Sitting down and thinking about the town where I live, the town I have been calling home for the last 10 years, has really given me an opportunity reflect on what it is that makes this part of the world so special.

I sometimes have this crazy notion that I wish I could see this part of the Cape with the eyes of a stranger, the eyes of a foreigner…someone who sees the wild thunderous sea in the middle of a Northwester storm for the first time, or the vast azure in the middle of summer. Someone who walks to the top of Slangkop for the first time, as the white breakers roll into the Kom, watches a sunset in every chocolate box hue of pink and orange. In a nutshell, here nature is breathtakingly, awe-inspiringly, mind-numbingly beautiful. Mountains and sea. Dynamic, changeable, unpredictable, exciting.

I love the small-town feel, walking to the café, knowing the local business owners. A walk is usually not just a walk, more often a lengthy business as I “stop-and-chat” my way across the beach or along the board walk. In the mornings I see children walking and cycling to school, children being walked to school by moms, dads, and nannies.
I know and talk to my neighbours.
I know that I share this place with people who care passionately about the environment, who are involved, pro-active, creative, talented, dedicated. Ordinary people who go about their lives, who drive to work in the mornings and come back home to a beautiful spot under the sun.

May we never take it for granted, may we never forget to be grateful. May we never stop caring, stop wanting to protect and preserve this beauty. Let us never become blasé or ignorant.

I want to stay aware of the splendour of this place, and the kindness of my townsfolk.
I want need and greed to stay away from what we have.

May I keep my “new” eyes wide open, every day.

Written by Magdaleen Joubert

Lighthouse        Shiona-&-Kaiser-Long-Beach        Kommetjie-Lighthouse-web

 Photos  taken by Phil Smuts

Kommetjie Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (KRRA)

The Kommetjie Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association is an active civic, environment and watchdog group. It participates in promoting transitional town thinking, spatial planning  and development application processes. This means sometimes locking horns with local and provincial government officials and developers in order to ensure that Kommetjie’s rural character is not lost. We also tackle alien invasive plant problems, co-ordinate clean-ups, indigenous garden planting, waste minimization and other improvement activities. We participate in Far South Peninsula Community Forum and Ward forum activities, exploring opportunities for working more collaboratively with other civic groups. Though we have a good number of members we would appreciate greater local resident support to give us more voice in decision-making corridors. We are happy to see Kommetjie’s many scenic, environmental and local business resources being enjoyed by the citizens of greater Cape Town and beyond. There are monthly meetings of the KRRA executive as well as an AGM. All are welcome to attend. Enquiries to current chairman ‘Bruce Marvin’ contactable at:

New Development Proposals

Kommetjie Proposed Development of Residential Units along Wireless Rd.

Notice of EIA and Public Participation Process (PPP).
Kommetjie Estates Ltd. is proposing to develop residential units and associated infrastructure along Wireless Rd on Portion of Remainder Farm 948. 
To register as an interested & affected party or person, and to obtain a copy of the background information report, contact Melissa McJames of CHAND Environmental Consultants on or email by 14 December.
 

Kommetjie Proposed mixed use Development

Notice of EIA and Public Participation Process (PPP).
Kommetjie Estates is proposing a mixed use development comprising residential apartments, group housing, a commercial component and associated infrastructure between Kommetjie Main Rd and Teubes Rd
To register as an interested & affected party or person, and to obtain a copy of the background information report, contact Melissa McJames of CHAND Environmental Consultants on or email by 14 December.
 

Kommetjie Proposed Development of 4 Residential Units along Main Road.

Notice of EIA and Public Participation Process (PPP).
Redcliff Property (PTY) Ltd. is proposing to develop 4 residential units and associated infrastructure along Main Road. 
To register as an interested & affected party or person, and to obtain a copy of the background information report, contact Melissa McJames of CHAND Environmental Consultants on or email by 14 December.
 
 
 

Proposed new NSRI Base Station for Kommetjie

Chand Environmental Consultants have been appointed by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment process for the proposal to construct a sea rescue base station, to be located on Van Imhoff Way in Kommetjie.  The proposal also involves replacing the existing degraded municipal ablution block which would be demolished, with new municipal toilets.

A Basic Assessment is required in order to provide the relevant environmental authorities with information about the potential impacts of the proposed construction of a sea rescue base station within 100m of the high water mark of the sea.  This process has to be undertaken by independent consultants. Authorisation, which may be granted subject to conditions, will only be considered once this environmental assessment process has been completed.

As part of the requirements for this Environmental Impact Assessment process, a copy of the Final Basic Assessment Report and Environmental Management Plan will be made available for PUBLIC REVIEW from the 01st June 2010 – 21st June 2010 at the Kommetjie Library.

Comments that you would like to make regarding the content of these documents would be appreciated. Please ensure that you return the comment sheet (available at the above location) to: Mellissa Mc James of Chand Environmental Consultants at Fax: 021-0; Tel: 021-0 or Email: by no later than 21st June 2010.

See it Kommetjie ( http://capepointroute.co.za/seeit-kommetjie.php )