Page 16 - Bulletin 17 2013

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By mid-December 1909 both the KB-MM and CoCT councils had agreed that the latter

should take over the former’s liabilities, rights and assets and administer it as a ward of
the CoCT under 7 conditions. Amalgamation hinged around “the desirability of steps

being taken in the interests of the whole community [ie. the Peninsula] to develop the
bathing and seaside attractions of Muizenberg and Kalk Bay.” The KB-MM Engineer Mr

D. P. Howells had prepared a sketch plan that, for an outlay of approximately £27,500,
proposed the following (MM, 1910: 35):

 laying out the whole area between Muizenberg station and the Vlei mouth;
 reclaiming the drift sands by levelling, topping with soil, planting with grass;

 constructing a wide promenade and carriageway above high water mark;

 providing shelters, bandstands, kiosks, camping sites, pleasure grounds, and an up
to date bathing establishment on the water’s edge with tea rooms etc.

The intention was to undertake the developments gradually on the basis of need. Possi-
bilities for extension were seen in the Vlei area which could be dredged and deepened

and made into a fine lake for boating and fishing, with delightful sites on its banks for

great numbers of residences.

However, while the Engineer was forging ahead with these proposals, it seems the
Councillors had a change of heart because on 1 December 1909 Mayor Rutter informed

the City that his Council had decided to commence with immediate construction of a
wooden bathing pavilion and were borrowing £2,500 for the purpose. In January 1910 the

KB-MM advised further that the proposed amalgamation was premature as it seemed to

them unlikely that the CoCT would be empowered to commence any of the proposed
works in the near future. The matter was finally clarified in March 1910 when the KB-

MM indicated that amalgamation was impossible on the basis of the proposed differential
rating. (MM, 1910: 34-8.)

The KB-MM chose a site for the pavilion on the York Road axis, which was the most

direct route to the beach at that time. Construction of the wood and iron structure