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WITH thousands of residential and business units planned for construction in or around Pinelands in the next few years, at the heart of the soaring developments lies the question: is the "garden city" ready to take more?

"The traffic is already at maximum volume and can take no more," comes the quick answer from Megum Reyneke, committee member of the Pinelands Ratepayers' Association, who has been li?ving in Pinelands for more than 30 years. "Essential services such as water and sewage are at capacity and the city will have to do something to upgrade before any new developments can take place."

Besides two developments proposed last year ? the old Conradie Hospital site and Oude Molen Village, in which more than 3 000 residential units are expected to be built ? last week People's Post was informed by Old Mutual of the possible residential development of the Mupine Golf Course, which is owned by the company.

Rojie Kisten, general manager for corporate affairs at Old Mutual, says, "We have scheduled mee?tings and engagements with the various stakeholders to ensure concerns are taken on board and addressed. In addition, we have to obtain the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities for our plans."

According to an insider, the possible development will be a mixed one that is predominantly residential. He says, according to an internal e-mail he received from Old Mutual recently, that the development even has the potential of being a "2010 soccer village".

John Berry, chairperson of the Pinelands Ratepayers? Association, says, "We are open-minded about new developments. Every proposal of developments we receive we take very seriously and discuss at our general meetings before the developments actually take place."

Brian Watkyns, local ward councillor for Pinelands, says, "I am not against new developments; development in itself is a good thing, but the infrastructure in the area must meet the growing needs.

"Besides traffic and sewerage capacity problems, Pinelands also has a problem with water pressure."

Reyneke is concerned that too much development in such a confined space will lead to a high crime rate and difficulty policing the area. "Moral values will be on the decline, and high density living could be viewed as slumming. The pro?perty value of both Pinelands and Thornton will definitely drop."

Reyneke also suggests a "retirement or golf estate" type development would be more suited to this area, thus ensuring the natural beauty and value of the area are retained.

According to Watkyns, there is no infrastructure upgrading plan for the Pinelands area on the City of Cape Town's agenda, despite the population in the area possibly doubling.

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