Pictures of the Lakeside protest held on 8th May 2004
Draft Enviromental Impact Released
Read my comments on aspects of the report:
From this...
to this ...
would you stand for it?
This site is about stopping the proposed N21/R300 toll road development in Cape Town. We want the road reserves set aside for this road to be converted to a nature reserve:
- The road reserve was set aside 50 years ago, when the Cape Flats were mostly still natural, and the architects of apartheid were planning a South Africa that suited only its white citizens. It was a question of "which of all of this wilderness do we sacrifice for a road?". Now, the only part of the Cape Flats that is not developed is this old road reserve and some nature reserves attached to it. The road reserve is some of the only natural area left, and the only corridor that links the Sandvlei estuary to the False Bay Ecology Park. We now also don't want to separate people based on colour, and we don't want to dump non-whites at the end of a long road. A road in this reserve is a legacy of apartheid and must not be allowed to proceed.
- The road reserve fulfills the recently discovered requirement that nature reserves should be linked with natural corridors to allow the populations within them to share genetic diversity and thus remain viable. If we put a road in this reserve we will systematically extinguish several endangered species.
- As long as the road reserve exists, the citizens of Cape Town will be defending it against unsolicited bids from road developers. Let's remove the option of a road altogether for perpetuity.
What's the big deal?
- Where will this road run? Maybe it won't even affect me.
- See some of the species that will be extinguished in the wetland next to Norfolk Park.
- Read the opinion of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa on the proposal.
- Read why the Cape Bird Club opposes the road development.
- The Durbanville Environment Forum's Reasons for opposing the R300/N21 toll road development.
- Scenes from the False Bay Ecology Park that will be destroyed by the road.
- How this development is illegal in that it violates the National Environmental Management Act of 1998.
What the developers have to say
- At a discussion about Penway's motivation for the project, Mr. Poens Venter is quoted as saying "it's an investment".
- At an open house presentation in answer to a woman's query about how the development might devalue the home that she has invested all her money into: "Well, you have made a bad investment haven't you?".
- Poens Venter: "The road will not cross any natural wetland". (See my letter to the press on this one)
- Sadia Chand: "This is a proclaimed road reserve, although many property owners in the vicinity claim they were unaware that the quiet rural spot was under threat." (my response to the press)
- Poens Venter: "The road would be of major benefit to the Western Cape economically. I estimate that between 3000 and 7000 jobs will be created and R1billion spent on the project". The actual report states between 2000 and 5000 jobs, and shows only 4200 jobs being created, mostly indirectly, by 2032. The effect on GDP will be a 0.03% increase by 2010. (my response to the press)(my analysis of the economic report).
The Environmental Impact Assessment So Far
The draft environmental impact report (EIR) has been published for comment. We have until the 28th of May to submit comments to Emily@chand.co.za.
The report is available on the Peninsula-Expressway.org.za website, or at the following libraries:
- Bloubergstrand
- Durbanville
- Grassy Park
- Kuils River
- Melkbosstrand
- Mitchell's Plain Town Centre
- Muizenberg
- Retreat
- Strandfontein
- Tokai
May 2004: Long-awaited Draft EIR Ignores Vital Issues
In spite of over 1200 pages of consultant-speak, the draft EIR contains contradictions, misses important points and conveniently ignores many people most affected by the road. Read my annotations to the reports. At no point does the report recommend that perhaps the cost of the road to the environment will be too high and that it should not go ahead.
At least the report now recognises that some impacts of the development can not be mitigated. This might be an attempt to appear unbiased - because many of these impacts are in the greenfields sectors and the report states that the area is a declared road reserve anyway.
September 2002: The Environmental Impact Assessment Report is a joke
The summary of the draft EIA report was released at poorly-attended open houses held during September 2002. I have included the report, with my own comments, on this page. Have a look at the report and see for yourself how this development is being whitewashed and pushed through in spite of the severely detrimental impact it will have on humans and on nature. The developers seem to think we are idiots.
What can I do?
With very little effort you can do a lot of good. I have made it easy for you, just give me your support.
- Go to our discussion forum where you can register to participate in the protest and help stop the gradual theft of our natural heritage by private companies.
- Draw up your own comments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and submit it to Emily at Chand-Ecosense JV
- Fax, email or post your comments to Charles Oertel, P. O. Box 26445, Hout Bay,
7872, Fax: (021) 701-3338, email: Contact Us.
Be sure to include your name, contact details, address and comments. - Join your local ratepayers association to give them representation on this and other issues.
- Read the information available on this site and on the sites we link to on our links page.