The City of Cape Town intends to upgrade the coastal protection, public landside infrastructure and services at the Muizenberg Beachfront. The City is currently in the concept design phase of the Muizenberg Beachfront upgrade and is applying for the necessary Environmental Authorisation required. The first Public Participation Process for this project commences today, 25 August 2022 and the commenting period will end on Monday, 26 September 2022.
The project aims to replace and improve the coastal protection, improve pedestrian and universal access to the beach and upgrade the recreational spaces along this portion of the coastline.
The City’s Coastal management branch is currently running a National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) Basic Assessment process in order to obtain the necessary environmental approval for the proposed Muizenberg Beachfront upgrade project.
The City will be hosting a public open day to share all the background information on the planned project. Residents and interested parties are invited to attend this information session as the design team will be available to answer questions and discuss the project information on display.
The Open Day will take place on Wednesday, 7 September 2022 at the Muizenberg Civic Centre between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
The proposed upgrades will take place at Surfers Corner, on the western part of the beachfront along Beach Road in Muizenberg. The main upgrade area boundary includes the connection to the St James walkway, Surfers Corner steps, main promenade area and the western and eastern parking area.
‘Muizenberg beachfront is a coastal destination place and is one of the most utilised and diverse coastal beachfronts in Cape Town.
I am therefore very happy to see that the project process is well underway and look forward to reviewing the proposed upgrade designs. Although we are in the initial phase of the project it is important that we get the input from the community now, while we are still finalising the concept design. I encourage all residents and interested parties to make use of this opportunity and to attend the public open day as a start in order to engage with officials around the proposed Muizenberg Beachfront Upgrade project,’ said the City of Cape Town’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The City of Cape Town has appointed a professional team to investigate and prepare designs for the proposed upgrades to be undertaken at the beachfront. The project design team includes civil and coastal engineers as well as architectural and landscaping consultants.
The proposed upgrades and repairs include:
• New stepped revetment coastal protection structure
• Refurbishment of hard and soft landscaping and amenities along beachfront as well as improved connection to the St James coastal walkway;
• Incorporating a three metre-wide universally accessible promenade
• Formalising of the western and eastern parking areas
• Upgrade of recreational areas and playground
• Demolition of existing ablution facility on the beach and construction of new ablution.
The public are invited to register as an interested and affected party (I&AP) for the Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed upgrades to stay informed on the process and secure your right to comment and give inputs. There will be further opportunities to participate in the coming months as the project progresses, and all registered I&APs will be notified of these.
For more information, to comment, or to arrange alternative ways of participating, please contact the Environmental Assessment Practitioner, Tarryn Solomon of Infinity Environmental: comments@infinityenv.co.za or (021) 834 1602 079
A Background Information Document is available online at www.infinityenv.co.za/muizenbergbeachfront
