GREAT BRAK RIVER NEWS - Proposals to develop a piece of municipal land next to the current police station in Great Brak River were met by a number of objections, specifically from the Gourikwa Khoisan people who insist they have a binding land claim on the property.
Over the past few years this vacant site was used to stockpile various materials during construction on nearby sites. As a result, much of the site is denuded of natural vegetation and what is left - including some indigenous trees - is in poor condition.
From comments received from Louise-Mari van Zyl, the director at Cape Environmental Assessment Practitioners (Pty) Ltd (Cape EAPrac) the Land Claims Restitution Office, in their comment on the application, confirmed that the land claim on the property has been dealt with through financial compensation and development restitution (albeit that another piece of land must still be identified by the Restitution Office, for the latter).
Cape EAPrac was appointed by the Micaren Exel Petroleum Wholesales (Pty) Ltd, the applicant, to facilitate the legally required Basic Assessment process.
Petition
On behalf of the Gourikwa House Cultural Association, community leader Barry Jacobs submitted to Cape EAPrac a petition signed by a number of Great Brak residents that calls for the land in question to be allocated instead to formerly disadvantaged entrepreneurs - in collaboration with the legal claimants - so that restitution may occur.
In communication shared with the Mossel Bay Advertiser, Cape EAPrac indicates to the Gourikwa House Cultural Association that the Land Claims Commission has confirmed that the land claims on the property have been finalised and that the claimants has opted for financial compensation.
"The property is to be withdrawn from the restitution process and register at the Deeds Office. Therefore, any interdict (endorsement and/or encumbrance) registered against this property, related to restitution, is considered rescinded (overturned/cancelled/voided)."
Cape EAPrac nevertheless invited the Gourikwa House Cultural Association to provide proof of a valid, active claim.
Skills development
The development proposal for a filling station site also includes community and public amenities in the form of a craft and skills development centre and recreational park, which were previously identified as needs within the Great Brak context.
Cape EAPrac indicates that the environmental process has run in parallel with a planning application, water use application and various municipal resolution processes (to inform lease agreements), which involved consideration and revision of a development proposal to make use of as much of the transformed municipal property as possible, while avoiding or mitigating any flood risk, avoiding and rehabilitating remnant aquatic features and dune thicket vegetation, managing stormwater and preventing pollution and contamination of surface and groundwater resources.
Long-term leases
According to the Basic Assessment Report (BAR), Micaren Exel Petroleum Wholesales has entered into two long-term lease agreements with the Mossel Bay Municipality, the legal landowner, in order to develop a filling station, a recreational park and facilities to support community-based tourism.
Some of the features proposed for the development include an outdoor picnic and recreational park that will be located behind the filling station and behind the police station erf.
Considering the number of people visiting the periodic magistrate's court in Great Brak River - that offers scant facilities - the proposed facilities will be a welcome addition to the precinct.
Recreational park
The recreational park is proposed to include a family picnic area, children and pet play areas (large jungle gym and lawn), artistic features, a natural wetland feature (rehabilitated degraded wetland), raised wooden walkways (so not to impact on tree root systems or the wetland area) and an amphitheatre that will create a platform for local performing artists that may also be used as an outdoor education classroom, and a raised bank and vegetation screen adjacent to the western boundary to reduce potential noise and visual impacts on neighbouring residential erven.
Skills development
The proposed craft and skills development centre is planned for the northern, front portion of the property, adjacent to Long Street. This would ideally be a workshop, display and retail space to showcase local community-based craft and skills development projects. The BAR argues that the restoration and rehabilitation proposed as part of this development will significantly improve the status, "sense-of-place", attractiveness and functionality of the ecosystem on this property.
Given that the development is to take place on a degraded site within an urban context, adjacent to major road networks, Cape EAPrac recommends that the project be authorised - with conditions to mitigate identified impacts.
Mossel Bay Municipality confirmed that the land is municipal property. "The EIA should be completed soon, whereafter the applicant must do a complete submission to the Council for approval."
The full BAR and other supporting documents are available on www.cape-eaprac.co.za or on mosselbayadvertiser.com
The BAR document deals in depth with concerns raised about the water table, the existing flood line, the need for alterations to the existing roads network and the impact on traffic.
Read supporting documents below:
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