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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - A new resident who built a home along the Middelrietvlei road near the George Airport is complaining about large numbers of trucks transporting material from a nearby sand quarry, creating "unbearable" dust levels and noise.

When he bought the property in the Moerasrivier area northwest of the George Airport he was not informed that a sand mine had been approved nearby.

It was only when the operator, Earthcom, began mining last year that he realised his unfortunate situation. He bought the property for its tranquility.

The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) approved mining activities for 20 years as from November 2014.

The resident, who asked that his name be withheld, says that a road upgrade and maintenance plan should have been in place before mining started as it was a condition of the George Municipality for granting approval for a departure on the land use.

"The district roads department told me they do not have the funds to maintain the road, which is a minor provincial road. If this is the case, why was the Earthcom mine authorised to use the road for heavy vehicles?" 

He has turned to the Public Protector for help after various efforts with the authorities to address his dilemma proved to be in vain. 

Watch a video below.

George Municipality's acting deputy director of planning, Clinton Peterson, confirmed that one of its conditions for allowing a temporary departure was that mining could only start once the operator has reached an agreement with the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) for access to the surrounding district and provincial road network that serves the property and surrounding farms. 

After the municipality received the resident's complaint, they contacted the Department of Minerals, that visited the site and issued a pre-directive requiring the operators to implement dust reduction measures. Peterson said he was waiting to hear from the district road engineer whether the DTPW has granted approval for access to the quarry and use of their roads. "The nature of the complaint falls outside the municipality's jurisdiction and must be addressed by the respective government departments."

Compliance
Jasper van der Westhuizen of Earthcom said, "Conditions of approval (for mining activities) included compliance with certain requirements pertaining to the implementation of noise and dust standards, as well as issues raised in a comprehensive traffic impact assessment. Although Earthcom has complied with the said requirements on a continuous basis since commencement of the mining activities, complaints were lodged with the DMR and the said complaints are currently under investigation. The responsible authorities, Provincial Roads and the District Municipality, under whose jurisdiction the roads resort, are party to investigating the merits of complaints and seeking solutions to the complaints if necessary. Earthcom remains committed to compliance with its legal obligations and to the authorities in dealing with the complaints received."

Lindy Gordon-Brown, director of Red Barn Farm, said the amount of heavy vehicle traffic is "astounding" and the road is not designed for it. "There is more or less a constant stream of trucks coming and going daily. The dust they produce is unfair to neighbouring properties and causes poor visibility. Our customers do not wish to come to our shop due to the condition of the road and the safety aspect of having to share the narrow road with large tipper trucks. Local school children wait for their bus on this road. It is an accident waiting to happen."

Department objected vehemently
The DTPW said that in its comments to George Municipality on the land use application for the mine, it had objected "vehemently" to the project on grounds of traffic impact aspects that required further discussions on proposed improvements.

"Despite this strong objection, land use approval was issued by the local authority before traffic impact aspects have been addressed." The DTPW said since the issue has been raised with the Public Protector, it cannot comment further before that process is finalised.

The DTPW's conditions included that the road be widened from 5,5m to 8m and be tarred. Passing facilities were also recommended as well as treating the road surface with a binding agent.

Minerals department comments
The Department of Mineral Resources said the road is not only used by the mining company trucks, but also by farmers and the public.

The company has graded, and undertook to grade the road, to keep it in a good condition, also spraying a binding agent to mitigate the dust problem. "The Department of Transport has requested the company to refrain from this and investigate an alternative measure. This study is still in process and the company will submit a suitable solution in due course."

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