While there is still much debate around the City’s plans for the redevelopment of the King David Mowbray Golf Course - the project could take up to 10 years before getting off the ground.
This was shared during the City’s recent second round of online public participation meetings. The second meeting on Thursday, March 13 followed the initial meeting on Wednesday, 26 February which was marred by technical issues.
The Tatler previously reported that the City was exploring a long-term vision for the site, which includes the land on which the KDMGC and the Clyde Pinelands Football Club are located. The proposed mixed-use development would include a range of housing opportunities including social housing, commercial spaces and public amenities (“Discourse over City's golf course plans,” Thursday March 6)
At the initial meeting, residents raised concerns relating to traffic impact, infrastructure capacity, environmental and heritage considerations, and spatial planning. The City said it was still in the early stages of a lengthy process and public participation would play a vital role in shaping the final proposed development concept.
Sub-council 16 chairman Matthew Kempthorne reiterated the importance of these public participation meetings. He emphasized the City’s commitment to transparency and consultation, for the proposed redevelopment, stressing the need for community engagement in determining the site's future use.
Town planner Anine Trumpelmann, shared the City's Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and its objectives. According to the projected timeline, impact assessments and technical investigations will take place in October and November, City to decide whether to proceed to statutory applications by January 2026, statutory processes to take place from 2025 to 2028, land packaging and statutory processes for disposal from January to January 2029, City to decide whether to dispose of land between January and June 2029, the tender and disposal process to take place between January 2028 - January 2029, transfer of property around February 2034, building plans by April 2035 and construction by April 2036.
The King David Mowbray Golf Club currently leases the 43-hectare golf course, which has a market value of about R171 million. The club entered into a new 10-year lease with a two-year cancellation clause, in May, after its long-term lease expired in 2022.
Residents once again questioned the City’s plans to address the impact this development would have on traffic, the sewage system, property values, schooling, the environmental impact, heritage and infrastructure among other points.
The City has proposed a mixed-use development for King David Mowbray Golf Club.
Image: supplied
The South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA), whose headquarters are at the golf club, started an online petition against the proposals. The petition, launched on Monday February 24, garnered over 2 000 signatures in just a few days and currently stands on just over 2 800 signatures.
SADGA chairman Mike Flax said it was great to see Capetonians rally behind a hard-working economic and social asset like King David Mowbray Golf Club.
”Serious concerns about the potential development are being voiced by them - a piece of Cape Town heritage will be lost, a green lung will be lost, the home of Disabled Golf in South Africa will be lost, and a course driving job creation through golf tourism will be lost. And then also, factors such as the severely increased traffic congestion large developments cause, as well as the lack of available space in local schools, have also been highlighted well by participants during the meetings,” he said.
He questioned why the City would want to destroy a functioning and valuable asset.
“The entire King David Mowbray Golf Club acknowledges the serious need for affordable housing in Cape Town. Spatial inequality should be addressed urgently. But why destroy a functioning and valuable asset, while there are so many empty peices of land are available in the city? It makes no sense. Think of the open stretches in District Six and Ysterplaat. Or land next to Valkenburg along the M5 or the site of the old Athlone power station,” Mr Flax said.
He said they would continue to participate in the public process that lies ahead.
The period for submitting comments closes on Monday March 31. To comment visit http://www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay