Legal challenge to new Amazon headquarters in Cape Town

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Legal challenge to new Amazon headquarters in Cape Town

Online shopping giant Amazon's plan for a new African headquarters on a piece of prime real estate in Cape Town is facing opposition from a coalition of environmental and heritage protection organisations.

The City of Cape Town recently approved the R4 billion River Club mixed-use development, for which Amazon will be the anchor tenant.

The city said the development - which will be built on a 15-hectare piece of land in Observatory next to the Liesbeek River - is expected to boost the Cape Town economy and create 5,239 direct jobs.

 

[Petec]

I wonder if any of these "environMENTALists" have actually visited the site. Liesbeek river is a siff soup and I am surprised that anything could possibly live in it. The entire bottom area of that zone is a bloody eyesore with the rubbish in the river and mess in the bushes.

 

[Pegging]

I wonder if any of these "environMENTALists" have actually visited the site. Liesbeek river is a siff soup and nothing can live in it. The entire bottom area of that zone is a bloody eyesore with the rubbish in the river and mess in the bushes.

Nah. The enviromentalists want some donations, free lunches, a feeling of self importance, lots of important
meetings and trips, press attention, signal some virtues, have there asses kissed.
That sort of thing.

 

[Gordon_R]

Very little detail in the article. Seems to be the same tired arguments.

 

[Swa]

What counts as a "sacred place"? Unless there's something which isn't found anywhere else and can't be relocated there shouldn't be objections.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I wonder if any of these "environMENTALists" have actually visited the site. Liesbeek river is a siff soup and nothing can live in it. The entire bottom area of that zone is a bloody eyesore with the rubbish in the river and mess in the bushes.

The points of argument are that it is a heritage site and floodplain, and some argue that it is the historical site of the Battle of Salt River.

 

[saor]

Hmmm, saw them cleaning the river out quite thoroughly earlier in the week with big machines...I know they do sometimes do this but this looked like extra work being done. Was nice to see. I'm sure the flamingoes gonna appreciate the cleaner river.

 

[scudsucker]

I wonder if any of these "environMENTALists" have actually visited the site. Liesbeek river is a siff soup and nothing can live in it. The entire bottom area of that zone is a bloody eyesore with the rubbish in the river and mess in the bushes.

I assume you have some proof that the flamingos, spoonbills, pelicans and geese which I frequently see on the Liesbeck cannot "live in it"?

I see people fishing; are they just casting their lines for fun?

 

[Petec]

I assume you have some proof that the flamingos, spoonbills, pelicans and geese which I frequently see on the Liesbeck cannot "live in it"?

I see people fishing; are they just casting their lines for fun?

Ok cool. You go swim in it then, and eat the fish you catch.
For your sake, I'll go and edit my original and say that "I am surprised that anything could possibly live in it."
My point is, that zone is not the idyllic picture of natural beauty that the hysterics are making it out to be.
Everyone in CT knows that the area floods terribly every winter, so I'd be interested to see how the developers are planning to mitigate that.
And regarding being a heritage site, so a golf course sitting there is fine, but a few buildings - generating much needed employment and sector growth - is not?

 

[scudsucker]

Ok cool. You go swim in it then, and eat the fish you catch.

No thanks, I am not a fisherman.

Everyone in CT knows that the area floods terribly every winter, so I'd be interested to see how the developers are planning to mitigate that.

It has not flooded since the overflow into the vlei beside the Wild Fig was reopened, a good 5 years ago

And regarding being a heritage site, so a golf course sitting there is fine, but a few buildings - generating much needed employment and sector growth - is not?

Traffic will be a nightmare, so perhaps the "sector growth" you are talking about is police?

It is an important conservation area, somehow I doubt a multi-story building will be a benign environment for nature.

 

[grok]

What counts as a "sacred place"? Unless there's something which isn't found anywhere else and can't be relocated there shouldn't be objections.

The Voortrekker Monument, for one..

 

[azboob]

Estate agents in Observatory and surrounds:

 

[Tinuva]

Traffic will be a nightmare, so perhaps the "sector growth" you are talking about is police?

See my post here: https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/thr...w-cape-town-development.1133433/post-27388153

They adding an extension road between Liesbeek parkway and Berkley Road (M16). On the riverclub website's faq it state that it will improve traffic by 10-40%.