NEWSROOM
The proposed development at the Garden Route Dam that includes a university, commercial property and housing was granted environmental authorisation on Monday 19 September.
DAM DEVELOPMENT GETS ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL
Update
GEORGE NEWS - The proposed development at the Garden Route Dam that includes a university, commercial property and housing was granted environmental authorisation on Monday 19 September 2022.
The authorisation is valid until 19 September 2042. By then all listed activities and rehabilitation work must be concluded. The installation of bulk services must start by 19 September 2027, according to the approval letter.
contact details
Name: Ms. Alida de Beer
Business phone: 0448742424
Mobile: 0448742424
Email Enquiry: alida@groupeditors.co.za
Update
GEORGE NEWS - The proposed development at the Garden Route Dam that includes a university, commercial property and housing was granted environmental authorisation on Monday 19 September.
This authorisation for the 118 hectare development by the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning replaces the partial approval for the development of a hotel and waterfront that was issued on 16 September 2014.
The authorisation is valid until 19 September 2042. By then all listed activities and rehabilitation work must be concluded. The installation of bulk services must start by 19 September 2027, according to the approval letter.
The proposal involves a university/research campus (13,66ha), commercial waterfront (4,66ha), hotel and supporting infrastructure (1,55ha), medium density residential/group housing (5,47ha), apartments/flats/student housing (4,84ha), free-standing dwelling houses (5,76ha), recreation spaces/sports fields (7,57ha), roads (7,6ha) and parks/preservation areas (67,39ha).
The development has so far been met with fierce opposition from a number of civic organisations and a large number of residents who use the dam area for recreation and sport.
There are environmental concerns, among which the loss of leopard habitat and the contamination of the city's main water source. The economic viability of a tertiary institution is also being questioned.
Listed activities triggered by the development include the clearance of more than 20 hectares of indigenous vegetation, the crossing of watercourses with services infrastructure, the development of roads with a reserve bigger than 13,5m, the clearance of more than 300m²of endangered/critically endangered vegetation and infrastructure exceeding 100m² within 32 metres of a watercourse.
Appeals
Interested and affected parties may appeal the decision within 20 calendar days of the notification date (19 September).
A prescribed appeal form is available from the appeal authority on 021 483 3721, email DEADP.Appeals@westerncape.gov.za or www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp.
