Proposed Refurbishment of the Muizenberg Beachfront

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT RATIONALE

The City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management Branch proposes to refurbish public coastal infrastructure and services at Muizenberg Beachfront. The proposed refurbishment will take place at Surfers Corner, on the western part of the beachfront along Beach Road in Muizenberg. The proposed area boundary includes the main promenade area, Surfers Corner steps, St James walkway connection area and the western and eastern parking areas. The public coastal infrastructure and services at the Muizenberg Beachfront are in a state of decline and are showing signs of failure. Minor repairs have been conducted where possible, but these are only short-term solutions and will not maintain the structural integrity of the precinct going forward. In addition, there are longstanding incomplete components of the site that are deteriorating due to overuse.

In order to facilitate the design process and fulfil relevant statutory processes associated with the proposed refurbishment, the City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management Branch, responsible for overseeing coastal processes, procured professional services via an open term contract – 375C/2018/2019: Provision Of Professional Services: Spatial Planning, Environment and Transport. Infinity Environmental forms part of this contract and is the appointed Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) responsible for the statutory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

SITE DESCRIPTION

Muizenberg’s main promenade area currently consists of a wooden revetment that supports the promenade. Landwards of this is an area covered by a combination of lawns, paved areas, a sandy children’s play area, planters, a pergola structure, and pedestrian walkways. There is also an ablution building that extends seawards past the current coastal protection structures and onto the beach. There are two similar-styled buildings (“the NGO buildings”) landwards of the promenade, as well as eight colourful beach huts. The Surfer’s Corner area at the southwest part of the site (“the Point”) is built out of sandstone blocks with general infill material, which is being washed out from underneath it causing the structure to degrade. Landwards of the Point is an unfinished, gravel parking facility.

In its current state, this infrastructure is not expected to withstand the increasing effects of climate change-associated sea level rise. 

PROJECT PROPOSAL

The proposed refurbishment can be classified into two parts: (1) the primary replacement of the coastal defence structures (concrete revetment and accompanying promenade) and (2) the secondary refurbishment of the public space and facilities landwards of the coastal defence structures. It must be noted that the development proposal has changed extensively since inception and the initial public engagement held in August/September 2022, due largely to public comment. The following has been included in the design –

• Coastal defence structures
• Parking areas
• Ablution facility
• Pergola
• Playground
• Paved areas
• Station forecourt
• Services
• Soft landscaping
• Colourful beach huts
• Buildings
• Central Plaza

AMENDMENTS TO THE DBAR 

Changes have been made since the release of the draft BAR in March 2023. The changes include:

• The addition of a specialist Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for the section of the work area that falls below the highwater mark, as requested by the South African Heritage Resource Agency. The findings of this report have been incorporated throughout the amended report and environmental management programme.
• The adjustment to the proposed stormwater pipeline realignment at the Point.
• Clarification on the use of a modular pre-cast removeable/retractable design of the concrete stepped revetment structure.
• Formatting edits to figures to provide for clarity.

In addition, a comments and response table, capturing comments received and responses thereto on the draft BAR, has been included under Appendix F of the amended draft BAR. 

APPLICABLE LEGISLATION

Activity 15 of Listing Notice 1 (GN327 of 2017): for the development of structures in the coastal public property where the development footprint is larger than 50 square metres; Activity 19A of Listing Notice 1 (GN 326 of 2017); for the infilling of any material of more than 5 cubic metres or excavation or moving of sand within 100m of the high water mark; and Activity 52 of Listing Notice (GN 326 of 2017): for the expansion of structures in the coastal public property where development footprint will be increased by more than 50 square metres.

Notice is hereby given of a Public Participation Process in terms of the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (GNR 326 of 2017) and the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), as amended.

OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE

A public participation process will commence on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 with the publication of an amended draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR). Interested and Affected Parties are invited to register and to provide comments on the amended draft BAR, which is available online at www.infinityenv.co.za/muizenberg or on request from the Environmental Assessment Practitioner at the details indicated below. When registering or commenting, please provide your name, contact details, and an indication of any direct business, financial, personal or other interest which you have in the application. 

The 30-day registration and commenting period for the amended draft BAR commences on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 and will end on Thursday, 15 June 2023.

Should you have any queries or concerns you can contact the Environmental Assessment Practitioner as follows:

• By sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• By post to Infinity Environmental, Suite 17, Private Bag X11, Mowbray 7705
• By completing the form on this page

Files can be accessed at the link below.

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