KRRA Joins Calls to Save Capri Common

Photo Capri Common Courtesy Sunnydale Resident's Association

The Kommetjie Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (KRRA) has endorsed a submission by the Sunnydale Ratepayers’ Association (SRA) that objects to plans for 32 dwelling units on Capri Common -- a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA).

In a red alert for all open spaces and Critical Biodiversity Areas, KRRA chair Patrick Dowling has joined Capri residents to object to the Draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) for the proposed development on Erf 15300 (the Capri Common) by yesterday's deadline of 8 January.

Erf 15300 is classified as a CBA 1a, the highest conservation category under the Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan. Land in this category is meant to be kept in a natural or near-natural state, with further habitat loss avoided.

The site supports Critically Endangered Hangklip Sand Fynbos, listed under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA). Despite this status, the proposed development would allow 32 dwelling units on the land.

Ongoing citizen efforts prevent alien species from taking over the area, and it is these community voices that should be heard as a crucial part of the public participation process

Dowling echoed the sentiments of the Sunnydale Ratepayers' Association (SRA), who submitted a detailed objection that motivated for a No-Go designation of the CBA, which should rather be conserved and maintained.

The KRRA chair reiterated that ongoing citizen efforts prevent alien species from taking over the area, and it is these community voices that should be heard as a crucial part of the public participation process -- a vital part of decision-making on developments that pose environmental and other threats.

The KRRA's objection was predicated on how the proposal contradicted the city's own plans to keep CBAs intact, and submitted the following points to indicate why it was opposed to the development, beginning with the recently approved Cape Town Biodiversity Spatial Plan 2025, which included the following statements (to some KRRA added observations.)

a) Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) must remain intact to meet national biodiversity targets for terrestrial and aquatic (wetland) ecosystems. CBAs and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs)

b) These targets are also required to secure Cape Town’s unique biodiversity into the future and in an effort to strive for the principle of sustainable development. (not just sustaining development which it has often, accurately been described as.

c) The purpose of the Cape Town Biodiversity Spatial Plan 2025 is to inform and guide planning, environmental assessment, and natural resource management and it provides a framework for all CCT line departments to align their environmental responsibilities. (An integrated decision-making methodology has long been lacking in City spatial planning processes.)

d) The spatially explicit Cape Town BioNet facilitates forward planning that minimises impacts on biodiversity. (The new spatial plan addresses the method to achieve this.)

e) The intention of the Cape Town Biodiversity Spatial Plan 2025 is to reduce conflict between the environmental and other sectors. (This should help reduce lengthy and expensive legal reviews.)

f) The Biodiversity spatial plan aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2022 (Note that: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is a landmark 2022 agreement to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, featuring four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 specific targets for 2030, including protecting 30% of land/seas (30x30), restoring 30% of degraded areas)

g) The plan highlights Biodiversity Priority Areas (BPAs) (these include Table Mountain National Park which abuts Capri which is also in the buffer zone of the Table Mountain World heritage site)

h) The Cape Town Biodiversity Spatial Plan 2025 aims to ensure that further loss and degradation of natural habitat in BPAs is limited (not aggravated)

Without sustained voluntary community effort over many years the Capri Common would have been completely overgrown by alien invasive species like Port Jackson (Acacia saligna - pictured) and Australian Myrtle (Leptospermum laevigatum). The voices of the custodians who have helped ensure the restoration of local flora so effectively should be taken most seriously in the public participation process.

Given the climate-change-driven water insecurity that the City is having to accept as part of the new normal, it is essential that the storage and local natural-habitat-supporting function of any local wetland is fully protected.

The development of new dwelling units here will add to the cumulative impact on municipal services, particularly road congestion, fresh water and waste-water system leakages. A continued trend of rear-guard actions to try and fix overstressed services cannot be deemed acceptable.

The KRRA joins other Far South civic voices in calling for the “meaningful and vigorous protection” of this cherished and historical commonage.

Patrick Dowling

KRRA executive member

Karoo, 6 Weavers End, Kommetjie

Cell: 0849661249