The City of Cape Town has identified a site in Parklands to build a civic node.
It would include a community court, holding cells, community centre and social work office and “possibly a police station”.
Ward 107 councillor Nicky Rheeder brought a motion before sub-council in March calling for land to be found for the node. She said the area was growing rapidly and was densely populated.
“This means that we need to bring services closer to the people and to alleviate the pressure on the existing services.”
Ms Rheeder said the “current courts cannot adequately service” the area’s needs.
“The nearest court is so far and so busy and therefore creates several problems with regards to prosecutions and taking our offices off the road for extended periods of time to process transgressors.”
Having a community court in the area, she said, would lead to a faster turn-around time with cases.
At the Sub-council 3 meeting on Friday August 18, a city official identified four possible sites: a site on Annandale Farm, Erf 1117 in Blaauwberg, a site on the corner of Potsdam and Blaauwberg roads and another near the intersection of Sandown Road and the railway line.
Sub-council agreed the latter was the best option.
Deputy mayor Ian Neilson said it “aligned with major road networks, existing and future”.
The sub-council decision will be relayed to City’s property management department so it can start the process of acquiring the land.
Ms Rheeder said she did not know who the land belonged to, but according to documents before sub-council it is privately owned.
Ms Rheeder said there was no timeline for the development of the site as yet.
“This is a lengthy process and this is only the very beginning thereof,” she said.
Ms Rheeder said she did not know at this stage how much the centre would cost and or which arms of government would render the various services.
“We will work out the details once we have land and know what services will be able to be combined.”
Parklands Home Owners’ Association (PHOA) general manager Eric Bassonsaid the development was “long overdue and much needed”.
