Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The main take-home message following an information session and public meeting this week in the Mossel Bay Town Hall this week regarding the proposed plans to establish a fish meal and oil reduction plant on the Mossel Bay Harbour, is that all interested and affected parties must officially register to have an impactful say in the matter.

During the information session, similar to the so-called town hall talks hosted in the recent past regarding the MossJazz Festival and the establishment of an aquaculture project, the public, after hearing what a panel of experts had to say, could raise their concerns and ask questions.

Public participation
Melissa Mackay, senior environmental consultant from Cape EAPrac in George, being the first to address the meeting on Wednesday, 20 November, thoroughly explained the environmental process and especially the role of public participation. Mackay reiterated that members of the community must contact her to register as an affected and interested party. 

The Draft Basic Assessment Report (DBAR) and a copy of the Comments and Responses Report for the proposed Afro Fishing Fishmeal and Fish Oil Reduction facility, is currently available for review and comment. The commenting period ends on 12 December.

The public can air their opinions until 12 December by contacting Mackay (044 874 0365 or mel@cape-eaprac.co.za.

Mackay urged locals to familiarise themselves with the contents of the report. She said that it is available online, on CD or in hard copy. Hard copies are available at the public library also.

Wessel van Brakel (Delplan Consulting), Melissa Mackay (Cape EAPrac Environmental Assesment Practitioners), Chris Albertyn (Letaba Air Quality Specialists), De la Rey Viljoen (Delplan Consulting), JB Snyman (CVW Consulting Engineers), Frans van Aard (Urban Engineering), Danie Wessels (V3 Consulting Engineers) and Deon van Zyl (Afro Fishing) at the information session and public meeting regarding the proposed fishmeal and oil reduction plant. Photo: Jannie du Plessis

Odour addressed
An industry specialist, with "40 years' experience in the air pollution business", as chemical engineer Chris Albertyn, described himself, took time to address some of the main concerns, being air quality and odour.

He explained, at length, that odour abatement technology to be implemented at the proposed plant, the Regenarative Thermal Oxider (RTO) plant, is, although widely used in first world countries, was not yet in use anywhere in South Africa. Albertyn concluded his talk, saying that, according to his studies, the system can work, based on four principles: the processing of only fresh fish; the implementation of a properly designed extraction process; the preventative maintenance of RTO components; as well as skilled and trained operating and supervisory personnel working with the sophisticated RTO.

Afro Fishing CEO, Deon van Zyl, elaborated on the proposed expansion, detailing the roll-out of the project, focusing on issues like job creation.

Concerns
Concerns raised during the question and answer session included air quality and odour control; increase in noise levels both during the construction period; as well as when the proposed plant is in full production.

Participants also had queries about increase in traffic during construction phase and when in full operation after completion. Others expressed concern regarding the complaints process, should the plant become a nuisance later and what their course of action would be.

One of the participants complained that the "public participation process" was stalled by "long presentations", leaving too little time for open discussion.

There was also an allegation of contradictory statements made on the night in comparison to the reports viewed, which was refuted by the experts. It was strongly suggested and supported that, a forum for ultimately monitoring the plant's operation be established. Most importantly, the necessary Environmental Authoristaion and Atmospheric Licence is needed before any further developments can take place. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and the Garden Route District Municipality are the respective competent authorities to consider this application.