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Helicopter Safety and Noise

helicopterOver the last few years the number of helicopter flights over our suburb has increased dramatically. Three helicopter tour operators operate out of a helipad next to the V&A. Short flips from the V&A along Sea Point and around Camps Bay are priced at an attractive level. With a weak rand, a steady increase in tourist numbers and easy access from the V&A, business has been good for the operators. At some periods we have recorded up to twenty flights per hour over Green Point.

But we think these sight-seeing trips are non-essential, noisy, dirty and dangerous. They benefit a few at the expense of a great many. Over a large part of the suburb it is often quite impossible to stand outside on an otherwise peaceful day and hold a normal conversation. We are also concerned for the safety of residents on the ground: helicopter accidents are not uncommon: in a cursory search of CAA accident reports we found six reports involving craft operating out of the V&A or flying past that resulted in damage to or complete destruction of the helicopter. Helicopters also burn a great deal of fuel: pumping so much unnecessary carbon into the atmosphere (up to 1.5 tons of CO2 per day) is not compatible with Cape Town’s goal to build a sustainable city.

Position Statement on the Proposed Amendments to System of Delegations for Economic, Environmental and Spatial Planning (EESP) Matters

Cutting Joe Public out the loop

The City proposes to amend the system of delegated authority in order to ‘maximise administrative and organisational efficiency’. Under the proposed amendment the City will remove  from sub-councils the power to decide on all Use Rights, Departures , Rezonings, Subdivisions and the Application of Conditions on matters within sub-council borders. These powers will be delegated to the Executive Mayor . All that will remain is the processing of business and liquor licenses, naming of streets and input on service delivery performance.

GPRRA response to business plan for the Cape Town Stadium

Why all Capetonians should read this

Ratepayers of Cape Town have until 31st March to make their opinions heard on an issue that will have a significant impact on:
•    what will happen to their public open space on the Green Point Common,
•    how much of what they pay in rates will go to running and maintaining the Cape Town Stadium (the Stadium),
•    and whether they want the City to spend more of their rates pursuing commercial ventures related to the Stadium.

Position statement of the GPRRA

(for Background click on link below)

•    The GPRRA acknowledges that the Stadium represents an ‘asset’ to the City in terms of providing a venue for big events.
•    However it is an undeniable fact that the Stadium is simultaneously a financial liability upon the ratepayer.
•    This City has massive socio-economic problems with many underprivileged areas and people in urgent need of upliftment and development, and can ill afford financial liabilities that do not improve the lives of the people of our City.
•    Ratepayers should be empowered to decide whether they choose to keep funding the Stadium or to use their rates in other ways.
•    The City should present to ratepayers all options in a transparent manner. For example, options could be to:

Commercialisation and the Cape Town Stadium

CITY OF CAPE TOWN, 21 JUNE 2012, MEDIA RELEASE

The Record of Decision, Commercialisation and the Cape Town Stadium

After an extensive administrative and public engagement process the then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in 2009 approved a Record of Decision (ROD) as part of an environmental impact assessment. The conditions contained therein pertained to the remodelling of the Green Point Common and the construction of the Cape Town Stadium to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ tournament in Cape Town.