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A PLAN to build up to 280 houses at the informal settlements of Rondevlei and Cuba Heights in Lavender Hill is underway as City officials brainstorm the best possible way to begin construction.

Project Manager Isgak Murison of the City of Cape Town Human Settlement Services Department this week confirmed the existence of preliminary plans by the City of Cape Town to introduce government subsidised, high-density housing on land currently inhabited by about 30 families living in shacks.

Most of these residents are former back-yard dwellers who invaded the land in 2004 because they could not afford the cost of renting accommodation on land owned by more permanent residents in the area explained Cuba Heights resident Howard Soetwater, who is chairperson of the Helping the Homeless Development Association.

Murison said there had been some dissatisfaction expressed by residents about the size of the 200 to 280 planned housing units. At this stage it is envisioned that each plot will be 100 square metres, which he said is in line with basic government housing standards and will also maximise the housing potential of the site.

"Because there is such a dire need for housing in the city and the fact that the housing list is currently standing at about 400 000, our first priority will undoubtedly be to provide as many people as we can with houses. Providing people with plots of 200 square metres will not allow us to fulfil this objective," he said.

Murison said a complete Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the area will help the city's town planners and engineering departments to determine how best to go about construction on the land. The assessment will include determining if a portion of the seasonal wetlands on the site earmarked for development will first have to be removed in order for construction to begin.

When asked to comment about the impact the development could have on the surrounding natural environment Dalton Gibbs, Conservation Manager in the Southern Region, said Rondevlei Nature Reserve had no intention of opposing the development.

"Although there is a wetlands present at the site, the area meant for development is not considered a part of the protected Rondevlei Reserve. However, because it is a natural environment it is nevertheless important for the community to be aware of the significance and natural importance of the area," he said.

Commenting on the natural richness of the area, Gibbs said a special plant endemic to the Cape was recently discovered by conservationists in the vicinity of Cuba Heights. He said only 50 examples of this plant existed in the world.

"I would not say that it is not a problem that a portion of the seasonal wetlands at the site might be lost, because 95% of our local wetlands have already been lost which means that we are destroying our children's natural heritage," he said.

Basil Lee, ward councillor for the area and chair of Subcouncil 18, said contractors for the project had yet to be decided upon but that a housing steering committee would be established within the next few weeks.

He said the committee would offer a broader representation of residents living in the Lavender Hill area and would liaise with developers throughout the construction period.

Howard Soetwater said that an initial verbal agreement with housing officials promised that everyone living in Cuba Heights and Rondevlei informal settlements was on the City of Cape Town's extensive housing list.

Soetwater said that to his knowledge every family currently living on the site was on the City's housing list.

But Murison said that the City?s original intention was to make provision for families who have been living in the area for about 20 years, and for other residents living in surrounding pockets of informal settlements before recent invasions.

"Allocation still has to be workshopped once steering committees are in place. It must be noted that community consultation has been taking place for some time and the community has been advised that issues such as rezoning of the land and the EIA would take up to 18 months from the beginning of the planning process," Murison said.

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