Update

GEORGE NEWS - All appeals against the environmental approval for the proposed multi-million rand development at the Garden Route Dam have been dismissed by the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP).

MEC Anton Bredell announced his decision on Friday 27 January. 

The environmental approval (EA) was granted to George Municipality on 19 September last year for the development of a university, various housing sections and a hotel and commercial waterfront.

The environmental 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.

Addressing one of the major concerns raised by appellants - the potential for pollution of the city's sole water source - Bredell gave an overview of what has been proposed to mitigate the risk of sewage spills and storm water runoff. 

This includes the location of the sewage pump stations, creating additional storage at the pump stations to reduce spillage risk during system failures or prolonged power outages, as well as emergency generators to allow continued operation.

The storm water management plan has to be amended to address issues raised by the freshwater specialist and the Breede Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA). This amended plan must be submitted as part of the environmental management programme and approved by the department before construction activities start.

Need for a university

Responding to the scepticism about the need for a second university in George, Bredell said the city is expanding fast and more tertiary education facilities and courses will be needed to provide for local students. Not all students can learn without contact teaching.

The demand for tertiary facilities is reflected by the other South African universities that remain fully subscribed.

Regarding potential social impacts and disturbance of peace by students he said it is "premature to undoubtedly say that this will be the case with this facility". 

Various institutions have shown interest to establish tertiary education facilities in George. 

"Once the development rights have been established and the tender to develop is awarded, the needs and feasibilities of the proposals will be investigated in order to determine the best type of facility to be developed."

Buffer of houses

Regarding the impact on the surrounding neighbourhood, Bredell said there would be no low-cost housing. Furthermore, a buffer of single residential houses designed to conform to the surrounding neighbourhood would be developed.

No development will take place within a 100-metre buffer zone around the dam (a zone that is part of the Kat River Nature Reserve). The hotel site has been set back to be outside the current boundary of the reserve.

'Open space areas for fauna and flora'

Bredell said the dam area has already been subjected to a high incidence of disturbance to fauna and flora and the impact of the proposed development will be at an "acceptable" level if the botanical impact assessment recommendations are implemented. 

The open space areas will provide habitat for the conservation of endemic and near-endemic species.

The study area is "not critical for their conservation, but is and can become a locally important bird habitat, or a stepping-stone corridor habitat". 

The leopard population, about which concern was raised, has adapted to an already disturbed area and has access to sufficient areas of lower disturbance in the mountains and forests north and eastwards to retreat to.

Recreational space 'not restricted'

Space for recreational use by the public will not be restricted by the development as 67ha will remain undeveloped and public access would in fact be improved.

Open spaces would be enhanced and formal walkways and cycle paths developed in a way as to show off the scenic views.

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