Community Participation
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EAST FORT GATE PROJECT
Chapman's Peak Drive Tourism Development

Hout Bay lies behind South Africa's famous Table Mountain. The river corridor remains largely rural but is exposed to increasing development pressures, much of which are not just undesirable but very harmful  and destructive to our natural environment. The Hout Bay & Llandudno Heritage Trust, founded in 1995, was established to protect our Architectural, Historical, Natural and Cultural Heritage on behalf of future generations. It is the largest conservation organisation in the community and is affiliated with the Peninsula Mountain Forum, The Cape Town Heritage Trust, Hout Bay Civic organisations and local authorities. It is represented on the Ward 74 Planning Committee and the HB Consultative Council. It is also a founder member of the SA National Trust and registered as a conservation body with the South African Heritage Resources Agency.


The upper reaches of the Disa River - pristine.

Some time ago, the Trust identified several major local conservation concerns. The most prominent being the preservation of the Hout Bay (Disa) River and its wetlands. The Disa River is the only river which rises on Table Mountain that has not been extensively canalised in concrete and has the only viable wetland which could be restored as a wild life reserve which could be a great tourism drawcard. As well as the river, the trust earmarked Hout Bay's unique Forts for urgent conservation, all of which represented great value as tourism assets. In 1998, the Trust was instrumental in the creation of the Hout Bay River Forum and in collaboration with the CMC's Catchment Management Dept embarked on Phase 1 of an important and extensive long term project to restore the river.

The Disa River has an incredible  advantage over most other rivers  in the Cape - its catchment is within one community which means that given the "will" of the community it could be restored, which in turn means that it could be exploited as a wonderful tourism asset.  The Heritage Trust's long term goal is to restore the wetlands which have the potential to support marine and freshwater wildfowl populations as well as montane fynbos species. In addition trails could connect it with the CPNP at Orange Kloof thus making it possible to have a hiking trail starting at Kloof Nek, proceeding along the lower contour path on Table Mountain to King's Blockhouse (which could be considered as an overnight stop?) then on to Kirstenbosch, Cecilia Forest, Orange Kloof and then along the Hout Bay River to the sea. Such a trail would be a winner to rival the Otter Trail which is always fully booked more than 12mths ahead!  


The Wetlands - extensively modified & polluted.


Phase 1 Complete - Princess Bridge to the beach.

Whilst the Trust has enjoyed the co-operation of the Authorities, an enormous amount of work has been put in by the Trustees and their community supporters. There is no doubt that without the Trust's initiative, little would have been achieved. However, the project illustrates that co-operation between Local Authorities and communities can have bountiful results. It is also clear that the initial vision must come from the community and that the negotiations must be conducted in a spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation or entitlement. There is a lot of work involved on both sides. Phase 1 of the project was completed in July 2000, a fitting close to the millennium giving great hope for the next.

Planning for Phase 2 is well underway. A significant report was commissioned and completed in July 2000 by Chittenden Nicks & de Villiers outlining a concept plan for the rehabilitation of the wetlands to the North of Princess Bridge. World wide, since 1970, 45% of all freshwater ecosystems have been destroyed - in South Africa the percentage is probably higher. We are not a water rich nation, our rainfall is less than 60% of the worlds average and yet Hout Bays water comes from Voelvlei over 150 km away. Most of that good treated water is lost washing clothes flushing toilets and watering lawns and yet we watch our river discharging huge amounts of water into the sea from which it will never be recovered. The wetlands project will help to conserve our water and make it available as ground water.


Phase 2 planning for the wetland underway


Polluted water enters the river with enormous health risks. A solution must be found.

The wetlands will also address some of the serious potential health problems caused by pollution where the eColi count, a marker used to assess the degree of bacterial pollution, is the worst in the Peninsula. Untreated sewage from informal settlements is discharged into the river as well as seepage from septic tanks. The wetlands will detain the harmful bacteria and slowly discharge good water to the beach's lagoon. Without this action the possibility of Hout Bay's beaches  ever achieving "Blue Flag" status is zero and the possibility of a tourist contracting hepatitis or even cholera is substantial. International interest has recently been attracted by infestations of Spanish Reed (Arondo Donax) which has choked virtually all Californian rivers in recent years. The trust is endeavoring to try to help get an international alliance in place between between academic institutions to increase the research knowledge on the problem.

The adage - 'If you don't use it you will loose it' is very true. Development pressures have caused the loss of some of our most valuable heritage sites. Paradoxically, whilst economic reality is the most pressing driver for development, it is also the most pressing force for the conservation of our built and natural environments. Governments, local authorities, academic and professional institutions have a responsibility to ensure that the right decisions are made but the involvement and participation of the community is the most important component of all - it is their heritage that will be lost.

Four out of the five rivers that rise on table mountain have either been 'lost' or modified and polluted beyond the point where they can be used as tourism assets which is why the Trust's river project will continue to occupy their attention for many years. For the time being the exciting developments at East Fort are currently uppermost in their minds as the narrow window of opportunity will never be repeated. Given the support of tourism authorities, local government and the Cape Peninsula National Park the project is assured of success. The Trust is leading the way and it is hoped that the other partners will eventually declare their determination to make the project a success too.

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