Infrastructure
Due to its location the CWCBR is already intersected by numerous infra structural elements:
Roads.
Major roads R27, N7, M19, M14, R307, R204, R207. The density of roads in the area is relatively low. Railways – Two lines serve the area. These are the Saldanha –Sichen line that transports ore to both the ISKOR steel works and the harbour at Saldanha Bay for export, and a north – south line.
Harbours.
Saldanha Bay. This is a natural deep water harbour. The Bay covers some 7500 hectares and is managed by PORTNET. It contains the iron ore export terminal, the SFF oil loading facility (see section 2.5), trawler docks and a naval base. Laaiplak and Velddrif. These are harbours at the mouth of the Berg River that cater for ocean-going trawlers serving the canning factories at each location. St Helena Bay. This is naturally protected bay with a harbour serving a canning factory. There are small boat harbours at Yzerfontein, Paternoster and and St Helena Bay. There are also yacht clubs with launching facilities at Saldanha Bay and Langebaan.
Power lines.
Two sets of transmission lines that form part of the National Grid high cross the area. These are the lines to Koeberg in the south, and north-south line and lines to the Saldanha Bay area. The area is densely covered with low voltage distribution lines.
Power generation.
The Koeberg nuclear power station is the only nuclear plant in Africa. It is a pressurised Water reactor (PWR) system, housed in a concrete containment building. The two reactors supply 1840 MW, that is in the order of 6% of the national electricity requirement. About 98% of other electricity used in the Western Cape is generated in other Provinces, principally Mpumalanga. Koeberg uses sea water for cooling, with consequential savings of fresh water. The returned seawater is however a potential thermal and chlorine pollution source on the coast (it is not a radiation threat). The quantity of seawater used would be increased if the prototype Pebble Bed Modulated Reactor is constructed. The 3000 hectare Koeberg Nature Reserve, established on the site, is an important conservancy.
Other energy sources.
Water pipelines. Main supply pipes are situated in the North, from Velddrift to Saldanha Bay, and in the south within the Cape Town metropolitan area.
Oil pipelines.
An oil pipeline from the SFF oil facility in Saldanha Bay to the Milnerton refinery transects the CWCBR and that future pipeleins to convey gas and condensate from the Ibhubesi filed are being planned.
Water services.
A water abstraction and purification plant operates at Silverstroomstrand- the Atlantis aquifer borehole scheme (Further smaller water treatment plants serve the settlements in the CWCBR. The Cape Town City Council’s Water Services Development Plan notes that service levels of existing formal developed areas (excluding rural areas and informal areas) generally meets the minimum standards as required by the Water Services Act. Current water resources cannot meet future water demand of the CCT at the 98% supply assurance level. The building of the Skuifraam dam and water conservation are the strategies to reduce the shortfall.
Wastewater.
Wastewater infrastructure consists of small and medium sized wastewater treatment plants serving the settlements within the CWCBR, plus associated pump stations and pipelines.
