Plans to build an island off the CT coast

[VernD]

CT island no April 1 joke
2010-09-19 16:23

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.

Story (http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/CT-island-no-April-1-joke-20100919)

Cape Town Peace Island (http://www.peaceisland.co.za/)

At the moment, the idea alone is causing more upset so "Peace Island"?

Cape Town people, what's your take on this.

[moose007]

Maybe a little further up the coast and I wouldn't mind,but I think it would be an eyesore in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

[spiff]

wrong place to start off with - should be by camps bay area in fact they should have developed Robbin Island into a offshore playground - what a waste!.

will definitely impact the ocean currents along Blouberg. Imagine having a 100k ton oil tanker drag its anchor right into yr "middle eastern" R10m lounge :)

[VernD]

Imagine having a 100k ton oil tanker drag its anchor right into yr "middle eastern" R10m lounge :)

That would be epic!! :D

[BCO]

This idea is FAIL.

[RazedInBlack]

What BCO said!

[xrapidx]

Can't see this even getting started.

[Sl8er]

Oh hell's no!

Nice idea, maybe...TOTALLY wrong place though.

[VernD]

Yeah, you know rich people and their money - want to buy everything.

Fortunately, for us, our provincial government cannot be bought; not even for R80bn.

[Sl8er]

Yeah, you know rich people and their money - want to buy everything.

Fortunately, for us, our provincial government cannot be bought; not even for R80bn.

KIRREK!

[ToxicBunny]

Fail of an idea in the biggest possible way..

Dubai has a different type of natural beauty which isn't marred by big fsck off fake islands...

SA on the other hand, no thanks... NIMBY

[nakedpeanut]

Bwahahahaha lol what an idiotic idea for CAPE TOWN of all places!? That little island will get swept away by those currents, if they can even build it.... But let them try, waste money and screw up the environment all for the sake of money they won't make.. Quite sad

[Jagtiger]

Looks like a money making scheme to me.

[Archer]

Bwahahahaha lol what an idiotic idea for CAPE TOWN of all places!? That little island will get swept away by those currents, if they can even build it.... But let them try, waste money and screw up the environment all for the sake of money they won't make.. Quite sad

Dude, you know that Japan built a fake island for a new airport in a hurricane zone right? This is far from impossible. But the damage it would cause to the ecosystem is the deal breaker imo. And seems like many people are against it spoiling the view, which is fair, but I personally wouldnt mind too much.

[Datura]

Send all of the unsTable View folks to live there. I'll be happy.

Seriously though, what a very moronic idea!

[Datura]

Peace Island.... peace off!

Go build it off PE or something.

[nakedpeanut]

That is true but currents are permanently there, and although possible i agree, very difficult and costly. Not to mention all the ocean life they gunna screw up transporting and dumping all the materials (sand concrete etc into the ocean). They going to need huge water breaks to prevent the island form vanishing

[Ninja'd]

Came into this thread expecting ocleroux's Gay Island Nation & tonic.

/leaves disappointed.

[Archer]

That is true but currents are permanently there, and although possible i agree, very difficult and costly. Not to mention all the ocean life they gunna screw up transporting and dumping all the materials (sand concrete etc into the ocean). They going to need huge water breaks to prevent the island form vanishing

Same in Japan, they also had sea currents to deal with. You first build a wall (of rocks and specially shaped concrete blocks) to minimise the natural currents in the area. Again, far from impossible to do.

[Nod]

Why not just build it competely under water?

[Datura]

Why not just build it competely under water?

YES! And then send all the Table Spew dwellers to live there. With concrete boots and all!

[BCO]

This is what I think of "Peace Island":

http://koltchak91120.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/double-facepalm.jpg

[RazedInBlack]

After a while they'll probably rename it Nelson Mandela island! :rolleyes:

[nakedpeanut]

Same in Japan, they also had sea currents to deal with. You first build a wall (of rocks and specially shaped concrete blocks) to minimise the natural currents in the area. Again, far from impossible to do.

lol I know hence "although possible i agree"
Just feel the location and coupled with the reason to build it added with the difficulty is stupid... Do we really need some expensive houses on an expensive island to damage ecosystems? The Airport needed the space, which Japan has very little of..

I'm no marine biologist, but an island in the middle of one of the most important currents in the world, is a bad idea in my book. One has no way of knowing the repercussions of such an action...

[VernD]

I doubt that this thing will get off the ground. A proper environmental impact study would blow this plan out of the water (no pun intended) :D

[Archer]

lol I know hence "although possible i agree"
Just feel the location and coupled with the reason to build it added with the difficulty is stupid... Do we really need some expensive houses on an expensive island to damage ecosystems? The Airport needed the space, which Japan has very little of..

I'm no marine biologist, but an island in the middle of one of the most important currents in the world, is a bad idea in my book. One has no way of knowing the repercussions of such an action...

You're still stuck on absolutes. Computer models can give a very good idea of what can happen. We know what the currents are like, and now you dump a big mass (the island) in its path and there you go. Most likely the beaches close to the island get eroded (similar to Dubai where they need to keep replenishing the original beaches) and marine life on one side of the island (south side if I got the current directions right) dies out completely.

[gdiza]

Can't see this even getting started.

Agreed.

[Mila]

Wonder if they know it's called the Cape of storms..

Just a thought.

[xrapidx]

You're still stuck on absolutes. Computer models can give a very good idea of what can happen. We know what the currents are like, and now you dump a big mass (the island) in its path and there you go. Most likely the beaches close to the island get eroded (similar to Dubai where they need to keep replenishing the original beaches) and marine life on one side of the island (south side if I got the current directions right) dies out completely.

Until someone puts in inches instead of cm's.... or pounds instead of kg's.... Just ask Nasa.

[Nookie]

YES! And then send all the Table Spew dwellers to live there. With concrete boots and all!

What problem do you have with Table View?

[justplain]

nothing like nice view of Koeberg nuclear power station from your "unique" island. it's a stupid idea. rather spend the billions on infrastructure, housing, services etc.

[Archer]

nothing like nice view of Koeberg nuclear power station from your "unique" island. it's a stupid idea. rather spend the billions on infrastructure, housing, services etc.

And what would a private company have to do with infrastructure and service delivery? :confused:

[shogun]

Leave my city alone please. The coast is fantastic as it is. If they want to stuff up a coastline and the marine life with it, can they do it in another country.

[VernD]

Leave my city alone please. The coast is fantastic as it is. If they want to stuff up a coastline and the marine life with it, can they do it in another country.

Funny enough, it is people from THIS country that wants to do this, and then from Jhb nogal. Why don't they go stuff up a coast closest to them?

[nivek]

Funny enough, it is people from THIS country that wants to do this, and then from Jhb nogal. Why don't they go stuff up a coast closest to them?

Boksburg?

[Datura]

What problem do you have with Table View?

Not important. Not a bad place really. I just like taking the piss out of a few Table View MyBB members ;)

[xrapidx]

Hmmm... I think there's a boat parked in the spot they want their island.

[Archer]

Hmmm... I think there's a boat parked in the spot they want their island.

I vote that instead of an making an all new island they transform that boat into a cool club/restaurant instead :D

[Wikkelspies]

Perhaps this is what the future citizens of Peace Island - they may have to rethink the name; its been taken already - can look forward to:

Australia-Size Storm Hits New Zealand

A storm the size of Australia has whipped New Zealand leaving tens of thousands of people without power and a stadium roof crashing down.

Roofs were lifted and trees uprooted as hurricane-force winds swept across the country and lightning strikes ignited fires.

It was the second natural disaster to hit the country in a fortnight.

The South Island city of Christchurch escaped the worst of the weather.

The storm, described by the independent weatherwatch.co.nz website as "one of the largest on the planet" stretched the emergency services.

A spokesman from the Fire Service northern communications centre said: "Most of the calls were about fallen trees across roads or property, and roofs lifting."

Nearly 100,000 people lost electricity supplies overnight Friday and by Saturday afternoon 17,000 were still waiting to be reconnected.

Winds reached hurricane force on the coast west of the main city of Auckland as gusts of up to 96mph swept in from the Tasman Sea.

In the lower North Island, there were over 100 lightning strikes, sparking fires in at least one building and setting several trees ablaze.

Snow was the biggest threat in the South Island where police advised people to stay off the roads, describing them as "treacherous".

In the southern city of Invercargill the roof of a stadium collapsed under the weight of snow.

There have been no reported casualties.
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7966283/n-zealand-on-tornado-watch-amid-storm-the-size-of-australia/

What sort of structures would be needed to prevent the storm surge from washing through the 'streets' of the proposed resort? Just how far above sea level would dwellings need to be, and how many breakwaters/artificial reefs would be needed to protect the island from all but the landward side? The airport mentioned, like the one in Hong Kong and parts of Sydney's Kingsford-Smith airport (Built in a shallow, sheltered bay), is presumably both close to, and connected to, the shore.

Is anyone familiar with the smaller Beacon Island at Plet? Its close inshore, and connected to the shore by a causeway as well as being partially protected by a natural reef. It regularly suffers damage from major storms, the so-called "Black Sou' Westers" which buffet the entire Cape coast, and can lead to the closing of EL's airport and harbour, every winter.

FWIW, I'm fascinated by this topic and not looking to score cheap debating points. I'd welcome input from geologists, civil engineers and oceanographers, anyone with expertise in this area. :)

Incidentally, if anyone fancies joining a lively discussion on the issue, they might choose to start here:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=63835647

There are also some news reports and blogs. Search on "Peace Island Cape Town".

Apparently the developer's website has been up since 2005 and not much has happened in the past five years. Dead in the water? (No pun intended!) ;)