Residents fight to preserve endangered Fynbos amid development plans
Cape Town - Residents in Milnerton and Table View, are rallying together to preserve the Cape Fynbos, which is critically endangered and found on a stretch of land where 337 flats and nine group houses and residential dwellings are expected to be built.
This week, the City confirmed that approval was granted on ERF 38599 Milnerton for residential development following more than 300 objections from residents.
Residents have been challenging the City via emails and correspondence on their decision to go a head with the development despite their grievances shared that the land was home to, the Cape Fynbos.
Des Palm of the Sunridge Action Group , Table View, said they have been questioning why the fynbos was previously removed.
“The issue revolves around a particular piece of land earmarked for high-density development,” said Palm.
“A previous environmental report found Cape Flats Sand Fynbos to have been present on the property.
“Parties known to us cleared the land of all vegetation thus removing the fynbos.”
Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment told Weekend Argus following a process of public participation, the plans were approved for the 337 flats, nine (9) group houses and 16 Single Residential dwelling houses and that they received a mammoth of appeals and objections.
“The applications were approved subject to conditions set by the Municipal Planning Tribunal on 5 July 2022,” Andrews explained.
“A number of appeals were received against the decision of the MPT.
“The Planning Appeals Advisory Panel thoroughly considered the matter and recommended to the Executive Mayor in his capacity as the Final Appeal Authority that the appeals be dismissed.
“The Executive Mayor considered the matter and after considerate assessment, decided to dismiss the appeals and approve the application.
“The decision was made on the 8th of May 2023.”
Andrews further detailed that the area would also site a temporary sewer treatment package plant at 0 m in lieu of 4.5 m from street boundary (Circle Road).
He added the set date for the development was not set yet.
“There was a public participation process and 384 objections were received. These were considered by the decision makers in deciding on the applications.
“It is not known to the City when the development will be implemented. To date, building plans have not yet been submitted.
“It should be noted that the validity period of the approval of the above mentioned applications is five years.”
When questioned of the concerns of residents raised about the Cape Fynbos, he said assessments had been conducted environmentally.
“The application does not trigger any activities listed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA),” he added.
“In deciding on the application, the impact of the development on the biophysical environment was considered and conditions were imposed to mitigate any possible environmental impact.”
Palm also shared an extract of a survey done which was compiled by environmental consultants known as Freshwater Consulting, who specialise in river and wetland consultancy in which they said that in 2016 the Western Cape Government announced, the formation of the Green Scorpions which would investigate environmental crimes, including the: illegal dumping of hazardous and toxic waste, illegal developments inland and on the coast, and incidents of significant pollution or ruin of the environment.
“Regarding Erf 38599, we are extremely concerned about the manner in which profits seem to take preference over environmental safeguards,” said the Consultancy in their concerns shared with Weekend Argus.
“More than 50% of Erf 38599 shows to be "critically endangered", with a large portion of the North being a "national wetland".
“Environmental studies classify a critically endangered area as a threatened ecosystem.
“It is well known that various factors can cause a wetland to increase in extent.
“We asked the question whether a study was done to define the possible increase in size of the wetland area just North of Erf 38599. Also whether the long-term effects of developing on a critically endangered area were ever considered or projected.”