Cape Town - Residents have been urged to assist the City of Cape Town by co-operating and allowing the planned R18 million recreational development and wetland rehabilitation project for the Asanda Village Wetland Park to go ahead.
A portion of the land intended for this project is being occupied by a kraal and used for goat farming by farmers who have approximately 200 goats on the site.
The site for the new wetland park extends over erven 32 680 and 29 865 in Strand. It is situated between the N2 and Asanda Village.
The site is abutted by the N2 to the north, ASLA Business Park to the west, Asanda Village to the south, and three schools to the east.
The large open space area forms part of a major pedestrian route from the Van der Stel Station, the N2, and the three adjacent schools to the surrounding residential areas - namely Asanda Village, Nomzamo and Lwandle.
The Asanda Village Wetland Park is located strategically within the stormwater system draining the Somerset West watershed.
It currently serves as a stormwater alleviation area and primarily as a pedestrian route and public open space for Asanda Village.
Deputy Mayor and mayoral community (mayco) member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, said that these farmers on the portion of land need to be relocated so that the community can benefit from this investment.
“I intend to speak with the farmers this coming Friday, December 10 to discuss the way forward. I’m sure we can find a way that will allow the City to proceed with this very important project,” said Andrews.
This project will provide community facilities and new infrastructure that will benefit the entire Asanda Village community.
The City’s Environmental Management Department identified the degraded public open space in Strand as a site with immense potential for enhancement and improvement as a parkland.
The construction tender for this project was awarded to the successful tenderer in May 2021.
However, the signing of the contract was delayed as the site cannot be handed over to the contractor while the goat kraal is still located on the project site.
The project team investigated and discussed numerous relocation options with the farmers over the past year.
To date there has been no success, as none of the options investigated and considered were deemed agreeable by both parties, Andrew said.
“We want to revitalise this wetland park, it should function as a community space and an important wetland space.
“The Asanda community deserves a new recreational space that is safe, clean and easily accessible where they can enjoy the outdoors within their own area.
“We have allocated R18 million to this development, but cannot invest the funds to uplift Asanda Village because of a few individuals who refuse to relocate,” Andrews said.
“The scope of the project is vast and includes various exciting new facilities and infrastructure upgrades for the area. This is a project I really want to see take off and materialise during the current financial year.
“I am therefore urging the residents and community leaders to please come together and support our plans,” he said.
“I am planning to meet with the farmers this Friday to discuss a way forward. Where there is a will there is a way, and I am sure we can find a solution by working together.”
Some of the highlights of the project, which residents can look forward to include:
- Multi-use recreation and play space.
- Safe pedestrian, cycle and universal access across and within the site.
- Safe recreational and educational spaces for school children.
- A storm water management system capable of handling the storm water requirements of the upstream catchment, the site itself and downstream of the site.
- Rehabilitated wetland area, which will provide a habitat to important species of birds, frogs and plants.