The building is situated in what was a very quiet residentially zoned municipal area, and the noise emanating from the current training facility (both day and night, and occasionally on weekends, including Sundays) is already intolerable to residents living in the immediate area. 

Residents were never consulted about Die Burger Strandhuis facility being used as a training facility since post-Covid lockdown in 2020! An administrative penalty to the amount of R1000.00 for operating an illegal training facility was even imposed in June 2022. Since then they have continued operations, and a questionable public participation process in terms of section 17 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000 was instituted in October 2023. Plans for the new facility were already drawn up between September 2020 and February 2021, three years prior to the public participation meeting in October 2023!

The upgrade will comprise of three levels housing three new auditoriums, eight new lecture rooms, a library, swimming pool, dormitories to accommodate up to 160 trainees, added parking along Margate Road - with a total number of 105 parking bays at the front and rear of the facility, a new gym, boardrooms, an admin block, and social/recreational spaces!

Furthermore, the facility is surrounded by two small nature reserves (Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserves - Grysbok Park/Slangetjiesbos/Bokmakirie) that are home to mongoose, porcupines, dune mole rats, and various birdlife, including francolin and guinea fowl. Endangered Cape Flats Strandveld fynbos is growing on the the reserves, and potentially on the facility grounds as well. These nature reserves have been declared 'protected in perpetuity'! The noise pollution and light pollution (huge spotlight switched on at night) emanating from this facility is already intolerable and the upgrade will escalate this even further and will ultimately be detrimental to the wellbeing of residents and wildlife/birdlife. 

In addition to the above, current traffic volumes will increase which is already an issue within the area, with the residential roads (Bath/Margate/Clifton/Axminister/Recreation/Windermere) being used as a thoroughfare for drivers attempting to bypass traffic buildup along the major access roads (Prince George Drive/Baden Powell Drive/Royal Road) to and from the area, specifically between 06:30 and 08:00 from Monday to Friday.

We urge you to sign this petition to prevent the City of Cape Town's Safety and Security Department from upgrading Die Burger Strandhuis into a three-level building Metro Police Training College.