City Considers Houses for Informal Dwellers in Nature Reserve

The City of Cape Town is considering the development of a Human Settlement Project on a small portion of the Driftsands Nature Reserve to facilitate the consolidation of the Los Angeles and Green Park Informal Settlements. The project when completed should provide approximately 2 000 housing units and other associated infrastructure.

According to project manager Seymour Bedderson, the houses will be built for residents in both settlements. No further informal dwellers will be allowed to live in the nature reserve.

"The construction of these houses should begin within the next 12 months after studies and the necessary procedures have been completed", Bedderson said.

From the proposed location for the houses, residents will be able to access community facilities such as schools, a clinic, parks, a multi-purpose hall, a library and a post office.

The project will help improve the overall living standards of the residents of Green Park and Los Angeles by giving them the security of tenure as well as formalizing services. Other positive aspects include:

• The lessening of the problem of flooding of Los Angeles, which is particularly vulnerable; and
• The rehabilitation of the wetland and dune areas currently occupied by the Los Angeles community.

The nature reserve, with the R300 to the west, the N2 to the south, Mfuleni to the east and Hindle Road to the north, accommodates both informal settlements as well as the Sikhumbule township, which was established in 1994. This settlement occupies 20 hectares while the Los Angeles and Green Park settlements occupy 25 to 30 hectares of the 658 hectare nature reserve.

The City has appointed CCA Environmental as the independent consultancy involved in the project. The deadline for public comment is 25 May.

A public meeting will be held at the Driftsands Education Centre on 23 May at 19:00 to outline the project and give the public an opportunity to raise any concerns.

To comment, contact Jeremy Blood of CCA Environmental on 021 461 1118/9 or e-mail jeremy@ccaenvironmental.co.za.

Issued by:
Charles Cooper
Tel: 021 400 3719
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Email: media@capetown.gov.za
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media queries:
Seymour Bedderson
Human Settlement Services
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2081