BREDELL SHOULD ADHERE TO THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN’S 2018 MUNICIPAL SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK AND PROTECT THE PHA
Statement by Brett Herron, Secretary –General of GOOD.
20th February 2020
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Following the court’s ruling that the decisions taken regarding proposed developments in the Philippi Agricultural Area (PHA) – Cape Town’s urban agricultural areas – I wish to direct the public and MEC Bredell to the City of Cape Town’s revised Spatial Development Framework (MSDF).
The MSDF includes a provision that with regard to portions of the PHA that have been earmarked by the Province for development, “should the court set aside the decision on the relevant land use application, these areas should be considered for inclusion in the Philippi Farming Area.” I encourage the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government to comply with this condition of the Council-approved development framework.
In 2018 whilst I was responsible for planning gin the City of Cape Town, my staff achieved a first – a revolutionary development framework for a South African city. The revised Municipal Spatial Development Framework for Cape Town that I took to Council in April 2018 was developed to be the antidote to apartheid spatial planning (http://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2C%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Cape%20Town%20Metropolitan%20Spatial%20Development%20Framework_2018-04-25.pdf).
The Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) was a particular focal point in the city’s revised development plan. Experts across the board recommended protecting this valuable food production and groundwater recharge area. The MSDF confirms (Page 146) that “the PHA is unique in that it includes the Philippi Farming Area and plays a significant role in supporting food security at a metropolitan scale” and that “the area has value as an aquifer recharge area and thus critical from a water resilience perspective.”
The MSDF furthermore confirms that, with respect to portions of land that had been earmarked by the Province for development, “notwithstanding past decisions it is now considered as core farming area and the ideal future designation should be CNA [Critical Natural Areas]. Should the court set aside the decision on the relevant land use application, these areas should be considered for inclusion in the Philippi Farming Area.”
We thus ensured that the incorporation of this land in to the city’s network of protected and critical natural areas would be possible. As the city leans more heavily on groundwater during emergencies, and our increasing population demands more food, it is imperative that we safeguard our future food and water security.
ENDS
Media enquiries: Brett Herron 082 518 3264