2016 Senior citizens event

Monday the 7th of March saw many seniors from a number of retirement homes and social groups from around the ward – including Arcadia, Nazareth House, the Marian Institute and the Woodstock and Salt River Health Committees catching buses to the 2016 senior citizens outing hosted by Councillors Brett Herron and Paddy Chapple at Sea Point Pavilion.

It was a beautiful day which saw some of the seniors braving a relatively cold swimming pool. Games were played, friendships renewed and lunch was eaten, before everyone caught their lifts home, to reflect upon yet another enjoyable event, as can be seen from the photos (Click to open full size images).

Winelands Toll Road – a calamity

Brett on his way – with supporters to Court

The DA will do everything in its power to prevent Sanral from “imposing an unjust, unwarranted and devastating tolling decision”.

Speaking notes from a recent presentation to the Cape Chamber of Commerce in which Councillor Brett Herron set out some of the important facts relating to the City’s case against Sanral. The first day of the High Court review is scheduled for 11 August and these notes will assist DA members and the broader public in answering many of the questions which they might have; and the calamity which needs to be avoided should Sanral get to build the toll road. Bottom line – Toll revenue will exceed road users benefits by 3X.

Speaking Notes – Toll Roads

Breakfast with Mmusi Maimane

Yesterday Ward 57 had the pleasure to host a breakfast at The Kitchen in Woodstock  for around 30 invited guests who met, chatted with and listened to DA Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane MP, discuss his thoughts, ideas, and insights about South Africa. In a wide ranging speech the following points stand out:

On the ANC: After 20 years in power its leadership has lost the plot, lacks political will or effective leadership and does not respect the Constitution or the institutions of state which are meant to protect the fundamental rights of citizens.  Preferring rather to subvert them to defend their own entrenched interests.

Opposition role: The DA is in for the long haul, as we understand the importance of democratic principles and the need to protect and uphold them as an effective opposition.  This goes beyond grandstanding and means taking the government to task if necessary on a wide array of issues – education, defence, spending, corruption, Eskom – backed up by research.

Corruption: In the budget R9 billion was raised by increasing taxation – R30 billion alone has been lost with corruption, Government should be looking at corruption, and cutting down on wasteful spending.

Waiting to go in

Reflections in Sir Lowry Road

A guest, Mmusi and Zakhele Mbhele

A long breakfast table

The Kitchen is a wonderful place

Education:  It is the only way for the youth to become employable, youth unemployment is the highest it has ever been and current education policies are failing them miserably.

2015 Senior citizens event

Friday 13th of February saw over 100 seniors from a number of retirement homes and social groups from around the ward – including Arcadia, Nazareth House, the Marian Institute and the Woodstock and Salt River Health Committees catching buses to the 2015 senior citizens picnic hosted by Councillors Brett Herron and Paddy Chapple at the Green Point Urban Park which lies adjacent to the Cape Town Stadium.

The weather did not quite play along yet failed to dampen both the spirits of the seniors or the natural beauty of the setting. Lunch was eaten, an informative lecture was given and Valentine’s Day gifts were distributed by Brett. A truly enjoyable morning was had by all, as can be seen from the photos (Click to open full size images).

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

2015 Seniors picnic

Office move

Observatory Community Centre

In June the Constituency Office moved from Station Road to the Observatory Community Centre on the corner of Rawson and Collingwood Roads Observatory.

Manned by Councillor Paddy Chapple and Naz it is an advice office which is open from 7.30 to 12:00 every day and has the following telephone number: 021 447 9029

Unauthorised Liesbeeck earthmoving

Statement by Councillor Brett Herron, Ward Councillor for Ward 57 (Devils Peak, Gardens, Woodstock, Observatory, Mowbray) Cape Town and Mayco Member: Transport

Late afternoon on Friday 6 September 2013 I was alerted by some Observatory residents to earthmoving activities being conducted by a bulldozer on the banks of the Liesbeeck River near the River Club, Observatory.

Residents were concerned that the earthmoving works were unauthorised and would cause environmental damage.

I immediately reported this to the City’s Environmental Resource Management department.

The Environmental Resource officers have issued a notice to issue a directive in terms of section 31A of the Environmental Conservation Act (73 of 1989). This notice provides the respondent with an opportunity to make representations and to provide evidence of authorisations for the work being done, failing which a cease works instruction is issued.

The respondent failed to provide the authorisations and a cease works notice will now be served.

Officials from various City departments are investigating whether there has been a contravention of the following legislation:

a) NEMA (Act 107/1998 Reg 544 Section 11)
b) The Storm Water Management Bylaw 31420 of 2005, Sections 4(d) and (g), as well as Section 5 and 8(1)
c) Water Act 36 of 1998 and its Regulations

The cease works order will require the respondent to cease all work and apply for the necessary approvals before remedial measures can be taken.

The work must be authorised and done properly as evaluated by qualified scientists or reversed with a method statement of how to do it without causing further harm. No further work or remediation can take place without an environmental impact assessment.

The respondents must thus apply to DEADP, Water Affairs for an EIA and method to stabilise the banks of the river against flooding. The subsequent work will require approval in terms of the City’s Storm Water Management Bylaw as well.

The City’s action in terms of the Section 31A (ECA73/1989) Directive is to prevent damage to the environment by stopping all work on site.

The City and numerous volunteers and interest groups, including Friends of the Liesbeeck and the Two Rivers Urban Park Committee, have invested significant human and financial resources in the environmental protection and care of the Liesbeeck, its banks and the wetlands.

It would be deeply disappointing, and a major setback for the progress already achieved, if this earthmoving work has been done illegally and has caused damage.

This matter must be dealt with in terms of the appropriate legislation and I will continue to monitor the work and efforts of the City’s various professionals as they deal with it.

Paddy preserves pear tree

Saffron Pear Tree in the Gardens

The City awaits new shoots of South Africa’s oldest tree from cuttings which were taken from an historic Saffron Pear tree (Pyrus communis) in the Company’s Garden. Newlands Nursery staff now eagerly await the opening of the first shoots from the cuttings of this 300 year-old tree.

The cuttings were taken in August 2013 in order to preserve this domestic pear tree’s genetic material. Tiny shoots have started to sprout and City Parks officials believe they could start opening soon.

A motion to preserve the tree was put forth to the Community Services Portfolio Committee by Councillor Paddy Chapple last month. The Saffron Pear tree, still drawing in sweet mountain water, was planted during the initial Dutch occupation of the Cape and is believed to be the oldest cultivated tree in South Africa. It is estimated to be over 300 years old. Should the original tree die, its clone could be planted.

City Parks has built a protective structure around the original tree in an attempt to keep it viable. It was, however, decided to make the cuttings and propagate it at the City’s Newlands Nursery as a preservation measure.

The Company’s Garden in Cape Town is home to many historical trees and this initiative could be the first of many.

“This is a great way for the City to celebrate Heritage Month. The Saffron Pear Tree is one of the country’s Champion Trees, receiving protection from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Cape Town boasts an array of these trees,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Special Projects, Alderman Belinda Walker.

Victoria Road to be developed

Victoria Road from Woodstock to Mowbray is in for a major revamp through the Main Street Programme announced by ward councillor Brett Herron at the Upper Woodstock Residents’ Association AGM recently. Brett said the idea of a Main Street Programme, which has had major success in the US, is for the City to create a framework that will entice private investors to invest in the upgrade of a main road. The City is currently working on a “landscape framework” for the project, which will include heritage guidelines that developments must adhere to, priority areas and buildings that need upgrading, the identification of a way to improve transport and pedestrian facilities, coming up with signage guidelines and greening opportunities.

City wins fight to halt proposed N1/N2 Winelands Toll Highway

STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT, ROADS AND STORMWATER, COUNCILLOR BRETT HERRON:

City wins again in fight to halt proposed N1/N2 Winelands Toll Highway Project.
The City of Cape Town scored two victories in its attempt to halt the proposed N1/N2 Winelands Toll Highway Project in the Western Cape High Court this morning. The court has granted the City’s application for an interdict against the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), seeking to halt the Agency from taking any steps to implement the proposed project, pending the final determination of the City’s review application. The City was also successful in its application that SANRAL be compelled to provide a number of documents which formed part of SANRAL’s decision making process; and which SANRAL have been refusing to provide. The City’s people and its economy simply cannot be burdened by unnecessary toll roads. SANRAL’s decision is one that affects us all, but that will have a particularly profound effect on the poorest and most vulnerable groups that call Cape Town home.

The toll road project would place a R10 billion financial burden to provide services to SANRAL, which the City of Cape Town’s ratepayers would have to bear. The bulk of the Western Cape wine estates and its visitors would be affected by the implementation of toll roads outside Cape Town.

Brett Herron commits to improving city for disabled

Councillor Brett Herron has committed to improving the city for the disabled, after taking up the Wheelchair Challenge of Whilma Liedeman to spend a morning in a wheelchair. The experience led him to make a firm commitment to make public transport and the streets of Cape Town more easily accessible for the disabled.

The event, attended by Whilma, several other wheelchair users and journalists, was the start of a process of getting feedback from various disability groups about how to optimise their access on public transport and their use of city streets.  “Spending four hours in a wheelchair opened my eyes to what wheelchair users face daily. While I expected to be physically exhausted, the real challenge was the barriers in our way,” said Cllr Herron.

Transport for Cape Town (TCT), the City’s transport authority launched late last year, will set the standards for universal access – access for all groups, including the disabled, elderly people and children, those carrying large amounts of luggage and even women travelling alone at night. TCT will also ensure links between train, bus and other transport services are accessible, and oversee implementation.

“Crossing Strand Street was scary”, he said. There are ramps onto the pavement, but wheelchair users struggled to push themselves onto these ramps at the central island, and on the other side of the road.

At the Civic Centre station, Cllr Herron and his companions tested wheelchair access onto the MyCiTi buses. Some of them struggled to push their wheelchairs onto the boarding bridge that led to the bus, as there was a slight dip between the station platform and the bridge.   “This will be improved,” said Cllr Herron. “We designed the MyCiTi service to be universally accessible, and will tweak it until it is user friendly. MyCiTi has been hailed internationally as a role-model on universal access – we have tactile paving for the blind, boarding bridges, audible pedestrian crossings, safety features including CCTV cameras – and yet we are still on a learning curve.”

The group visited the Cape Town railway station. There is wheelchair access through special broad turnstiles at the station, and the service is gradually being upgraded to provide universal access.  “The problem of a gap between the platform and the train carriages remains, but disabled people can phone ahead to organise for Metrorail staff to help them board.  The exciting news is that the new train sets, which will be universally accessible, are arriving in the first quarter of 2015,” he said.

Along the Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain lines, 18 stations are to be revamped, and will be universally accessible.

“What happened today is part of a meaningful process, not just a once-off event,  As a policymaker, I must state that universal access is something we must address urgently. It will be done incrementally – it cannot happen overnight – but it will happen. Either a facility is universally accessible, or it is not. There is no half-way mark, ” he said.

For more information about the MyCiTi service, log on to www.myciti.org.za or phone the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63.