Update
GEORGE NEWS - The contractor who started putting up a surprise construction yard in Boven Lange Valley, Wilderness, has been stopped in his tracks, for now.
While George Municipality issued a written instruction to the property owner on 9 April to cease all unauthorised activities in terms of Section 28(d) of the Environment Conservation Act, No 73 of 1983, work was reportedly only halted a week ago when the media started asking questions.
Martin and East, the company subcon-tracted by Sanral to upgrade the N2 from Kaaimans to Wilderness, would only be allowed to resume setting up the planned construction yard pending the outcome of a mandatory public participation process and obtaining relevant applications.
These include an application for temporary departure from zoning regulations, an Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Areas (Osca) exemption permit and building plans.
While Martin and East has failed to provide an explanation for its actions in a meeting with the municipality last Wednesday, it has since emerged that penalties and rectifications are applicable.
The municipality's acting director of human settlements, planning and develop-ment, Henriëtte Koch, confirmed that to remedy its actions, the contractor would have to fork out a penalty equal to six times the Osca application fee as well as additional penalties for putting up a fence without permission.
"While no land penalty applies yet, a contravention notice will be issued, should unauthorised use commence," Koch said.
The municipality was unable to comment on the full extent of the planned facilities, as a full land use application had yet to be received.
"The contractor will appoint a consulting town planner to submit the land use application and lead the public participation process," Koch said.
However, she commented on potential impacts and required mitigation. "Potential impacts include soil erosion, compaction, altered drainage, pollution and dust. Mitigation, should the application be approved, will include soil restoration, spill containment and oversight by an environmental control officer."
She said SANParks' input would also be considered due to the site's proximity to the environmentally significant Wilderness Lakes.
Contractor remains silent
The following questions sent to an email address (info@megroup.co.za) provided on the Martin and East company website and directed at contract manager Stuart Tanner went unanswered.
- Did you commence clearing activities prior to obtaining relevant permissions?
If so, please explain why? - Is commencing work prior to obtaining relevant permissions something Martin and East (with over 70 years' experience) does from time to time? Please help us understand by providing an explanation.
- At the public meeting held on 16 April, you gave certain assurances regarding remedial and rehabilitation work. Where would one take all the hard sand to? Can you be more specific about what you mean by 'restoring the land to its original condition'? What is the cost implication of all this remedial work?
- Can you really give assurance that construction workers will stick to the speed limit, drive on the correct side of the road and not cause unreasonable obstruction, as per response to a question in this regard raised at the community meeting on
16 April?
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