Read background and objections to toll plaza below or go to 16 February update at: https://scenicsouth.co.za//2012/02/chapmans-peak-toll-plaza-pgwc-considers-alternatives/
Excavation started today, 30 January, in preparation for construction of the proposed new Chapman’s Peak toll plaza. MEC for Transport, Robin Carlisle’s authorization of the construction flies in the face of a number of community initiatives to get the decisions to build the controversial toll plaza reviewed. “What is the rush?” asks Terry Weiner, a spokesperson for CRAG (Civil Rights Action Group). Why are a host of genuine community interests being bulldozed aside and construction starting before the all the approvals are in place? The TMNP land required for the toll plaza still needs to be excised by Parliament. Surely to start construction, albeit within the road reserve, implies that Parliament which needs to de-proclaim the land from the TMNP is simply rubber stamping someone else’s decision. This can not be fair administrative practice nor a legal procedural sequence. I find it plain scary!!
Other questions posed by CRAG at a press conference on site this morning include:
1 Show us that tolling Chapman’s Peak is necessary for the viability of the Drive.
2 If so we need guarantees of an affordable concession for local commuters.
3 We need our emergency service vehicles excluded from paying a toll. Currently police, ambulances, fire fighters etc have to pay to use Chapman’s Peak Drive.
4 If the Drive needs to be tolled, then use new technology which has a low impact. Why go with an old system that includes a huge toll plaza?
Photo on LHS: members of both CRAGS and the Xorana Royal House discuss concerns about the toll plaza while Chapman’s Peak broods in the background. It was clear that people at the meeting felt strongly that tolling Chapman’s Peak was not about addressing transport or community needs but is rather about privatizing a National asset and creating a business opportunity for private gain. In another version of `Follow the Money’ Sam Pellissier, CRAG mediator, said “Take the Money off our Mountain.” He was supported by spokespeople for the Xorana Royal House representing the aboriginal Khoisan community of Hout Bay who hold the Sentinel and Chapman’s Peak to be sacred sites.
They voiced concerns that many of us share: The issue of affordable access between Hout Bay and the Far South Peninsula. The belief that Chapman’s Peak `range’ is a particularly special part of our Natural Heritage and will be negatively impacted by a toll plaza out of scale with the need and the natural environment. They asked rather pertinently why SANParks had granted in principal approval for the land to be used as a toll plaza for big business, but would not consider granting the Xorana land on The Sentinal.
The tolling of Chapman’s Peak Drive and the proposed toll plaza has a long and complex history and is apparently tied to bad decisions and possibly corruption at the time when the original contracts for privatization of the maintenance of Chapman’s Peak Drive were signed. Why with a new MEC and a new Premier are we still carrying this burden? If these contracts were drawn up to favour business interests rather than community and road users needs then why was Helen Zille reported on Cape Talk this morning as saying that she supports the need for the tolling of Chapman’s Peak and for the toll plaza?
Photo on LHS: Representatives of community organisations claim that in spite of the many volumes of technical documents community concerns are not adequately addressed. 
KimK
For an upade on meetings with Province, Murray & Roberts and Entilini held on 16 February and comittment by PGWC to look at alternatives go to: https://scenicsouth.co.za//2012/02/chapmans-peak-toll-plaza-pgwc-considers-alternatives/
The Hout Bay Residents Association is investigating a range of options including legal action and CRAG is initiating ongoing public awareness actions. A comprehensive factual response to approval of the toll plaza has been sent to the Premier. If you do not support the way the tolling of Chapman’s Peak Drive is being managed or the need for the proposed toll plaza, then consider signing the petition below.
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION! at
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-development-on-chappies/
Included below is a letter to the Scenic South from Ward 61 Councillor, Simon Liell-Cock
Dear Viv, As chairman of the Far South Peninsula Community Forum I was involved in the Chapmans Peak issue from the start but, once the issue of the toll at Noordhoek was dropped, the FSPCF ceased to be an interested party. As a result I have not been involved in this issue for some years and do not think I have the necessary insight into the issue to provide informed comment. For what it is worth here is my understanding:-
1 – There is a long history which includes corruption, cronyism and bad decisions which predate the Murray and Roberts and the current MEC.
2 – It is accepted that the road will be tolled,
3 – It is accepted that there will be a toll plaza and some support buildings for staff and monitoring equipment,
4 – The scale of the support buildings appear to exceed the requirements,
5 – The plaza will be an eyesore and therefore degrade the natural scenic beauty of the drive and reduce the value of Cape Town’s natural assets which are critical for our tourism industry,
5 – The community want the MEC to prevent Entilini from building the Plaza as currently proposed.
If my understanding is correct then the questions that need to be answered are:
1 – Is the plaza as currently proposed excessively large for the requirements?
2 – Will the plaza be an eyesore (with all the associated negative effects)?
3 – Does the MEC have the authority to prevent the building of the Plaza as currently proposed and if so
4 – What will be the consequences be if he does?
If we had these answers (with the necessary backup facts and without the emotions) then we would be able to arrive at a logical and reasonable conclusion.
Regards
Simon Liell-Cock
For further back ground information on the Chapman’s Peak toll plaza go to: https://scenicsouth.co.za//2012/01/chapmans-peak-toll-office-not-on-our-drive-or-in-the-tmnp/
5 Comment
PCPM, February 19, 2012 at 11:45 pm
An URGENT call from The Protect Chapman’s Peak Movement (PCPM)
THE CLOCK IS TICKING!!
“BUILD AN OFFICE BLOCK AND TOLL PLAZA ON CHAPMAN’S PEAK OVER MY DEAD BODY!”
Bronwen Lankers-Byrne who has been on a hunger strike since 7am on Sunday, 5th February in protest against the construction, has vowed to continue her vigil.
Bronwen, who turns 60 next month, has positioned herself on the side of the road, just opposite the construction site of an Office Block and Toll Plaza on Chapman’s Peak Drive. With a folding chair, signs, a petition for signatures and lots of water, she said she would stay “until they put down the tools and talk transparently about alternative options”.
Public opinion on the Chappies debacle has been voiced through:
those who are willing to place their life on the line by embarking on a hunger strike
those who have physically handcuffed themselves to the construction site
2500 protesters at the January protest march on Chapman’s Peak
1,230 online petitioners (so far!)
thousands of paper signed petitioners
engagement by both individuals and groups directly with the WC Government / Murray & Roberts.
Blogs, Facebook and Twitter, which are awash with public opinion chastising the decision on both the toll plaza and the office block.
the print media, in which hardly a day goes by without many people voicing their objection, which has been only partly recorded here Public opinion.
The Sunday Times, which this last week polled its online readership with the question “Should an operations centre and toll plaza be built on Chapman’s Peak Drive?” At the last count, out of 1693 votes the results reflected 85% having said NO!.
Yet, in absolute disregard for the overwhelming public objection to the construction of the Office Block and Toll Plaza, construction will continue tomorrow morning 20th February!
THE CALL
We the people of South Africa call for:
A halt to construction;
The introduction of electronic tolling;
The removal of the present toll booms and containers;
No toll plaza or building on Chapman’s Peak (either in the road reserve or in the TMNP/World Heritage site) ;
The present day pass system to remain in perpetuity.
THE STATEMENT
To: Provincial Government of Western Cape, SANParks, Murray & Roberts;
STOP DAMAGING A WORLD HERITAGE SITE
SPEND TAX PAYER’S MONEY ON SCHOOLS, HOUSING & CLINICS
RESPECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHILDREN
STOP VIOLATING THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTITUTION
The Protect Chapman’s Peak Movement (PCPM)
WHAT CAN I DO?
CONTACT the following ASAP!
Premier of WC Twitter: @helenzille
CEO Murray & Roberts /
CEO SANParks
Gareth Morgan – Shadow Minister of Environmental Affairs Twitter: @gareth_morgan
Lindiwe Mazibuko – Parliamentary Leader of the DA Twitter: @LindiMazibuko
Make a donation towards the legal costs of taking the matter to court: Click HERE to find out more about this.. A team of highly experienced legal specialists researching the legality of the development have assured the Resident’s Association of Hout Bay that there is a good case for stopping construction.
Join Bronwen on Chapman’s Peak 7am – 7pm daily (just ask for a Day Pass to avoid paying the Toll)
Join the conversation on Facebook: Click HERE to go to the Facebook event page..
Sign the petition: Click HERE to go to the online petition…
All of the above!
ReplyChapman's Peak Toll Plaza - PGWC considers alternatives | The Scenic South, February 17, 2012 at 7:09 pm
[...] For background info go to: https://scenicsouth.co.za//2012/01/chapman%E2%80%99s-peak-toll-plaza-bulldozing-ahead/ [...]
ReplyOwl Man, February 15, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Conservation of the beauty of the Cape Peninsula has a sad history, witness:
- The Tampax Towers
- Vineyards too high on the Constantiaberg
- Squatter camps in Hout Bay on the mountain side
- The very ugly rock fall protection systems on Chapman’s Peak
- This ridiculous Chapman’s Peak Plaza Building
- etc.
I for one am tired are paying for endless follies and dismayed by people hell bent on ruining our scenery.
ReplyViv, February 10, 2012 at 3:20 pm
59 year old Hout Bay activist Bronwen Lankers-Byrne, on a hunger strike in protest against the construction of the toll office building on Chapman’s Peak, said on Cape Talk this afternoon (Fri 10 Feb) that she is prepared to give her life for the cause. She is hoping through her action to get all concerned parties around a table in order to come up with a better option for Chapman’s peak Drive. She is on the 6th day of her strike, drinking only water throughout the 24 hours of each day, sitting opposite the construction site from 7am until 7pm. Asked what she felt about a comment made that she is striking about something trivial in comparison to huge issues of hunger and poverty, she replied that what happens on Chapman’s peak relates to what happens in the whole world. “Throughout the world, big business is colluding with governments without concern for the environment or the people. R54 million is being spent on something so unnecessary and so over the top.” She issued a challenge to governments to “look at their priorities and to serve the people and not their own pockets.
ReplySue, January 30, 2012 at 11:40 pm
I was thinking of what to do about Chappies.
This is BRAGG’s (Bushmans River rate payers Ass) view on dealing with errant officials. The Eastern Cape is the one of the worst in the country. There has been a judge and some lawyers on the committee, so they know the judicial system and are not afraid of using it.
BRAGG targets the actual person responsible for the decision or lack thereof. They take that person to court as the responsible person. This has put pressure on errant council members and workers. BUT they also give support to the council, retired engineers have advised on the sewage system and helped the council. They try to have a good working relationship with the council. Very challenging at times by the sound of the report back at the AGM.
Questions on Chappies:
ReplyWho gave permission to build? Can that person be held responsible?
Is there a departure on the land usage, if so, who gave permission?
If this is SanParks land, who in SanParks gave permission?
Surely there is an existing building that they can use as their head office and not on our mountain.
Excessive waste of money
The toll office is unsightly enough, no need for another blot on the mountain for a select few.
This stinks of cover up.
Cheers,
Sue