As a born-and-bred Capetonian, I am relieved that the controversy surrounding the development of our new 2010 Fifa World Cup stadium appears to have been put to bed once and for all.
The situation was becoming an embarrassment not only for the city, but also for South Africa as a whole, as a small group of detractors seemed hell-bent on stopping the regeneration of what is rapidly becoming an ailing area of the metropole by blocking the development of the 68 000-seater stadium and its surrounding commercial and leisure precinct.
For those of you not familiar with the area, Green Point was once a hub of amateur sports-club activity in the city, with rugby, soccer and cricket fields galore adjoining the existing stadium.
But that stadium has become an eye sore, and, in my opinion, borders on a public safety risk. I have attended a number of matches at the venue this season already and apart from a small and bumpy playing surface, the antiquated stands and general infrastructure look as though they could come down at any moment.
The fields around the stadium have become disused, overgrown and a playground for vagrants and drug pushers. It is with this in mind that I wondered just what the opponents of the new stadium were trying to save.
Sure, the new stadium plans do mean that it will cut into the existing nine-hole Metropolitan Golf Club, one of the oldest in South Africa, but developers have promised simply to relocate affected holes to other parts, changing the layout of the course. Perhaps after 112 years it is time for a change anyway.
Whispers in the corridors — and this is just gossip — suggest the golf club’s 100-year lease on the land with the city runs out in 2008, with no guarantee it will be renewed at an agreeable price. By buying into the new stadium plans, my understanding is that the lease will be renewed for future generations to enjoy a “swing by the sea”.
I don’t live in the suburb, so the proposed development does not directly affect me, but when looking at what is planned for the area and what there is now, it is a no-brainer.
The small minority of local residents not buying into the new stadium development — which, rather than negatively affecting their house or flat prices, could actually boost the area with the development of shops, restaurants and a safe public park — was shooting itself, the city, South Africa and the local organising committee in the foot.
That Tasneem Essop, Western Cape planning and economic development minister, has now dismissed the objections made by the detractors — and in particular the Green Point Common Association — is perhaps one of the greatest steps forward in this city’s history.
Fifa desperately wants Cape Town as a semifinal venue. The fact that we have come this far in the debate bears that out, as it provides visitors to the tournament — and their own dignitaries, one would have to say — with so much more than just football.
Fifa desperately wants Cape Town, one of the top tourist destinations in the world, as a semifinal venue. The fact that we have come this far in the debate bears that out. The city provides overseas visitors to the tournament — including Fifa’s own dignitaries — with so much more than just football in terms of the “World Cup experience”. Even in the chilly June and July months, there are such attractions as the V&A Waterfront, wine farms, Table Mountain, Cape Point and an excellent array of uniquely Cape hotels and restaurants.
The short-term outlay of billions of rands and inconvenience to the likes of the Metropolitan Golf Club will be returned many times over in the years to come, allowing the city to put funds into improving the lives of all of its inhabitants.
Nick Said is editor: special projects for Kick Off magazine