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Dam development damned
2022 03 Dam development damned
Dam development damnedThey also point to the water crisis in George that has "exploded exponentially" in the past 18 months.
GEORGE NEWS - A number of civic groups have added their voices to the public outcry against the proposed development at the Garden Route Dam that followed the release of the draft environmental impact assessment report (DEIAR). In an open letter to the mayor of George, they question the economic viability of a university or tertiary institution, and the sustainability of future environmental management and maintenance plans that would guarantee the protection of the city's only water source against sewage spills and other pollution.
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Dam development damned
Journalist Alida de Beer | Thursday, 03 March 2022, 10:02
They also point to the water crisis in George that has "exploded exponentially" in the past 18 months.
GEORGE NEWS - A number of civic groups have added their voices to the public outcry against the proposed development at the Garden Route Dam that followed the release of the draft environmental impact assessment report (DEIAR). In an open letter to the mayor of George, they question the economic viability of a university or tertiary institution, and the sustainability of future environmental management and maintenance plans that would guarantee the protection of the city's only water source against sewage spills and other pollution.
They also point to the water crisis in George that has "exploded exponentially" in the past 18 months. Universities are switching over to online tuition which reduces the need for physical campuses and student accommodation. "Even pre Covid, the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) George precinct was severely under-utilised. The proposed tertiary institution thus runs the risk of becoming a white elephant which ultimately struggles to pay its rates and taxes." Referring to waterfront developments in South Africa, they say that with only a few exceptions, all have turned out to be ecological, economic and planning disasters. "What guarantees do we have that the Garden Route Dam won't suffer the same fate as the Hartebeespoort Dam, which now decades later has become choked by water hyacinth and salvinia - aquatic weeds nourished by industry effluent and failing water treatment plants?" They say the mitigation measures proposed in the report are "flimsy" and flawed and "dangerously dependent on the sustainability of future environmental management and maintenance plans".
"How can we possibly risk the permanent well-being of our raw water quality to the vicissitudes of dubious maintenance management systems and political pendulum swings?" The letter concludes with an urgent call on the mayor to "wipe this travesty permanently off the municipal drawing board". It is a joint call from the Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag), George Heritage Trust, Wessa and a few other civic groups. 2024 deadline for listed activities to start The environmental approval for the commercial waterfront will lapse on 16 September 2024. (It was already extended once in 2019.)
One of the conditions for approval is that the applicant must begin with all the listed activities before the expiry date. The development's construction phase must also be concluded within 10 years from the date on which the first listed activity is started. Currently, the public has the opportunity to comment on the DEIAR. Comments must be submitted to Sharples Environmental Services (SES) by next Friday,11 March.
Leopard habitat Landmark Foundation director Dr Bool Smuts said they oppose the development because of the impact assessment's disregard to a key species (leopard) that the organisation has focused on for the last two decades, and whose specific habitats around the dam will be severely affected by the proposed development and influx of humans. He says their leopard research programme has revealed that the area is a key habitat for the species.
"Specifically we have studied a female leopard that utilised the development precinct for its home range. We studied this leopard for five years and obtained data on her movement and even studied her offspring being raised in the area."
Other concerns raised in an "urgent notice" circulated among residents include an increase in traffic noise, compromised safety and security, loss of recreational space, and a drop in property values. The environmental consultants running the EIA process said aspects of the projects which may impact on the environment have been investigated by qualified professionals and the required adjustments made to the project proposal. The relevant studies, adjusted proposal and responses on the concerns are contained in Appendix E of the DEIAR.
A copy is available at the George Library or on the SES website. Anyone wishing to comment, must register as an interested and affected party.
READ THE ARTICLE ON THE GEORGE HERALD WEBSITE
Journalist Alida de Beer | Thursday, 03 March 2022, 10:02
They also point to the water crisis in George that has "exploded exponentially" in the past 18 months.
GEORGE NEWS - A number of civic groups have added their voices to the public outcry against the proposed development at the Garden Route Dam that followed the release of the draft environmental impact assessment report (DEIAR). In an open letter to the mayor of George, they question the economic viability of a university or tertiary institution, and the sustainability of future environmental management and maintenance plans that would guarantee the protection of the city's only water source against sewage spills and other pollution.
They also point to the water crisis in George that has "exploded exponentially" in the past 18 months. Universities are switching over to online tuition which reduces the need for physical campuses and student accommodation. "Even pre Covid, the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) George precinct was severely under-utilised. The proposed tertiary institution thus runs the risk of becoming a white elephant which ultimately struggles to pay its rates and taxes." Referring to waterfront developments in South Africa, they say that with only a few exceptions, all have turned out to be ecological, economic and planning disasters. "What guarantees do we have that the Garden Route Dam won't suffer the same fate as the Hartebeespoort Dam, which now decades later has become choked by water hyacinth and salvinia - aquatic weeds nourished by industry effluent and failing water treatment plants?" They say the mitigation measures proposed in the report are "flimsy" and flawed and "dangerously dependent on the sustainability of future environmental management and maintenance plans".
"How can we possibly risk the permanent well-being of our raw water quality to the vicissitudes of dubious maintenance management systems and political pendulum swings?" The letter concludes with an urgent call on the mayor to "wipe this travesty permanently off the municipal drawing board". It is a joint call from the Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag), George Heritage Trust, Wessa and a few other civic groups. 2024 deadline for listed activities to start The environmental approval for the commercial waterfront will lapse on 16 September 2024. (It was already extended once in 2019.)
One of the conditions for approval is that the applicant must begin with all the listed activities before the expiry date. The development's construction phase must also be concluded within 10 years from the date on which the first listed activity is started. Currently, the public has the opportunity to comment on the DEIAR. Comments must be submitted to Sharples Environmental Services (SES) by next Friday,11 March.
Leopard habitat Landmark Foundation director Dr Bool Smuts said they oppose the development because of the impact assessment's disregard to a key species (leopard) that the organisation has focused on for the last two decades, and whose specific habitats around the dam will be severely affected by the proposed development and influx of humans. He says their leopard research programme has revealed that the area is a key habitat for the species.
"Specifically we have studied a female leopard that utilised the development precinct for its home range. We studied this leopard for five years and obtained data on her movement and even studied her offspring being raised in the area."
Other concerns raised in an "urgent notice" circulated among residents include an increase in traffic noise, compromised safety and security, loss of recreational space, and a drop in property values. The environmental consultants running the EIA process said aspects of the projects which may impact on the environment have been investigated by qualified professionals and the required adjustments made to the project proposal. The relevant studies, adjusted proposal and responses on the concerns are contained in Appendix E of the DEIAR.
A copy is available at the George Library or on the SES website. Anyone wishing to comment, must register as an interested and affected party.
READ THE ARTICLE ON THE GEORGE HERALD WEBSITE
