The rural community of Joostenbergvlakte is puzzled by a future roads scheme planned by the City’s urban mobility directorate for public participation.
The concept plan as presented at the April Subcouncil 2 meeting last Wednesday speaks of extensions of rural roads in the smallholdings to accommodate developments either denied on appeal or still pending after a hefty fight back by the community.
The concept plan, if approved, is said to serve as a guideline for developers to ensure future developments are accessible by road. But residents, who fear the obliteration of their peaceful country existence wonder whether this is not a case of putting the cart before the horse.
The report tabled indicates an extension of Lucullus road from the N1 to Greenville; Waarburgh Road from Sparrow Lane to Lucullus Road intersection, and Amadeus Drive from Darwin Street towards the west across the railway line to Lucullus intersection.
In recent years there has been a growing interest in the development of land in the City’s northern district which, as stated in the report has placed enormous pressure on the roads department to prioritise the planning of road infrastructure.
It refers to several planned developments in and around the area. These are the Greenville mixed-use housing development; Lucullus Gardens and Nooitgedact, both mixed-use developments; Kraicon, a freight terminal; the Darwin Housing Project; the N1 Gateway Business Park; and the Cape Winelands Airport.
Community member and consultant to the Joostenberg Community Forum, Barbara Gale says none of the aforesaid roads are mentioned in the City’s Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan for 2023-2028 as approved by council.
“How can these road schemes be submitted for approval if they are not part of the council approved short, medium or long-term future planning projects?, she asks. Likewise, none of the proposed developments except Greenville have been approved and some may never be approved, according to Gale.
“The municipal approval for the Darwin Road Housing development was denied on appeal, while municipal authorisation of Lucullus gardens has not been granted, and will most likely face an appeal and high court application if approved. The N1 Gateway approval is currently under appeal and Nooitgedact is totally inconsistent with the spatial development frame work nor supported by planning legislation.
“The proposed Cape Winelands Airport faces many problems surrounding its approval and Kraicon is at the pre-feasibility state and may never come to fruition,” she says.
public participation process
Urban mobility official Matthew Meder says the public participation process is set to start towards the end of June.
”The plans are currently in a concept phase in order to address community concerns and the community participation process is aimed at softening information of a sensitive nature,” said Meder.
Ward councillor Rhynhardt Bresler said he was in support of the public participation process in that it will offer the Joostenbergvlakte community another chance to state their case.
