Update

GEORGE NEWS - The proposed highly contentious 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 granted by the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, replaces the partial approval for the development of a hotel and waterfront issued on 16 September 2014.

The authorisation is valid for 20 years 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.

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 is facing fierce opposition from a number of civic organisations and a large number of residents who use the dam area for recreation and sport. 

Environmental concerns include the loss of leopard habitat and the contamination of the city's main water source. The economic viability of a tertiary institution is also questioned.

Fauna and flora

The development will entail the clearance of more than 20ha 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 300m² of endangered/critically endangered vegetation and infrastructure exceeding 100m² within 32 metres of a watercourse.

According to the final environmental impact assessment report by Sharples Environmental Services (SES), the proposed development is compatible with the key principles in the land use planning and policy documents for the Western Cape and George area, including the George Municipality's spatial development framework of 2019. 

Furthermore, the development is located within the urban edge, the site is already disturbed and has been identified for urban development.

Money talks

SES says the most significant impacts of the development are to freshwater resources, loss of vegetation of conservation importance, and visual impact in terms of the land use character of the site and sense of place of the area. "Traffic and safety impacts are also noteworthy."

SES says the socio-economic benefits such as job opportunities, the provision of housing and other much-needed social facilities such as the hotel and sport facilities largely outweigh the impacts.

Complaint with SACNASP

A strong opponent of the proposed poject, Landmark Foundation chairman Dr Bool Smuts, has laid a complaint with the SA Council for National Scientific Professions (SACNASP) against a specialist whose input was used in the studies done for the EIA. 

Smuts contends there has been misrepresentation of the "ecological realities" about the occurrence of leopard and honey badger in the proposed development site. It was asserted that leopards do not occur in the area of study and had moved northwards and eastwards of the site. 

The Landmark Foundation, that has studied leopards in the area for the last 14 years, can disprove these assertions, says Smuts. Smuts is known in the environmental field for his fight for ethical conduct towards wildlife, particularly leopards. 

In response to an inquiry regarding the complaint, SACNASP spokesperson Jurina Botha referred the newspaper to the Natural Scientific Professions Act that sets out a lengthy process for investigating a charge of improper conduct.

A huge area surrounding George's main water is set to become the sole playground of the occupants, should the development go through.

Appeals

Interested and affected parties may appeal the decision within 20 calendar days of the notification date, which was 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.

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