Hout Bay (CW27)

Abstract

Hout Bay is a south-facing crescentic embayment on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula approximately 22km south of Cape Town. The valley of Hout Bay is surrounded by mountains with the summit of Table Mountain. The use of the Hout bay as a convenient and, in the short-term, cheap conduit for stormwater from new development should be halted. More effective means of conducting stormwater to the sea from new developments on both sides of the valley should be investigated. To allow new developments to discharge their stormwater into the Hout Bay River will greatly compound the already intensive erosion and flooding problems. The present condition of the Hout Bay River catchment can be seen as the product of large-scale changes over several centuries. The rate of change has increased significantly in recent times and unless carefully controlled it may seriously threaten the high quality of the environment in this unique valley.