The area around the Strand Street quarry is set for redevelopment. Picture: David Ritchie.
Tensions are rising in De Waterkant over a proposed parking lot as residents say they feel excluded from the decision-making process.
The parking lot is part of the bigger Strand Street quarry development.
Donald Cameron, a resident of De Waterkant, expressed frustration over the City of Cape Town’s handling of the project.
“As a house owner in Loader Street, I and 27 other neighbours have written to the City to object to the proposed new car park in De Waterkant, which would replace parkland and the existing access road to our houses,” Mr Cameron said.
Mr Cameron said the City’s claim of community support is inaccurate.
“It is a clear case of bureaucrats listening but not hearing,” he said, alleging that the car park was designed to cater primarily to City workers, generating an estimated R5 million annually, with little relevance to the quarry project.
Following a virtual meeting with representatives from the City of Cape Town and Heritage Western Cape, Willem Bruwer, a resident of De Waterkant, expressed similar views after he was not given time to speak at the meeting.
“My concerns about this parking lot’s potential impacts include increased noise pollution, traffic congestion, and encroachment on residential privacy,” Mr Bruwer said.
He said the plan involves removing a heritage-protected road, which he believes further undermines the community’s interests.
The De Waterkant Civic Association (DWCA) has voiced “extremely deep, urgent concerns” regarding the proposed parking lot but in principle supporting the Strand Street quarry development.
While addressing the concerns of the people of De Waterkant, Seton Bailey, the DWCA's interim chair, stressed the importance of giving the neighbouring Bo-Kaap community's interests top priority.
“We have a well-documented record in the public domain expressing concerns around traffic management and the vehicle parking area proposal,” Mr Bailey said.
“Our representative (Mr Bruwer) indicated several times that he wished to speak, but they did not give anyone other than the committee and the applicant (City) a chance to speak,” Mr Bailey said.
“Our representative wanted to let them know that De Waterkant residents are strongly opposed to their plan for the parking, and that they did not present the DWCA comments derived from the public participation process to the committee at all, which we consider to be unprocedural and non-consultative,” he said.
“We repeat that we are gravely concerned that the Quarry Project implementation may go-ahead unilaterally, without consultation and without addressing either the Bo-Kaap or DWCA residents’ input, objections or concerns.”
Eddie Andrews, the City’s deputy mayor and Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, said the City has maintained consistent communication with all stakeholders.
“More recently, all the specialist reports and information related to the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) process in terms of NEMA (National Environmental Act 107 of 1998) and the HIA (Heritage Impact Assessment) in terms of the NHRA (National Heritage Resources Act no 25 of 1999) are also available to the public at this link,” Mr Andrews said.
He said during the concept development process, extensive engagements were held with stakeholders to address various issues, including access and parking.
“Given the progress with the EIA and HIA, a land use application with supporting information will soon be advertised for general public comment and input, where residents will once again have the opportunity to raise any further concerns or objections. The final decision-makers will be obliged, by law, to consider all of the submissions received.”
Residents can review the comprehensive Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) and the detailed Site Development Plan (SDP), which address parking, safety, and traffic issues online at https://www.infinityenv.co.za/public/strandstreetquarry-dbar
At the time of publication there was no response from the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers’ Association, or the HWC.