For an update on discussions held on 16 February 2012 between objectors, Province and the Toll Plaza developers go to: http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2012/02/chapmans-peak-toll-plaza-pgwc-considers-alternatives/
Public outrage is increasing over the apparent imminent construction of the toll office and plaza on Chapman’s Peak Drive. Environmental and civic organisations have been trying for years to stop the large toll office and plaza (apparently 2000sqm of office space in two storeys costing over 50 million Rands) from being built on Chapmans Peak.
Partick Dowling of the Wildlife & Environment Society, speaking to John Matham on Cape Talk (12 Jan) said that 2 issues of key significance for him are: A poor Public Participation Process which did not actually address key issues raised by concerned members of the public. Secondly, for SANParks to agree to use land in the TMNP, albeit an old quarry, for a use not related to conservation or environmental management is inappropriate and could set a precedent. Environmental Attorneys, Cullinan & Associates, on behalf of the Residents of Hout Bay have approached the Minister of Water & Environmental Affairs to intercede. They argue that the development contravenes the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 5 of 2003 (“the NEMPAA”) and that SANParks has a positive duty to prevent the development from occurring within the TMNP.
WHY does the public repeatedly have to go the route of costly legal actions simply to get our politicians and civil servants to follow the laws of the country and to respect the legitimate interests of the affected public?
Another concern are the reports that the new contract will limit access by the public to the picnic spots that were previously accessible without paying a toll.
Join the march on Sunday 22 January beginning at 10h30 from Hout Bay Beach car park at the foot of Chapman’s Peak, sign the petition and demonstrate your opposition to the toll building.
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION! at
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-development-on-chappies/
KimK
The Cape Times article entitled “Toll Road Company to build R54m luxury office block on Chapman’s Peak Drive” on 9 January 2012, and John Maytham of Cape Talk’s interview with MEC Robin Carlisle refers:
Robin Carlisle introduced his comments with the words “These are basically the comments of one Len Swimmer and his 3 committee members”.
We believe that many Capetonians are shocked and would like to support the Hout Bay Community and many others to oppose this development.
(See the photo of the construction site for what is apparently going to be a 2000sqm double storey office block for toll road staff on Chapman’s Peak Drive. Eds )
Please read the info below, pass it onto members of Ratepayers/Residents/Civic Associations. Encourage them to write to the press. Join the marches on Sunday 22 January, 2012. We will send further info in this regard.
In addition, MEC Carlisle:
- Denied that there will be 60 people working in the building at one time.
- Disputed the size and the cost of the building, but admitted that he did not know what it will cost.
- Told us that access to picnic spots has always been an informal arrangement, and said that he had told Entilini that he wanted this access to continue.
- He referred to the building being built in an existing quarry, and that the building will in fact improve the environmental situation there.
- He referred to much of the detail in the article as being “cr*p”
It is unfortunate that MEC Carlisle’s comments do little to address the real issues around this matter.
The Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance (GCTCA):
- remains opposed to this road having been tolled in the first place. The DA is opposed to the tolling of highways, but has quite happily, and hypocritically, supported the continued tolling of Chapman’s Peak.
- is astounded that SA National Parks has agreed to this building on National Parks, and therefore public, land.
- believes that there is absolutely no need to build on the pass- the building could be in Noordhoek at the foot of the pass as is the case with many pass tolls.
- is astounded that the new contract between the Province and Entilini does not protect the rights of the public to reach the picnic spots on Chapman’s Peak pass, thus robbing citizens (especially poor citizens) of their own natural heritage.
- disputes that the building will improve the environmental situation in what is currently a quarry. This is a significant stretch of Mr Carlisle’s imagination. No building in a National Park land improves that environment, and this is especially so on a pristine mountainside as is the case here. Instead we believe that the quarry should be rehabilitated.
There will be a march on Sunday 22 January from Hout Bay Beach Car Park at the foot of Chapman’s Peak beginning at 10h30.
We also believe that there is no need for Robin Carlisle to swear, or to denigrate the information printed in the article as being “cr*p”. I would like to request Mr Carlisle to discontinue his crude language in public.
Alan Jackson – Secretary, Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance.
View other entries in Civic News, newsflash >>
Help me find the balance!!! TMNP is making a mountain out of the admittedly over exuberant eco-artists who are piling stones at Kommetjie Beach into mini towers but then TMNP agree to a private company building a huge toll plaza on one of our most scenic natural heritage sites.
Occupy Chapman’s Peak – Join the Protest March
Sunday 22 January 10.30am for 11am start – Hout Bay Beach Car Park to the proposed site for Toll Plaza & Office Complex.
No more free access for picnics and walks
Unnecessary office block for toll company
Half paid for by the Province, over 25 million of our money
Part of Table Mountain National Park to be given away free
Spoiling natural beauty and ecology forever
This will go ahead unless we protest!
“Chappies” and Table Mountain National Park belongs to the people of South Africa, NOT to big business, bureaucrats and deal-making politicians!
Gathering at 10.30am for 11am start @ Hout Bay beach car park (opposite Chapman’s Peak Hotel)
Marching to the proposed building site (2.5 kms) for handover of memorandum to Gov. Officials and Murray & Roberts/ Entililini.
Bring your friends, kids, dogs, drums, whistles, shakers, picnic & water
Make placards
Be there to SIGN the PETITION!
Say NO to the Provincial Gov. Say NO to Murray & Roberts and their Entilini! NOT now! NOT ever!
Much damage has already been done, but it’s not too late to undo
HELP PREVENT PERMANENTLY RUINING OUR PRECIOUS HERITAGE!
Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance
[...] For background info go to: http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2012/01/chapmans-peak-toll-office-not-on-our-drive-or-in-the-tmnp/ [...]
This is a disgraceful proposal. I am totally against it. I do not want my taxpayer money spent on this unneeded and damaging development. Greedy developers like this must be stopped in their tracks.
Is there an online petition to sign? I can’t be at the protest march on Sunday.
Hi Dianna – your question of an online petition is a good one. Apparently there isn’t one YET as the focus has been on getting the protest march organised. But watch this space as the organizers are considering an online petition as a follow-up.
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION! Go to
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-development-on-chappies/
[...] The following article appeared on The South African Civil Society Information Service webiste (www.sacsis.org.za) and we thought it pertinent in the light of the proposed action on Chapman’s Peak. Be inspired by it to join us in protest against the proposed construction of offices on Chapman’s Peak. For more info see http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2012/01/chapmans-peak-toll-office-not-on-our-drive-or-in-the-tmnp/ [...]
Robin Carlisle, the Minister for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape has issued a brochure to assist members of the public to make their own minds up about the construction of the control centre and toll plaza on Chapman’s for info go to: Peak.http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2012/01/chapmans-peak-toll-plaza-info-brochure-from-min-r-carlisle/
[...] http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2012/01/chapmans-peak-toll-office-not-on-our-drive-or-in-the-tmnp/ [...]
My hubbie in training for the Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour peddled over Chapman’s Peak Drive yesterday (Sunday 22 Jan) on his way from Fish Hoek to Camps Bay. On his return he took these photos at the quarry where the R52 million toll offices are to be built. The photos were taken 1 ½ hours before the protest march from Hout Bay. http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2012/01/site-of-proposed-chapmans-peak-drive-toll-office-block/
He and one of the participants in the march got chatting, the latter saying that the quarry is of historical significance as it was here that Italian prisoners of war who built the famous road linking Hout Bay and Noordhoek dug out the rock required in the construction process. I have always taken it for granted that it was indeed Italian prisoners of war who built Chapman’s Peak Drive, but in visiting various sites on the internet I have discovered that this is considered a myth by many and that local convicts were used to do the job.
Their argument is convincing. Chapman’s Peak Drive was built between 1915 and 1922. During WW1 (1914-1919) the Italians fought on the side of the Allies and therefore would not have been held as prisoners of war in our country, then the Union of South Africa and a dominion of the British Empire. However, during WW2 (1939-1945) when Italy fought on the side of Germany, 5000 Italian prisoners of war were put to work on the construction of Du Toit’s Kloof Pass.
Whatever its history, there is no denying that Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the world’s most spectacular routes. It s profile has already been defiled by the construction of rock barriers and overhanging roofs, as necessary as these might be deemed to be. Building an unnecessary office block on the quarry site will defile the natural beauty of this extremely popular tourist route even further. Hout Bay is just a few kilometres down the mountain – accommodating the tourist offices in the village should not be a problem. There are far more pressing needs in South Africa to which that R50 million or more could be put to better use.
[...] For further back ground information on the Chapman’s Peak toll plaza go to: http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2012/01/chapmans-peak-toll-office-not-on-our-drive-or-in-the-tmnp/ [...]
The impact and negative issues around this building seem to be being exaggerated. The most factual account I have read to date :
http://www.rudeawakenings.co.za/report/general/chappies-toll-plaza-other-side-story