Page 47 - Bulletin 23- 2020
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of the Muizenberg landscape were later commissioned at Caltech (in the US) in which the
effects of changing the topography were investigated. The CSIR Hydraulics Research Unit at
Stellenbosch studied the wave conditions and coastal processes of sediment movement at
Muizenberg and there was detailed harbour modelling.
In July 1971 our 70-page detailed report, “Proposed Improvements to Sandvlei” (Hill Kaplan
Scott 1971), was submitted to the Cape Town City Council. This summarised what was
envisaged and gave the engineering reasoning behind the proposals.
Improvements to Sandvlei – Principal Proposals and Implications
The main features of the proposal for re-developing Sandvlei were as follows:
- Sandvlei was to be re-developed in two stages. First the main body of the vlei and then
the area west of the railway embankment.
- The water area was to be substantially enlarged and deepened.
- Parkland was to be more than doubled and existing grassed areas extended.
- Wildwood Island, a conservation area, was to be established at the north of the vlei.
- The bank treatment was to be extended except at the north where there is a beach at
Wildwood Island and wave spending is desirable.
- Bank levels were to be raised especially on the Keyser River, where there was flooding.
- The vlei was to be connected to the sea through a locked canal linked to an ocean
harbour.
- The vlei water level was to be stabilised by providing a permanent weir (not built) and a
radial well pumping system to provide extra sea water. (This was later built at
considerable cost to the developers but was never used by the CCC).
- A water pumping system incorporating two inflatable weirs was proposed to facilitate the
removal of the sand bar at the mouth. (This was rejected by the CCC in favour of their
continuing to clear the sand bar with a bulldozer).
- Aquatic weed was to be cut mechanically. (A floating weed cutter and harvester was
installed).
- The refuse tip was to be closed by January 1972.
- Silt entering the vlei was to be controlled in silt traps.
- Stormwater headwalls were to be improved.
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