Popular Kogel Bay Resort to remain closed this festive season due to flood damage
Kogel Bay will remain closed following its two-year closure due to extensive flood damage which cost over R1.5 million.
Image: Supplied/City of Cape Town
The City of Cape Town has confirmed the popular resort and pool in Kogel Bay will be shut down this festive season, following its two-year closure due to extensive flood damage which cost over R1.5 million. The closure will allow authorities to focus on restoring basic services such as water and sanitation.
During the 2023 storm season, initially, 154 roads, including parts of the N1 and N2, were closed. Due to the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) work, this number is now down to 37. Progress is being made on key routes.
Following the storm, the resort saw damage to its water supply system, infrastructure, sewer system issues including its solar panels, electricity and roofs of the ablution facilities.At the time, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning issued over 100 emergency environmental approvals in less than two weeks to expedite repairs like damaged river crossings.
Eddie Andrews, the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, confirmed the facility had been reopened following the storm but was forced to close it again due to issues with basic services such as water and sanitation.
Damage repaired at the time was over R1.5 million which included infrastructure such as fencing. "The Recreation and Parks Department can confirm that the resort was closed from 25 September 2023 as a result of extensive flood damage," Andrews added."
The following repairs to the total value of R1,511,183.73 were conducted: Fencing repairs, repairs to the ablutions which included plumbing, solar lights, geysers, and the roof.
"The facility reopened in December 2023."
Andrews said the City's Environmental Management Department took over the operations of the resort from 1 July 2023 and is currently doing assessments as well as checking if water and sanitation can be reinstated.
"In its current state with basic services not being available and amenity infrastructure needing major repairs, a decision was taken to close the resort until service and infrastructure repairs are concluded," Andrews explained.
"This therefore means that the site will remain closed this December. This includes Kogel Bay Resort and Sparks Bay Tidal Pool."He added that there is security on site to safeguard the property."
The resort and tidal pool gates have been closed for public access due to the non-functioning of sanitary and drinking water services. Until such time that these basic health services can be provided to the public, we unfortunately cannot allow access."
Earlier, the directorate’s draft capital budget for the next three financial years amounts to just over R1 billion; and the operational budget for the new financial year is R1,6 billion.
Major projects include the following, among others: R413 million to improve the resilience of our coastline with upgrades of defence structures, including the sea walls at Strand, Small Bay, and Sea Point; and upgrades of the beachfronts in Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Table View, Miller’s Point and Soetwater, Kogel Bay, Macassar and Zandwolf, Mouille Point and Granger Bay
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