CBCRA Newsletter February 2025

View this email in your browser GOALS FOR 2025 We are excited to share an update on our ongoing initiatives and our vision for 2025 as we work together to Serve, Conserve and Preserve our beloved Camps Bay.  2025 kicked off with many positives and quite a few challenges. Our Goals for 2025: CID Collaboration: Enhance safety and cleanliness throughout Camps Bay. Marine Outfall Plants: Demand immediate action to resolve the sewage discharge issue. Accountable Planning: Challenge unsustainable developments and uphold property rights. Enhanced Communication: Keep our community informed and engaged via our new digital platforms. Securing Funding: Build a dedicated team to support legal challenges and safeguard community amenities. OUR CURRENT FOCUS KLOOF ROAD CLOSURE: Efforts are underway to secure the necessary environmental approvals for the repairs. An open day was recently held to better inform all residents as to the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate’s plans. Councillor Nicola Jowell has posted a Facebook media release on the progress here. We will keep you updated of any further developments. READ THE UPDATE MARINE OUTFALL PLANTS (MOPs): The persistent issue of raw sewage discharge into our bay remains a top priority. We continue to work closely with scientists, conservationists, and lobby groups to hold the City accountable and demand immediate action to protect our marine environment and public health. The City continues to deny and obfuscate the danger of the Marine Outfall Plants (MOP’s) issue. How the specialized, independent findings of pre-eminent scientists can be ignored by the City is beyond belief, as is the fact that up to 5m litres of raw sewage is pumped into the bay daily without a worry. Here is a HAVE YOUR SAY campaign by the City, please send your comments in before 3 March 2025. HAVE YOUR SAY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: We are actively challenging unsustainable developments that threaten our community’s amenity and property values. Our advocacy aims to ensure responsible planning and transparency from the City, safeguarding our streetscape and preserving the character of Camps Bay. The disgraceful approval of the beachfront hotel revealed the true colours of the City planning apparatus: To approve completely inappropriate and non-compliant buildings for the financial benefit of the development industry and then use public money on expensive legal defence of its actions. • The beachfront hotel case judgement will be appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal and the CBCRA is confident that its case will be successful this time. The CBCRA reiterates its stance that it wants to work with the City in planning matters but, sadly, only finds a dictatorial attitude on the part of the City.  • “Development at any cost” is not a sustainable policy, even if it brings in additional rates income to the City. The problematic issue of potential party funding must also be addressed in a transparent manner. • Illegal building work (without planning approval) was halted on sites at 59 CB Drive and 18 Hove Rd. The Building Inspectorate responded to community complaints timeously, for which we are grateful. • A petition is run by neighbours of 18 Central drive with regards to illegal building. Please follow the link to sign the petition. SIGN THE PETITION CID COLLABORATION: The CID is up and running and has certainly contributed to a much-improved Camps Bay. Statistics look good and there are a lot of anecdotal compliments, with the season being relatively well controlled. A lot of planning was involved but, obviously, a fair amount of reactivity is always the order of the day. Our partnership with the CID is proving effective, with tangible improvements in community safety and cleanliness. We remain committed to strengthening this collaboration to further benefit our neighborhood. ENHANCED COMMUNICATION AND FUNDING: We are proud to announce the launch of our new website at www.cbcra.co.za, which will serve as a central hub for news, updates, and community engagement. Alongside our active social media on Facebook and Instagram, we are focusing on securing funding to support our legal challenges and vital community projects. Most of the funding required by the CBCRA is for legal challenges to planning approval. This involves large sums of money but, on the basis of the vested interest of property owners – and planning decisions causing massive property devaluations – it is clearly in the interests of local property owners to support the CBCRA and protect your property values. A dedicated team will be set up to attend to this matter. Any volunteers who have experience with fundraising are invited to contact Chris Willemse on +27836536363 or campsbayratepayers@gmail.com. We invite you to join us in this journey. Your support—whether through volunteering, donating, or simply staying informed—plays a crucial role in our collective success. For more details, updates, and to get involved, please visit our website or follow our social media channels. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to making Camps Bay a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable community. Sincerely, Chris Willemse Chairman, CBCRA www.cbcra.co.za DONATE NOW Copyright (C) 2025 Camps Bay & Clifton Ratepayers Association. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up as a member of the CBCRA or owns property in Camps Bay.  Our mailing address is: Camps Bay & Clifton Ratepayers Association 13 Blinkwater Road Camps Bay Cape Town, WC 8005 South Africa Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

Petition – 18 Central Drive

7 February 2025

Dear Camps Bay Resident

Re: 18 Central Drive, Camps Bay

A serious planning error has become apparent at 18 Central Drive, Camps Bay. The building plans, which were approved by the City, show that the rear of the building exceeds the permissible height by at least 1.8m. 

While the owner claims that only the rear is affected, lowering the roof to meet regulations would effectively eliminate the third storey—resulting in a building that is far less imposing on our streetscape and would allow better views from across the street. Moreover, an official “height certificate” supporting the current approval has not been found on the City file.

These errors have a significant negative impact on the views and amenities of neighbouring properties. The CBCRA is assisting affected residents and is calling on the broader community to rally in support to protect our property rights. 

If you would like to help, please print this petition letter and send to Angela at villaatlanticacampsbay@gmail.com or reach out directly to CBCRA. 

Join us in serving our community, conserving our environment, and preserving the unique character of Camps Bay.

Regards

Chris Willemse

Chair

CBCRA

 

2025 Vision

 

The CBCRA's 2025 VISION is to SERVE, CONSERVE and PRESERVE our treasured Camps Bay.

Join us as we share updates on community safety, environmental challenges and our fight for responsible planning.