Aalwyndal development: Biodiversity study released

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Residents and property owners of Aalwyndal have finally received a long-awaited biodiversity study of the area.

According to a notice released by the Mossel Bay Municipality on 25 August, the documents are now available for viewing and inspection at the town planning division of the municipality, as well as on the municipal website under Town Planning, as Draft Aalwyndal Offset Investigation 2025.

Five reports

In August, Mossel Bay Advertiser reported about concerns of property owners who claimed that the study’s delay was holding up their own property plans.

At the time, the residents (who wished to remain anonymous) told the Advertiser they were not against development in Aalwyndal, but that they only wanted to have an exact date by which the latest information regarding the biodiversity study would be released, so they could contact the investors and get ready for a public information meeting.

The now available biodiversity study is made up of five reports titled:

Report 1: Revision of the Aalwyndal Precinct Layout
Report 2: Calculated Size & Characteristics of the Offset
Report 3: Costed Conservation Management Plan for the Onsite Biodiversity Offset
Report 4: Identification, Ground-truthing & Feasibility of Potential Offsite Offsets
Report 5: Management and Financial Arrangements for Biodiversity Offsets

Offset investigation

Due to its location, Aalwyndal has been identified as an area for possible development as part of the Mossel Bay Spatial Development Framework of 2018 and 2022.

The biodiversity study began in May 2024 and brought new information about biodiversity areas to light.

The municipality and the Western Cape Government had embarked on an offset investigation to produce a Strategic Biodiversity Offset Framework Plan for Aalwyndal.

The aim of this plan was to identify areas within Aalwyndal that could not be developed or offset due to environmental sensitivities, and - for the areas that can potentially be developed via offset - to exchange environmentally sensitive land for development in Aalwyndal with conservation-worthy land at a different location.

Public information session

A public information session is scheduled in the Mossel Bay Town Hall at 18:00 on Tuesday 16 September.

The Advertiser received confirmation from the municipality on Wednesday 27 August about the availability of the biodiversity study and the date for the public information session.

“While the session is primarily focused on key interest groups, namely landowners and developers, members of the public are welcome to attend should they wish to do so. The engagement is designed to address specific development-related matters,” said the municipality.

Written comments can be addressed to Municipal Manager Colin Puren (PO Box 25, Mossel Bay, 6500) or emailed to admin@mosselbay.gov.za.

Comments must contain your name, address and contact details, your interest in the matter and your motivation. Enquiries can be made to the Manager of Town Planning, Jaco Roux, on 044 606 5071 or jroux@mosselbay.gov.za.

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