The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has begun the rehabilitation of the Blinkwater Stream in Camps Bay as part of the Catchment, Stormwater, and River Management (CRSM) team’s proactive maintenance efforts. This project connects the Little Glen Nature Reserve on Geneva Drive to the Theatre of the Bay on Link Street.
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The Blinkwater Stream originates on Table Mountain, where several tributary streams converge at Hely Hutchinson Avenue to form a single stream that flows down to Camps Bay Beach, near the tidal pool. The stream, which is approximately 1.46 kilometres long, experiences significant flow rates during the winter season, attributed to multiple tributary sources from Table Mountain.
The high flow rates during the winter, combined with the current condition of the concrete infrastructure, prompted CSRM to initiate this project. This upgrade aims to ensure that the Blinkwater Stream can accommodate the intended flow rates, thereby enhancing the system’s long-term sustainability. Furthermore, the completion of this project will help to protect residents living near the stream.
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The City has allocated R747 632.40 for the rehabilitation project, which began in March 2024. The project was prioritised following severe damage caused by heavy rains in September 2023, which impacted nearby homes and downstream infrastructure, including the Blinkwater concrete-lined channel and the formation of a sinkhole on Link Street next to Theatre on the Bay.
The primary cause of the damage was the movement of large rock boulders downstream from the upstream section of the river, which harmed the stormwater system. The sinkhole and other municipal infrastructure issues were addressed in a separate project that was completed earlier this year.
The current rehabilitation project aims to repair the damaged concrete-lined channel while also implementing preventive measures, such as the installation of two silt basins upstream to trap large boulders and prevent future damage.
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This work aims to improve the stream’s stormwater infrastructure while also preventing or mitigating the impact of future flood events. The rehabilitation project is expected to be completed by the end of May.
‘This is one of the several projects of this nature currently under way across the City, which was prioritised by the Water and Sanitation Directorate ahead of the winter season and forms part of our holistic winter readiness plan,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien.
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Picture: City of Cape Town
