8 Villiersdorp
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THEEWATERSKLOOF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CHAPTER 8: VILLIERSORP 8. VILLIERSDORP Theewaterskloof Dam as a major tourist attraction; - The rural village character; 8.1 TOWN ANALYSIS - The natural setting in which the town is located. 8.1.1 OVERVIEW . Given the importance of agriculture, the population of the town is characterized by the seasonal migration of farm labour. It is anticipated that this trend will continue in the future and consequently the need for subsidized and off-farm worker housing will increase. Table 8.1: Villiersdorp at a Glance Villiersdorp at a Glance Total population 10 572 (2011 Census) 12 438 (2018 MYPE) Growth rate (2011 – 2018) 2.4% per annum Role and function Local node and agricultural service centre Settlement classification Secondary regional service centre Comparative locational advantage Tourist destination Fruit packaging and related export Figure 8.1: Location of Villiersdorp within TWKM services . The role of Villiersdorp within the context of the overall municipal Natural setting (Pearl of Overberg) framework is that of an agricultural service centre. Country town character Resorts (nearby) . The comparative economic advantages of the town include amongst other the following: Economic base Agriculture - Intensive agricultural cultivation with high potential production Growth potential (GPS, 2014) Medium growth potential capacity; Medium socio-economic need - The potential to develop into a tourism destination, including the Housing backlog 3 644 persons FINAL: NOVEMBER 2019 URBAN DYNAMICS WESTERN CAPE 8-1 THEEWATERSKLOOF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CHAPTER 8: VILLIERSORP 8.1.2 HISTORIC BACKGROUND 8.1.3 SETTLEMENT ANALYSIS Villiersdorp is a historical agricultural service centre and is located on the R45 Analyses of (i) the biophysical and agricultural environments in and around between Grabouw and Worcester. The economy of the town is dependent on Villiersdorp, (ii) the socio-economic profile and (iii) the built environment within agricultural cultivation, which currently exists on an intensive basis, given its high Villiersdorp were undertaken to inform the spatial proposals that are presented production capacity. in the following sections. Refer to Annexure 1, subsection 3. The analyses focused on the following aspects: Given the importance of agriculture, the population of the town is characterized by the seasonal migration of farm labour, which has led to the rapid growth of . biophysical and agricultural environment: the town. This growth is mainly towards growth in the informal settlements and - the environmental status quo and environmental risks; informal structures. Urban expansion is severely limited by topography and the natural environment surrounding the town, as well as high potential, cultivated - agricultural status quo. agricultural land. In order to accommodate existing residents of the town, as well as future development, migratory trends and the origin thereof need to be fully . socio-economic: understood. A balance need to be found between sustainable human settlement - economic systems; development versus the need to protect high value agricultural land. - residential patterns, income distribution and demographics. The town is located close to the Theewaterskloof Dam, which is the largest dam in the Western Cape and the primary water source for the Cape Town . built environment: metropolitan area. The dam is also a major source of possible tourist revenue for - movement network; the Municipality. It is critical to ensure that water quality is not compromised by development taking within the drainage basin along streams and rivers. The town - social facilities distribution and access; is developed at the foot of the Franschhoek Mountain Range, which means that a - engineering infrastructure. number of watercourses drain from the mountain, through the town and into the Theewaterskloof Dam. One of these watercourses flows through informal 8.1.4 KEY SPATIAL CHALLENGES/ISSUES settlements located on the western periphery of the town. This poses a major risk for water quality of the dam itself. It can therefore be argued that it is of . Urban efficiency/Spatial dislocation: regional importance that priority be given to the upgrade of these informal - Physical, biophysical and ecological constraints such as the Elands River, settlements, to ensure that adequate measures can be put in place to minimize steep slopes and valuable agricultural land limit opportunities for urban the risk of water contamination. The responsibility to ensure the dam’s water development and expansion. quality should be shared between the TWKM, City of Cape Town and the Department of Water Affairs. - The main economic activities and employment opportunities are located along and to the east of the R43 Road, which is not within a FINAL: NOVEMBER 2019 URBAN DYNAMICS WESTERN CAPE 8-2 THEEWATERSKLOOF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CHAPTER 8: VILLIERSORP reasonable walking distance from the lower income communities and Elgin Shale Fynbos (having a ‘critically endangered‘ ecosystem status) located further to the northwest. within the urban edge. These areas are listed as Critical Biodiversity Areas. - Limited lower order convenience retail and community facilities within . The Elandskloof River, which skirts the eastern boundary of Villiersdorp, is easy walking distance (1 km and less) from Goniwe Park. an important ecological corridor. Wetlands and/or floodplain areas associated with the Elandskloof River system are similarly an important . Environment: part of this ecological corridor. Watercourses draining through the town are amongst others polluted . The Kommissiekraal River, a tributary of the Elandskloof River which drains by informal settlements located along the banks of the catchment parts of the Villiersdorp Nature Reserve, and which flows through areas, which in turn pollutes the Theewaterskloof Dam downstream. Villiersdorp, is an important ecological corridor. Wetlands and/or . Socio-economic: floodplain areas associated with the Kommissiekraal River system are similarly an important part of this ecological corridor. - High level of seasonal migration into Villiersdorp linked with fruit . farming, vineyards and other agricultural activities contributes towards A portion of the Theewaters Nature Reserve (a State Forest) and the pressures on housing delivery. Villiersdorp Nature Reserve (a local authority nature reserve) abut the north western boundary of Villiersdorp. The Theewaters Nature Reserve - High levels of poverty exist amongst a large percentage of the forms part of the Boland Mountain Complex, which is a World Heritage population. Site. Informal settlements are intruding into this natural area, negatively impacting on the area’s biodiversity. - Lack of larger industrial erven and commercial and business properties. The economy is heavily reliant on the agricultural industry. Intensive agricultural production and consequently higher land values is characteristic of this area. Housing Backlog: . Undevelopable slopes of 1:4 and steeper are located towards the 1 - There is a large subsidised housing backlog , 3 644 persons in total northwestern boundary of the town. (DoHS database, 2018). Development is restricted within 500 m radius (the recommended safety 8.1.5 DEVELOPMENT INFORMANTS AND CONSTRAINTS zones) of the Villiersdorp WWTW and the refuse site; located respectively in the southeastern, lower lying part of the town and near the . There are a number of intact patches of relatively well connected Western northeastern entrance to the town. Rûens Shale Renosterveld (with ‘critically endangered‘ ecosystem status) . Vacant municipal owned land is located to the northwest of the town and is largely undevelopable given the conservation status of certain areas, 1 Housing backlog = number of informal structures, backyarders and farm workers on the waiting steep slopes and proximity to a watercourse. list. FINAL: NOVEMBER 2019 URBAN DYNAMICS WESTERN CAPE 8-3 THEEWATERSKLOOF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CHAPTER 8: VILLIERSORP Figure 8.2: Villiersdorp: Summary of Opportunities and Constraints FINAL: NOVEMBER 2019 URBAN DYNAMICS WESTERN CAPE 8-4 THEEWATERSKLOOF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CHAPTER 8: VILLIERSORP 8.2 PROPOSALS 8.2.1 THE SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT (i) The Spatial Vision Promote Villiersdorp as a second order rural node and stimulate economic growth through strengthening of agricultural production, manufacturing and tourism development. (ii) The Spatial Concept Plan (Figure 8.3) The following main structuring elements informed the spatial vision and future growth potential of Villiersdorp: . Nodes: The Primary Economic Area. Paths/Routes The R43 to Worcester; The R43 to Caledon; The R321 to Grabouw; Main Road; Figure 8.3: Villiersdorp: Spatial Concept Buitekant Street. Districts/Precincts . Edges The location of high potential intensive agriculture to the southwest Natural buffers to the north and east of Villiersdorp i.e. the and east of Villiersdorp. Franschhoek Mountains (north) and the Elandskloof River (east). Landmarks Theewaterskloof Dam. FINAL: NOVEMBER 2019 URBAN DYNAMICS WESTERN CAPE 8-5 THEEWATERSKLOOF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CHAPTER 8: VILLIERSORP (iii) Principles for Implementing the Spatial Concept (iv) Spatial Restructuring . Encourage: . Spatial and Social Integration: the strengthening of the Primary Economic Area; Strengthening the north-south linkage between Goniwe Park and the Primary Economic Area by developing Buitekant Street