Update

GEORGE NEWS - Groups of residents and a number of interest groups will be appealing the environmental approval granted last week for the proposed development at the Garden Route Dam.

Appeals must be submitted by 12 October.

Wessa, Garden Route 101 and Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag) are combining forces and offering individual interested and affected parties an opportunity to support their separate appeals: Gardag on water quality issues, Garden Route 101 on water shortages and more, and Wessa on socio-economic impact of environmental threats.

Expert: Development will have 'soft' impact, but university could become 'white elephant'

The development proposal has received opposition from the beginning of the application process by George Municipality to rezone the land (118,5 ha) that is currently zoned 'undetermined use'.

But, a local environmental expert in natural resource management, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says the development is going to have a "soft" environmental impact and he is satisfied that concerns raised during the scoping process have been sensibly addressed. 

The scale, placement and design of the development have been amended significantly from the original proposal and it is now an "excellent example" of offsetting environmental impacts by taking on the responsibility of natural areas outside of the boundaries of the development.

"Minimal land is being sacrificed. The buffer areas and green belt are much bigger. A total of 67 hectares, where aliens have taken over, will be rehabilitated. According to the development conditions, it will have to be diligently managed through an environmental management programme. 

"Extensive provision has been made to accommodate marshland. The concern over sewage spills into the dam has also been addressed with the overflow being located downstream of the dam wall.

"I am satisfied that the input from the full spectrum of organs of state and experts has been accommodated. However, I am concerned about the sensibility of establishing a full, new, conventional university here. The future of tertiary education is changing fast. I doubt whether an impact study has been done to determine the need for this and I foresee it could become a white elephant."

Various concerned groups are however not appeased.

'Current need not being met without water restrictions'

André Potgieter, spokesperson for Garden Route 101 (a group representing residents in the area of the dam), says additional residential development and residential zonings in George, as will be the case with this development, will add huge pressure to the already limited natural resources of the city, such as water.

He says as is, the dam, which is supplemented by the Kaaimans and Malgas rivers' pump stations, can currently not meet the existing water need without restrictions. The level of the dam is falling daily. "The only time it overflowed was last year in November when we had a one-in-50-year flood."

He says desalination and the re-use of sewage water should be priority to move George forward on a socio-economic basis with responsible development in harmony with the environment. 

"It is vital for Garden Route 101 to create a win, win, win situation in George where the natural resources, residents and George council are all winners. We offer a helping hand and request the municipality to have a constructive, long-term conversation with Garden Route 101 to create a sustainable win for everyone."

Concern over adequate, sustainable service delivery

Sustainability City Forum (SCF) CEO Jo Daneel says their concerns pertain to the provision of adequate, sustainable service delivery, particularly water supply and waste water treatment capacity, for this and other developments proposed for the George area.

"During the environmental assessment for the dam development, SCF has called for civil society/independent oversight of all phases of the development, and for full transparency and accountability from the municipality in the sale and development of the property. Specific concerns were raised with regard to the visual impact of the development, and mitigation measures were recommended during the environmental impact assessment (EIA). 

"On review of the environmental authorisation, SCF's recommendations have not been adequately addressed in the conditions. There is still opportunity to advocate responsible, sustainable development of this property which will benefit all sectors of our society, through ongoing and constructive engagement with the applicant and authorities."

Appeal process 'onerous and technical'

Muriel Hau-Yoon, convenor of the Garden Route Waste Management Forum, has commented on the appeal process which she says is "anything but democratic". 

"It is highly onerous and technical. And each appellant is required to copy the other 1 600 registered interested and affected parties. Worst of all, DEADP's approval uses a quasi socio-economic reason to sweep aside all environmental concerns and water quality risks. We do not want a new sewage pipe in our drinking water, especially not with inexorable load-shedding. This will affect every George resident - from Thembalethu to Blanco."

POLITICAL PARTIES' COMMENT

FF+

Adv Gert van Niekerk of the FF+ says a very long road still lies ahead before any development will take place. “The FF+ has come with counter proposals with regard to the development of a certain section of the development. We are strongly opposed to the current plan on the table that includes the hotel and university development. We see it as a risk for our own water source, the Garden Route Dam. We do not have another dam.

“History has shown that you can come with the best of intentions and the most economic, green plans, but the human factor fails us. One can just look at the rest of South Africa, how water sources, rivers, dams, etc have been polluted, where water has become undrinkable. And it was caused by people. 

"We cannot subject our sole potable water source to such a risk. Therefore we will strongly oppose it, always and on behalf of each resident of George. If the land has to be developed, there are alternative proposals that will exclude the pollution risk in totality. We have already made these known on the correct platform and we look forward to the outcome."

Good

Donovan Saptoe of Good says in principle they are not opposed to development that can enhance the economy and create work.

“But we cannot turn a blind eye for the opposing groups that have valid objections to such a project. One of the biggest worries for Good is the impact on our drinking water, opposition and allegations of manipulation of some reports, and the merciless and stubborn handling of the situation by the George Municipality.

“The fact that the implementation is being handled so secretively is raising eyebrows. As Good we need to request that a complete audit investigation is done on the processes followed till now, and of allegations of the misuse of municipal funds and of manipulation of municipal processes. And it needs to be established if there are grounds for the various other allegations contained in the various relevant objections that have been submitted.”

PBI 

Virgill Gericke of the PBI says when a “very modest” development of a university was proposed by Prof Quinton Johnson in 2018, the PBI supported the idea at the time. “Ever since, it was hijacked and proposed to be a mega development that will not be good for the area. 

"The environmental impact will cause destruction for generations to come. Furthermore, the dam is currently our only water source and should be preserved and protected at all costs. The outcry of the community cannot be ignored.

“Public participation is not just the ticking of boxes, but a thorough engagement with all sectors of society. Their concerns should be prioritised first and foremost. The DA and FF+ must respect the wishes of the entire community and stop this development immediately. 

"Yes, there is a very big need for houses, but any civilised government must take the objections of the citizens into consideration.

“It is clear that the proposed development will benefit only certain individuals. And if we are not sober-minded, we may see some rich and wealthy with boats on our dam. The PBI calls on the entire council to reject these proposals and embark on a process that will be more inviting and acceptable to the community.”

DA

Mayor Leon van Wyk says the DA supports the protection of the environment and water security as raised by citizens. “Any future land use application will therefore need to take cognisance of the concerns already raised and be subject to public participation.

“Please also note the comments from the George Municipality where it should also be pointed out that planning is a long-term process to provide certainty for the land use/zoning rights, which in turn ensure opportunities for investment, economic development and employment opportunities.”

ANC

Comment from the ANC is still being awaited.

Georgians are very protective of the Garden Route Dam, their sole water source. Residents living near the dam are always aware of the fluctuation of the water level. Tracey Pharaoh, who lives near the dam on the side where the Kat River runs in, supplied photos to illustrate how it fluctuates. With not much rain in the past few months, it has been dropping fast.