Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
With regard to the Whale Trail in the De Hoop Reserve:
- (a) What is the current state of the (i) accommodation facilities and (ii) trail itself, (b) what (i) maintenance work has been undertaken over the last three years on this trail, (ii) upgrading has been undertaken over the last three years on this trail and (iii) costs were incurred in this regard;
- what were the annual amounts received by CapeNature for (a) hiking permits and (b) transport of luggage on this trail in (i) 2018/19, (ii) 2019/20 and (iii) 2020/21, (c) what expenses were incurred in respect of (i) cleaning and (ii) portage and (d) how many people booked and hiked the trail?
- (a)
- The accommodation is in good condition having recently undergone significant maintenance and upgrades. Each of the five overnight hiking huts has undergone general maintenance to all roofs, ceilings, floors, kitchen joinery, plumbing and sewerage management as well as new braai lapas and communal areas over the past three years.
- The trail itself is also in a good condition having recently undergone maintenance and upgrades.
(b)
(i) The paths have been cleaned, veld on the path and along the edges of the path have been cleared and signage has been refreshed over the past three years.
(ii) New footbridges, steps and handholds have been added to the paths. A steel staircase has been installed at Stilgat thus allowing safer and more appropriate access to the pools and beach.
(iii) The hiking hut maintenance and upgrade project was undertaken by the Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works to an approximate value of R24 113 724; upgrades and maintenance to the trail have been undertaken by CapeNature to the value of R977 030.
- (a) Income from hiking permits
(i) | 2018/19 | R5 114 899.00 |
|
(ii) | 2019/20 | R0.00 | Trail closed for infrastructure development and maintenance |
(iii) | 2020/21 | R2 548 066.00 | Trail operating at 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions |
(b) Income from transport of luggage
(i) | 2018/19 | R593 015 |
|
(ii) | 2019/20 | R0.00 | Trail closed for infrastructure development and maintenance |
(iii) | 2020/21 | R505 640 | Trail operating at 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions |
(c) Expenses for cleaning and porterage
The service provider does not provide itemized billing hence the costs below are for cleaning and porterage
(i) | 2018/19 | R1 292 292.30 |
|
(ii) | 2019/20 | R0.00 | Trail closed for infrastructure development and maintenance |
(iii) | 2020/21 | R872 494.66 | Trail operating at 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions |
(d) Visitor numbers
(i) | 2018/19 | 2 551 |
|
(ii) | 2019/20 | 0 | Trail closed for infrastructure development and maintenance |
(iii) | 2020/21 | 1 134 | Trail operating at 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions |
