A skytram overlooking the Franschhoek Valley and Table Bay in the distance may be in the works for the Winelands town, as the municipality encouraged residents to participate in the public consultation process.
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According to Stellenbosch Municipality, private developers are conducting basic and environmental impact assessments on the 1179-metre cableway that will run from Haute Cabrière, off the lower part of the Olifantshoek Pass, to Middagkrans Peak on the mountain and within the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve.
No approvals for the project have been granted yet, according to municipality spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar.
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‘The project is currently in a public participation phase, and the municipality encourages all interested stakeholders to actively participate in this process by expressing their opinions, whether in support or opposition to the proposed project,’ said Grobbelaar.
The elevation from the lower station to the upper station would be approximately 643m, with the cableway consisting of two cable cars, each seating 80 people.
Foot traffic is expected to range from 120 people per day during the off-peak season in July to 3 000 visitors per day during the peak season.
Approximately 550 people were also expected to be on the summit at any given time during peak conditions.
Barry Phillips, a Franschhoek resident, told IOL that the Groendal community had yet to be informed about the plans.
‘The people of Groendal had not been properly consulted to express a view on it, although I can say personally I am opposed to it,’ he said.
Phillips stated that the Franschhoek economy would not benefit, despite the socioeconomic impact assessment indicating otherwise.
‘I can’t see that there will be much benefit to Franschhoek itself.’
‘To the local economy, I think that the socio-economic report only says that only 37 direct jobs will be involved in the operational phase of Skytram,’ he said.
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Exploring Franschhoek Valley on board the charming Wine Tram
Picture: Anika De Klerk / Unsplash