.
Henry said that he would also like to see an education programme put in place to educate people on the importance of the country’s rivers and wetlands and ensure that pollutants are kept out of the rivers.
For further information contact Paul Henry on 021 658 7100 or email paul@rawson-developers.co.za.
