Hopes to Rage at Gansevallei

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plett Rage is looking for a new home and has applied to Bitou Municipality to use one of its former sites to host the festival from 1 to 8 December.

The organisers want to use the land at the Plett Wastewater Treatment Works on the farm Gansevallei (see photo) for a five-year period - during the December season only - "subject to conditions relating to a service level agreement and a lease agreement".

Plett Rage has been an annual event for many years but identifying suitable venues has always been problematic.

"This has been complicated by the fact that once a venue has been identified, a formal land use application still has to be made and approved, which is time-consuming," said council documents. The applications take very long, as they inevitably result in numerous objections.

Last year two sites were identified as venues, one along the Plett airport road and the other at Kranshoek. Following objections, also initially by Kranshoek residents, the Rage eventually went ahead in Kranshoek.

The Plett Rage event has previously been hosted successfully at the wastewater treatment works at the "Old Nick" turn-off from the N2.

The organisers have submitted a formal proposal to again make use of the same venue this year, "and preferably for the next five years".

Rage has created many employment and vending opportunities during the festival and, according to comments in the agenda item, locals "can sustain themselves for a period of two to three months after the event".

A report in the June special council meeting agenda informs Council of the application and recommends that it be approved, subject to conditions relating to a service level agreement and a lease agreement.

Municipal Manager Mbulelo Memani recommended that approval be given to the Rage organisers subject to a few conditions.

Council will consider the application at its special council meeting today, Thursday 29 June, held at the Beacon Island Resort, not at council chambers in Sewell Street, as it is their final meeting of the 2022/23 financial year.

The area surrounding the Bitou Wastewater Treatment Works in Plett, which hosted the Rage three years ago, as seen from the entrance. Photo: Chriss van Gass