[imagesource:oudemolenecovillage/facebook]

The Western Cape government is ‘investigating and assessing’ the possible development of Oude Molen in Observatory, much to the dismay of the community who live, work, and play there.

For those who have ever found a moment’s peace in the farm-like atmosphere – while their terrorist toddler played in the supervised The Play Shed – the Oude Molen Eco Village is a vibrant and diverse village community that provides jobs, food security and youth development to local, neighbouring and outlying communities.

Situated in the Black River area of Cape Town, the Oude Molen Eco Village features unique biodiversity, an urban forest, horses, food gardening and programmes, composting activities, schools, nursing aid training and frail care homes.

The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DoI) however describes Oude Molen as a “strategic property [for] addressing spatial transformation due to these characteristics: proximity to the city and other economic opportunities, proximity and access to Pinelands rail station, and potential to be a key gateway for the Two Rivers Urban Park broader area”.

“The precinct character currently has a rural feel which is largely due to the sparse building footprints.”

On its website, the DoI states: “The property is currently zoned ‘Utility Zoning’ in terms of the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-law 2015: Development Management Scheme, which will be changed through statutory applications as informed by the conceptual vision and key drivers for redevelopment planning which include that of a high-density, large-scale, sustainable, residentially led mixed-use with cultural heritage features based on a live-work-play philosophy and transit-oriented development principles and developed along eco-principles.”

‘Utility Zone’ is a category that does not allow for any of the activities currently taking place there. To most of the people who frequent the area, this translates to “Let’s build blocks of flats and a mall.”

Okay, perhaps I’m being a tad facetious because of the fond memories my small family has of peaceful Sunday morning strolls through the gardens whilst the little lunatic makes a nuisance of himself under the watchful eyes of the Play Shed staff.

The vision for redevelopment does, according to the website, “embrace eco-principles whilst respecting the significant environmental and heritage elements and the role that this precinct plays within the larger area”.

The locals question how a “high-density” and “large-scale” development could be in line with the described “eco-principles”.

“Once that starts happening, it’s going to start looking like the River Club.”

When the specialist investigations began in 2021, the community feared that the DoI sought to justify rezoning the area so that it could be sold to a private developer.

According to Daily Maverick, the chairperson of the precinct, Dan Neser, says the property should remain a public asset with sustainable development that complements the existing activities taking place and environment-forward initiatives.

“This is a unique property; one of its key aspects is that it allows access to the wetlands… All other places have been closed off – you can’t get to the green lung through the River Club because it’s a development. You can’t get to it through Observatory or Valkenberg Hospital. This is still public land.”