MESSAGE FROM OUR WARD COUNCILLOR – Cllr Roberto Quintas
As we stand at the beginning of 2025, it is time for reflection and to take stock of the year that was, and look to what is to come in the New Year.
2024 saw great progress with the City of Cape Town’s water pipe replacement program in Valley Road, Scott Estate and Baviaanskloof. There is still a long way to go, however the City confirmed its commitment to the massive, multi-million, multi-year program of laying new pipes and pressure release valves.
Pressure management remains a challenge however the project which will include Harbour Road in the future and has dedicated budgets and timelines, and I thank the residents of Hout Bay who experience water disruptions as we work through this mega-project for their patience and stoicism.
We also undertook some road maintenance, resurfacing and rehabilitation projects in Hout Bay throughout the year, and as much as there will always be more work to do, we can rest assured that the City continues to act on complaints received via our website, App or call centre, and also plan according to our pavement management strategy. The Valley Road Non-Motorised Transport Corridor project is also proceeding well, and will move in to its next phase, providing a safe surfaced area for bicycles, wheelchairs, prams, jogging and horses.
Hout Bay has now been allocated to the Southern District in terms of our Parks and Recreation function, and already there have been some improvement to parks in Hangberg and Llandudno and more is planned for the new calendar year. We also saw upgrades started to the Hout Bay Beach ablution blocks, and I am very excited to see the start of the Hout Bay Beachfront upgrade in the new financial year which starts 1st July 2025.
The City’s Human Settlements Directorate has also made meaningful progress in our commitment to provide dignified housing in Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg and I am looking forward to taking our proposals to the communities in the New Year. Improved dignity for our residents is a priority, and is one which will also play its part in improving on our environment, with the infrastructure and services that formal housing can provide.
On that note, our Hout Bay river system has despite challenges created largely by informality, begun to improve, with fingerlings and fish number in our estuary and river mouth increasing and more birdlife being noted in our riverine corridor. This overall improvement is made possible by the Hout Bay rivers being part of the Mayor’s priority rivers program, and through excellent collaboration with local, committed and passionate Hout Bay based civic bodies such as the Hout Bay Friends of the Rivers and Hout Bay Rivers Catchment Forum.
2025 promises to be an exciting year, with more progress and improvement to our Ward on the cards, across multiple areas of local government responsibility and I would like to thank the many residents who log service requests, inform the City of Cape Town and me of service needs, and who play a large part in making Hout Bay a better place to live, work and play.
The proof of this is in the Christmas pudding, and is made evident by the fact that Hout Bay’s property market remains in high demand, with excellent sales prices being achieved across the Ward. This proves that despite our challenges, Hout Bay remains a flourishing area where people want to invest and make their homes and run their businesses.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the many residents who offer support and encouragement. It is greatly appreciated and I am grateful for the acknowledgment and kindness. On that note, I wish you all a very blessed and Merry Christmas, and a peaceful, prosperous and happy New Year.
See you in 2025!