Proposed creation and development of an artificial off shore island in Table Bay between Robben Island and Dolphin Beach. 3km x 3km for 9,000,000 sqm of new ground.

Would suggest that this would have to overcome many significant hurdles before it could see the light of day but not that it is impossible...


http://www.peaceisland.co.za/

Interesting...but man I can only imagine the complaints they'll have to deal with from the NIMBY's!

Nice idea, but why create a whole new island .... err.... we already have one...Robben Island, why not use what we have ... incorporate the jail as a tourist attraction??

Man-made islands may seem "Cool," I'm not in favour of them. I honestly think this idea is just an idea and will not see the light of day... not in Cape Town particularly.

Man-made islands are dangerous investments and in our time of climatic shift, is a doomed property in the long-term. With the Cape being at the forefront of Climate Change policy in SA, I doubt this will be allowed to be built.

Also, the South Atlantic is NOT the place for low-lying man-made islands at the best of times.

what the heck. why not.

^^ You can buy property there. I for sure am not interested. As I said... cool idea... but, 4m above-mean-sea-level in the Cape of Storms, no thanks. 4m AMSL during global warming, also... no thanks.

eeeewwww.
no no no

Why eeew? We need to start considering bold proposals....sleepy town is fast slipping into a coma.

Come on mo you must be being sarky? with the new coastal bill this legally could not take place

robben island is huge and should be developed. something like fisher island in miami, with a golf course (with paspallum grass so can irrigate with high salinity water) and houses and hotels with amazing views, the upkeep of the rest of the island would be funded out of this. So prison and quary etc would be preserved

@mo, im opposed to man made islands from a personal taste point of view especially in the case of cape town which is arguably the most naturally beautiful city in the world. my opinion is very subjective.

i dont know too much about man mad islands and i read only the objectives on the plug site. i don't see how this development can actually address those objectives. there are real social/developmental, environmental and economic concerns.

as for 'development' of robben island; that would prove tricky too. a few years ago there was a plan to build some kind of resort on the island. the commercial development of the island was viewed as irreverant and insulting when the island held such significance in the history of the country and this memory is still very fresh in the minds of many of those who run the country.

robben island is a world heritage site and also a south african heritage. i dont think there is much wrong with the way the island operates today and if there is any development of the island it should be broadly accessible to the south african public and not a celebration of exclusivity and priveledge such as casinos and golf courses.

@mo, im opposed to man made islands from a personal taste point of view especially in the case of cape town which is arguably the most naturally beautiful city in the world. my opinion is very subjective.

i dont know too much about man mad islands and i read only the objectives on the plug site. i don't see how this development can actually address those objectives. there are real social/developmental, environmental and economic concerns.

as for 'development' of robben island; that would prove tricky too. a few years ago there was a plan to build some kind of resort on the island. the commercial development of the island was viewed as irreverant and insulting when the island held such significance in the history of the country and this memory is still very fresh in the minds of many of those who run the country.

robben island is a world heritage site and also a south african heritage. i dont think there is much wrong with the way the island operates today and if there is any development of the island it should be broadly accessible to the south african public and not a celebration of exclusivity and priveledge such as casinos and golf courses.

So you would rather risk the island losing its heritage status?

^^
i didnt know that such a risk existed. not being sarcastic, this is an honest question. is there reason to believe that the world heritage site status can be repealed and if so on what grounds?

Why not do this in False Bay instead and connect the western side to Fish Hoek and the eastern side to Strand with two massive railway bridges. Or better still, an underwater tunnel.

these megalomic projects will never go through, the investment and risks are too high, and I certainly don't support them.

Robben Island is too far from land.. the only access is through boats.. difficult to develop for residential use and commute everyday into the city. Building a bridge or tunnel from Robben island to Cape Town will cost billions of rand. The city of Cape Town will never approve that. The only option is to build a bridge to Blouberg area. That will be too far to commute into the city. hmm... tough on.. they should make the island in false bay :p

I think they should develop Robben Island aswell, whats the point having such a huge piece of sand lying there if only a 3rd of it is being used?

Why not do this in False Bay instead and connect the western side to Fish Hoek and the eastern side to Strand with two massive railway bridges. Or better still, an underwater tunnel.

yes. those coastal metropoli are in need of some relief.
:lol:

I think the people who are critical of the Peace Island for Cape Town should carefully consider all the aspects to this project.

What I know about the project is that it will enhance the environment, preserve the cultural heritage and be socially and economically beneficially not only to the people of Cape Town but also to South Africa as a whole.

Can some one please tell me why the Peace Island must not be built.

Lets do a bit of a contest: I think I can defend the building of the island in Cape Town.

All the critics out there. Throw your best shot at me...environmental, cultural, etc......

Give me facts, not opinion, personal points of view or sentimentality.

I am particularly interested in sparring with greenies who can't substantiate their views and who feel they are the sole custodians of what is good for us. The other species I am keen to engage are the cultural heritage crowds (few) who want to dictate what is culture.

As for the argument that the building of the Peace Island will threaten the world heritage status of Robben Island and Table Mountain - Says who????: I am not so sure about this. I did not see any people who proclaimed Robben Island and Table Mountain as World Heritage sites, having a problem with the Peace Island.

Where is John Yeld....thought there would be something from him...and his disciples.

The newspaper columnist with environmentalist friends....where are they.......

My other favourite is the "Human Polar Bear's views on the Island. I think he must just keep swimming...not worry about the island - what does he know....

My point is. Give me the facts. I will not spar with the phantoms of a few who want to project "their" views on the many.Their personal journeys must remain just that...personal. Let the people who want to make a difference get on with it.

When last did Africa have a man-made icon to be proud of - that stirred the "hearts of men"? Thousands of years ago when they built the pyramids.

Any foreign contenters....?

The biggest thread to Robben Island is the the Robben Island management, not a future island.

Peace Island Champ, are you personally involved with the project? If so, exactly how serious is the proposal?

@mo, im opposed to man made islands from a personal taste point of view especially in the case of cape town which is arguably the most naturally beautiful city in the world. my opinion is very subjective.

i dont know too much about man mad islands and i read only the objectives on the plug site. i don't see how this development can actually address those objectives. there are real social/developmental, environmental and economic concerns.

as for 'development' of robben island; that would prove tricky too. a few years ago there was a plan to build some kind of resort on the island. the commercial development of the island was viewed as irreverant and insulting when the island held such significance in the history of the country and this memory is still very fresh in the minds of many of those who run the country.

robben island is a world heritage site and also a south african heritage. i dont think there is much wrong with the way the island operates today and if there is any development of the island it should be broadly accessible to the south african public and not a celebration of exclusivity and priveledge such as casinos and golf courses.

NIMBy in our midst :nuts:

I agree with Mo, Slaapstad should get bold. I'm more in favour of building islands along Granger Bay coast to expand the Waterfront. And Robben Island should be transformed into a mini Las Vegas. That horrible jail should have been demolished years ago.

Give me facts, not opinion, personal points of view or sentimentality.

I am particularly interested in sparring with greenies who can't substantiate their views and who feel they are the sole custodians of what is good for us. The other species I am keen to engage are the cultural heritage crowds (few) who want to dictate what is culture.

As for the argument that the building of the Peace Island will threaten the world heritage status of Robben Island and Table Mountain - Says who????: I am not so sure about this. I did not see any people who proclaimed Robben Island and Table Mountain as World Heritage sites, having a problem with the Peace Island.

Where is John Yeld....thought there would be something from him...and his disciples.

The newspaper columnist with environmentalist friends....where are they.......

My other favourite is the "Human Polar Bear's views on the Island. I think he must just keep swimming...not worry about the island - what does he know....

My point is. Give me the facts. I will not spar with the phantoms of a few who want to project "their" views on the many.Their personal journeys must remain just that...personal. Let the people who want to make a difference get on with it.

When last did Africa have a man-made icon to be proud of - that stirred the "hearts of men"? Thousands of years ago when they built the pyramids.

Any foreign contenters....?

Welcome to the boards, nice to see you are so aggressive straight out.

You talk like a salesman for the developers. With the new coastal management bill reclamation of the ocean on a scale like this is basically illegal, so there's your first hurdle.

An island from scratch in the middle of the ocean? with the Cape Storms? I'm sure people would love to be cut off from the world for days on end when its not safe to hop on a boat to land. And if there is a bridge that will be a mighty expensive addition on top of the reclamation, land/development sales would never provide the funding for that and losses are likely. Second hurdle.

And then the one you were expecting and i bet you have a barrage of answer ready for - Global warming and rising oceans. The precautionary things you would have to put in place would be excessively expensive.

All in all its an utterly pointless pipedream that would never be approved, nor should be

NIMBy in our midst :nuts:

I agree with Mo, Slaapstad should get bold. I'm more in favour of building islands along Granger Bay coast to expand the Waterfront. And Robben Island should be transformed into a mini Las Vegas. That horrible jail should have been demolished years ago.

you're hurting my feeewings

sorry dear ;)


CT island no April 1 joke
_____________________________________________________
Fadela Slamdien, City Press

Cape Town - Businesswoman Carol Bouwer’s incredible plan to build an artificial island for the super-rich off the coast of Cape Town to match those of the oil-rich Gulf nations has been criticised by environmentalists.

The multibillion-rand, 900ha man-made Peace Island to be developed between Robben Island and Dolphin Beach at Blouberg is the ambition of TV personality Bouwer and her husband, Edward Bouwer, who own TCD (Trade Centre Development) International.

The Peace Island website says the *island would host luxury housing developments, an international trade centre, hotels, retail facilities and a maritime-themed entertainment complex.

Bouwer says the project has already attracted foreign investors – some of which include “Middle Eastern partners”.

The investment figure is pegged at between R50bn and R80bn.

According to its website, the Peace Island project is not only aimed at boosting economic development, foreign investment and tourism, but also at maintaining the South African heritage, and will use profits to develop low-cost housing on the mainland.

But environmentalists are not *impressed.

Implications

The director of the Cape Town Heritage Trust, Laura Robinson, says she "very much doubts if the proponents have any idea about the implications of trying to undertake a development of this sort adjacent to two world heritage sites (Table Mountain and Robben Island)… it makes no sense in terms of environmental or cultural concerns.”

She said it was unlikely that either the South African World Heritage Convention Committee or the Unesco World Heritage Committee would support the development.

The website claims it has consulted a number of parties, including the University of Cape Town’s (UCT’s) environmental sciences department.

However, UCT's head of *environmental and geographical sciences, Professor Michael Meadows, did not exactly give the project his stamp of approval.

“To be honest, I thought the whole thing was an elaborate April Fool’s hoax. Environmentally, it would be *extremely problematic," said Meadows.

Glen Ashton, an environmental researcher, said that unlike Dubai, which has developed the world-famous Palm *Islands, the Cape coastline was subject to much higher wave and stronger current actions, and construction of this nature would be short-lived.

Additionally, alterations to the shoreline would alter wave and current *dynamics and “have huge knock-on *effects”.

'Idiotic'

“This is an idiotic idea and should be shelved before anybody else wastes more money on this foolishness. It will never be permitted and it borders on the insane to even contemplate it,” said Ashton.

Ashton quashed the claim that the *development would enhance the habitat and biodiversity of the marine and terrestrial kingdom in Cape Town.

“Simply building any structures between the mainland and the island would bury any reefs or other habitats in the immediate area,” he said.

“Disruption to the circulation in the bay may create dead zones through *de-oxygenation and the impacts would spread for kilometres beyond any construction, especially along such a dynamic coastline.”

Branch co-ordinator at Earthlife Africa, Muna Lakhani, said the website’s claim that 10% of profits would be used to develop low-cost housing was tantamount to a “bribe”.

Lakhani said there was no mention of housing the poor on the island, and in the long run, the development would drain the economy.

Repeated attempts to get comment from Bouwer proved unsuccessful.

ha ha ha, cant belive this still gets coverage. its a joke people come on, i mean R80bil raided by a TV personality? thats teh GDP of a small or even a medium country.

I think the people who are critical of the Peace Island for Cape Town should carefully consider all the aspects to this project.

ok, but I serious hope you're trolling..


What I know about the project is that it will enhance the environment, preserve the cultural heritage and be socially and economically beneficially not only to the people of Cape Town but also to South Africa as a whole.


What you know about it is what you have read on their website then. You have done no extra research.


Can some one please tell me why the Peace Island must not be built.

Why must it be built.
Why not use the money and create a wonderous "techno city" in the somewhere else like the Karoo possibly?

Why peace Island must not be built:
It will destroy al the beaches from the harbour through to Melkbosstrand, killing off a large section of tourism in the area.
It will kill of a large portion of sea life
It has the potential of turning the bay into a "dead sea" area
The sand and deposits from construction adn having a stupid idiotic man
made sandbar in the bay will block Cape Town harbour.
It will destroy all the surf breaks along that section of cost
It is a stupid waste of money.

All the critics out there. Throw your best shot at me...environmental, cultural, etc......

Let's play another game, call this one "follow the money".
Who stands to profit from this?
The investors? yes.
Some corrupt government official(s)? yes.
The people contracting to do the maintenance and "regeneration of the beaches"? yes. ( you can bet your top dollar that once it's built, the "Peace Island" people are not going to be doing the maintenance to the beaches - it'll be left to the city and the tax payers of South Africa)
Strangely, those people will probably be very connected to the developers, investors and more than likely government official(s).
The local population? No, their source of tourism income got destroyed.
The people receiving the "low cost housing"? No, that money went to the corrupt government official(s)

So yeah, if you really want to fuck up a great part of Cape Town, why no drop a nuke on it rather?
it's a little quicker but the result should be about the same.

^^ I really do not think this is something to get excited about just yet. We will see Culemborg redeveloped before this project really becomes a concrete possibility.

I know people are shouting NIMBY, NIMBY... my issues with this have never been "Not being in CT's backyard," but being in the South Atlantic, one of the most ferocious parts of the ocean during a time of sea-level rise. Just seems like a long-term doomed idea.

If we spend R80billion on securing our existing coastline, maybe we could save more than that amount in property damage over the coming century. I do not think man-made islands are a good idea knowing what we know in the 21st Century.

If we spend R80billion on securing our existing coastline, maybe we could save more than that amount in property damage over the coming century. I do not think man-made islands are a good idea knowing what we know in the 21st Century.

Just adding a wall to the "Saldanah/Langebaan" harbour has caused a world of shit for them, even after the EIA and "It will do wonders to the ecology" bullshit.

Adding an island to Table Bay.... get real..

Adding an island to Table Bay.... get real..
I wonder how many tonnes of dolosse, and how many artificial reefs, breakwaters, etc. would be needed to protect such a structure from a storm of this magnitude.
WELLINGTON (AFP) - A storm that meteorologists described as being the size of Australia buffeted New Zealand Friday, prompting severe weather alerts across most of the country and warnings of localised tornadoes.

The official MetService said gale-force winds of up to 130 kilometres (80 miles) per hour were lashing some areas, including the capital Wellington, accompanied by heavy rain, lightning and icy temperatures.

Privately-owned forecaster weatherwatch.co.nz said the storm in the Southern Ocean was one of the largest currently on the planet, with a size roughly equivalent to Australia.

Weatherwatch analyst Philip Duncan said that while the storm's centre was likely to remain about 1,000 kilometres west of New Zealand, the country would experience extreme weather for three or four days.

Duncan said the winds were likely to come in unpredictable squalls, advising: "These Southern Ocean storms tend to fire up a number of aggressive but fairly short-lived fronts."
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7966283/n-zealand-on-tornado-watch-amid-storm-the-size-of-australia/

Better by far to take their money to Natal to develop something along the lines of Queensland's Gold Coast.

http://www.verygoldcoast.com.au/

Resort areas like Surfers' Paradise http://www.surfersparadise.com
are filled with cashed up oil barons and their families every year in August-September when temps in the Gulf can top 50'C.

What could Durban and the Natal South Coast make of such a bonanza, remembering that Surfers' boasts, inter alia, one of the very few hotels in the world with a greater than five star rating. Not infrequently visitors from the oil kingdoms hire an entire floor for their families and entourage.

Never mind trying to recreate Leisure Island in Table Bay. Surely Blind Freddie can see that such developments can only take place in sheltered lagoons, or landlocked gulfs. :ohno:

They should take their money and invest it in Blouberg. Same view, similar location, growing beachfront neighbourhood...one really doesn't need to construct an entire new island when we haven't run out of space quite yet.

They should take their money and invest it in Blouberg. Same view, similar location, growing beachfront neighbourhood...one really doesn't need to construct an entire new island when we haven't run out of space quite yet.

Received this from a friend in Cape Town:

Out of their cottonpicking minds.

The Island is pictured off Blouberg strand where the sea in winter is ferocious with waves of 6-mtrs plus.Further the depth of the area around the project is 14-15 meters with a wave pattern that will flatten any proposed Island.

Obviously it is a scam of sorts. :nuts:

.......Masterbond??

.......Masterbond??

sounds like it, me smells Pyramid scheme scomewhere

... But sometimes the object of one's fascination should be admired from a safe distance. :)
When strong wind blows across the ocean over a long distance, a series of long unbroken waves form. This is known as a swell.

As the sign at Cable Beach Reads:

"When two large swells combine, the resulting wave may double in height. If this wave bounces off a steep cliff face or headland to combine with another large wave, it's size can double yet again. Even during mild conditions, waves or swells may combine to produce a churning wall of water that can sweep people from headlands or beaches."

The 100 tonne boulder that lies in the middle of Cable Beach was tossed to shore by a wave such as described above.

BE AWARE - BE CAREFUL - BE ALERT
http://www.rainbowcoast.com.au/areas/albany/cablebeach.htm
http://www.surfersvillage.com/img/st/TEMPORALENDONOSTIA_Page_22_Image_0001.jpg

Give me facts, not opinion, personal points of view or sentimentality.

I am particularly interested in sparring with greenies who can't substantiate their views and who feel they are the sole custodians of what is good for us. The other species I am keen to engage are the cultural heritage crowds (few) who want to dictate what is culture.

As for the argument that the building of the Peace Island will threaten the world heritage status of Robben Island and Table Mountain - Says who????: I am not so sure about this. I did not see any people who proclaimed Robben Island and Table Mountain as World Heritage sites, having a problem with the Peace Island.

Where is John Yeld....thought there would be something from him...and his disciples.

The newspaper columnist with environmentalist friends....where are they.......

My other favourite is the "Human Polar Bear's views on the Island. I think he must just keep swimming...not worry about the island - what does he know....

My point is. Give me the facts. I will not spar with the phantoms of a few who want to project "their" views on the many.Their personal journeys must remain just that...personal. Let the people who want to make a difference get on with it.

When last did Africa have a man-made icon to be proud of - that stirred the "hearts of men"? Thousands of years ago when they built the pyramids.

Any foreign contenters....?

I would love to write out all the solid environmental reasons why this island is ludicrous. However, I think the less publicity this whole idea gets the better. So I'm not going to go there. I also don't have the time :)