The PetroSA and Mossel Bay Environmental Partnership (MEP) Estuary Restoration and Rehabilitation project officially started in June 2011. PetroSA funded this project in partnership with Mossel Bay Municipality to the tune of R2-million, which was implemented by MEP and Oyster Bay Reserve.
The project was started with the main objective to fight the 'war on poverty' and is part of the municipality's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). Over 88 disadvantaged community members have been employed and they have all been empowered and trained on skills to improve their employability.
The following communities were identified for each specific estuary, as the main source of the work force for the projects:
· Green Haven community - Great Brak Estuary.
· Power Town community - Little Brak Estuary.
· Sonskynvallei community - Hartenbos Estuary.
· KwaNonqaba community - Twee Kuilen Estuary.
· D'Almeida community - Pansy Cove Estuary.
The MEP Estuary project has had various new and innovative projects that have created a new passion for the environment, as well as opened the eyes of the community to the various entrepreneurial opportunities that are out there. The project has also given a new lease of life to the estuary water systems along the Mossel Bay coastlines. The relevant communities have also taken on an entirely new appreciation for the environment.
It is hoped that through preservation of our natural assets, we will start to secure sustainable income sources through these types of eco-tourism opportunities.
Over 88 disadvantaged community members have been employed, trained and empowered on skills to improve their employability, in a joint venture between MEP and PetroSA.
