It is a massive development comprising 895 homes, a 150-bedroom hotel, a small retail centre, a 300-seater conference centre and two 18-hole golf courses.
The DA voiced their opposition, but together with the ACDP, stayed out of the final vote while the FF+ voted in favour. Afterwards DA’s chief whip Theuns Botha said their party was already getting flack from the public for approving new developments. He added that although the DA approved the development in 2005, the water situation had since then become critical and overstretched.
During the meeting, head of Civil Engineering Services, Harold Basson reassured Council that Lagoon Bay had been factored into their bulk water supply planning scenario. This includes recycling of water and extraction from the Malgate River.
Independent Clr Iona Kritzinger said the application does not give much detail about the bulk water supply, to which the acting municipal manager Gerhard Ras replied that this sort of detail would be incorporated into the service agreement with the developer. The development is subject to strict conditions.
Former ANC MEC Pierre Uys who sat in the public gallery said that the final decision rests with the minister of Environmental and Local Government Affairs Anton Bredell and the public could still appeal against the subdivision and rezoning application.
When asked why he had approved the development whilst in office he said: "Because my predecessor Tasneem Essop had also approved it.
Developer pleased
Afterwards, Dr Werner Roux, MD of Lagoon Bay Lifestyle Estate said he was elated to have received Guide Plan Amendment approval after battling since 2002. He added that he was concerned though about the negative comments from the town planning department. Rand Merchant Bank is still financing the development and is a partner in the venture which entails buying up most of the 42 farms in the Glentana district, of which the most well-known is Hoogekraal. Roux said the development is positioned 400 metres away from the coast and the argument by environmentalists that it falls within the sensitive coastal dune area is therefore incorrect. He added that the footprint had been reduced at the request of the minister which allowed for bigger green corridor areas.
The Department of Water Affairs in a letter dated 18 March stated sufficient effluent is to be supplied from either Gwaing or the Outeniqua waste water treatment plant to meet potable and residential requirements. This water may not be used for irrigating golf courses. Water may be extracted from Maalgate River at 1,26 million cubic metres per year. The Department’s objections were overruled by MEC Pierre Uys in 2005.
A review of Uys’s approval (given whilst he was minister) has been lodged with the Cape Town High Court by the Cape Windlass Environmental Action Group, chaired by Dr Wim Gericke, on the grounds that the right procedures had not been followed in the application for approval.
In the documents placed before the George Town Council there are 24 objectors that include individuals and organisations.
Opposition came from the Glentana Ratepayers’ Associations which said they were alarmed about the overstrained water supplies.
Dr Ron Lareman said: "Whilst we have been declared a disaster drought area by Eden District Municipality it would be irresponsible of the George Municipality to enter into negotiations with the developers for the gray water as this is needed by George town."
The claim that 1 300 jobs will be created is questioned by Aksie Gleniqua.
Article: Pauline Lourens
The land near Glentana where the Lagoon Bay development is to be situated.
