Fisherhaven | Hawston | Kleinmond | Bettysbaai | Pringlebaai | Rooi-Els
Year 2 • Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Tel. 028 312 3717
Gekiek YWERIGE AVONTURIERS: Deon Joubert van die Kleinmond Kiekieklub het ’n groep stappers bymekaar gekry en ‘n 65 kilometer staptog in die Oos-Kaap vanaf Port Alfred tot by die mond van die Groot Visrivier aangedurf. Die groep het bestaan uit nege stappers van Kleinmond en drie van Bettysbaai. Hier staan die groepie by Kleinemonde waar hulle moes roei tot by hul volgende oornagpunt. Lees meer oor die reis, asook die wenners in die maand se kiekieklub-kompetisie op bl. 7.
Sand smothers homes PIA NÄNNY Sand invasion along the coast, especially in the area from Rooi Els to Betty’s Bay, has driven a group of homeowners to seek relief in court. The group will apply to the Cape High Court to force the Overstrand Municipality to keep the road reserve in Nerina Crescent, Betty’s Bay, clear of sand. Municipal spokesperson Fanie Krige has confirmed this, and says a court date has been set for 8 August. Kleinmond Gazette reported on 12 April that the sand had already piled up to a height of five metres. Homeowners – such us Gottlieb van der Merwe, an engineer from Stellenbosch – said they needed 4x4s to reach their properties. Two vacant lots are completely covered, making it almost impossible to build, and impacting on the value of these properties. Pat Parkes, a property consultant at Seeff in Betty’s Bay, says the agency oversees a couple of properties that are in the area
where the sand has invaded. “These properties are most definitely being compromised. In fact, we have not been able to sell any of them due to the sand invasion. As it is our duty as estate agents to forewarn prospective buyers of this, they immediately walk away from the properties – which is totally understandable.” Dune migration (or sand invasion) was one of the issues considered in the demarcation of setback lines – which regulate where one can and cannot build – for the Overberg. More than a year ago, the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) contracted SSI Environmental to develop a set of coastal setback lines as a pilot project in the Overberg District Municipality. In a first for South Africa, two lines were demarcated: a limited development line that serves as the inland boundary of the coastal protection zone; and a “physical processes” line, a scientific line demarcating the area where the ocean’s physical processes are deemed to have an impact on the land, Her-
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manus Times reported in June last year. A series of public meetings about the proposed coastal setback lines was held last year. It was said then that the aim of the setback lines was not to prevent development, but to ensure that the right development takes place. But some property owners remained concerned about their investments. The draft lines will now be reviewed by the various municipal authorities in the Overberg, including the Overstrand Municipality. The municipalities will be able to comment on the issue before the exact boundaries are finalised through a council resolution. However, Krige says the Overstrand Municipality hasn’t received the documents yet. According to Luke Moore, an environmental consultant, it now becomes the responsibility of the DEADP and municipalities to use the setback lines to inform the various spatial planning and regulatory processes. “This will involve further discussion, collaboration and alignment between the different authorities, as well as all the legally required stakeholder participation processes.”
Gordon McIntyre, who owns property in Rooi Els, says the physical processes line (thick coastal line) merely follows undeveloped ground, missing houses on either side of his property (red dot), and he is concerned that his “significant investment” will be rendered valueless. “Should I wish to build on my property, I doubt any bank would finance it. I propose that a thorough investigation be undertaken on an individual property basis.”
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