George Herald | Update: Gravel mine near airport

Translate to:


News	Classifieds	Directory

Update: Gravel mine near airport
16:00 (GMT+2), Tue, 31 July 2012

In the foreground is the land on which a gravel mine is proposed. In the background is one the neighbouring properties, Outeniqua Eiers.

GEORGE NEWS FLASH - The application for gravel mine activities on a farm to the west of George has elicited objections from a number of neighbours and nearby property owners.

Dust and noise pollution, the visual impact on a beautiful rural area, and increased heavy vehicle traffic on the Middelrietvlei road, which serves the area, are among concerns objectors have raised.

EarthCom is applying for gravel mining rights on a portion of Farm 233 Moerasrivier, situated 2km northwest of the George Airport.

According to a draft scoping report compiled by Amathemba Environmental Management Consulting, a total area of 20 hectares has been earmarked for mining, but only one hectare at a time will be mined to minimise the impact. Rehabilitation of each 1ha block will be done immediately once it has been exhausted. It is estimated that gravel loads will be transported at a frequency of four trucks per hour.

Reacting to comments that the gravel mine goes against food security and the land should rather be exploited for agricultural purposes, EarthCom spokesperson Jasper van der Westhuizen said a specialist has found that the soil quality is not very favourable to farming. "It is also a small piece of land as the original farm was subdivided long ago. It is rather a smallholding and I doubt it if one can make a viable living from it. A lot of factors have determined our decision to mine on this property. It would be with great difficulty that EarthCom would find a more suitable site."

It is estimated that the mine will be exhausted in about 20 years' time. Visual and traffic impact assessments still have to be conducted.

Read the full story in Thursday's George Herald, and online.

Read a previous article about the mine here.