Work on the Table View beachfront’s new walkway and ablutions, and upgrades to the parking areas started on Monday, setting a halfway mark for the City of Cape Town’s major project to rehabilitate, revitalise and maintain the beachfront.
The upgrade of the Table View beach front covers a stretch of 3 km of coastline, from Dolphin Beach in the south to Bokkomsbaai in the north. The rehabilitation of the dune system is making good progress, and in the upcoming week, the City’s coastal management branch will commence with the construction of the walkway along the coast, reconfiguration of the parking areas, new ablution facilities, and the repair of aged stormwater infrastructure.
“Table View Beach gives us an iconic view of Table Mountain in the distance, it is a favourite kite-surfing spot, and extremely popular among locals and visitors. The City is always planning ahead and investing in projects that can protect and improve our natural and other assets,” says the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews. “We commenced with the implementation of this major upgrade project in June last year with our first focus being the rehabilitation of the dune system which is now well under way. Next are the improvements to the public amenities and coastal facilities for the thousands of visitors who flock to this pristine destination every year.
The contractor has started with the preparation work for the construction of a new walkway along the coastline from Bokkomsbaai to Marine Circle.
“We will also be constructing new ablution facilities, and upgrading and reconfiguring the parking areas,” Andrews says.
“The work will be ongoing for about two years, and although the public will have access to the beach at all times, this will cause some inconvenience. I want to thank the local community, for their support,”
The project is set to be complete by June 2025. “I know this is a long time, but this investment will rejuvenate the Table View beach front. All who live in this area, and visitors, will benefit from it,” Andrews says.
Details of works
- The new walkway will be constructed along the coastline from Bokkomsbaai in the north to Marine Circle in the south.
- The existing walkway from Marine Circle to Dolphin Beach will be restored.
- The new walkway will cover a distance of 2 km, and the section to be restored is approximately 1 km long.
- Once done, visitors will be able to walk safely along the Table View coast without needing to meander through parking areas.
- One new ablution will be constructed between Shell and Seal roads.
- The old tourism office will be renovated to accommodate a second ablution.
- The existing ablutions will be refurbished.
Parking areas
- All parking areas, sidewalks and sections of Beach Boulevard will be impacted by the work, but visitors will always have access to the beach.
- The work will be done in phases.
- We will restore existing parking areas, and reconfigure the parking next to the coast to accommodate the new walkway.
- A new parking area will be created opposite Visagie Street to supplement parking bays that will have to make way for the new walkway.
- Parking bays will be added at Bokkomsbaai.
- New parking will be provided within a reasonable radius to popular areas where the demand for parking is high.
- The dune rehabilitation project includes wind nets and vegetation to mitigate the impact of windblown sand on the adjacent infrastructure, including the parking areas.
Stormwater infrastructure
- Existing stormwater infrastructure will be repaired and replaced where needed.
- Sections of the beach will be impacted, but the work will be done in phases.
“The public will have access to the beach, despite the ongoing work. However, the construction areas will be closed off, and the project will be done in phases to minimise the impact on residents and visitors.
Dune rehabilitation project
- The work commenced in mid-July 2022 with the profiling of the dunes from Dolphin Beach to Bokkomsbaai.
- The City moved the sand to reinstate the dunes, covering an area of eight hectares; then stabilised the sand with the installation of wind nets, followed by revegetation with dune-specific plant species.
- 94 000 plants have been rescued and planted on the dunes.
- 162 515 m³ of sand have been moved.
- 23 km of wind netting have been installed.
- Sand accumulating at each location will be pushed back into the sea and the nets reinstalled as needed.
- Planting will continue into 2024.
- The vegetation will take several years to fully establish.
The public is reminded to keep dogs on a lead and to adhere to the signage on site.
