The proposed development of a small boat harbour in the Piesang River is currently under review. A Background Information Document (BID) has been compiled by Dr Mike Cohen in order to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to register as interested and affected parties in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

A copy of the BID can be obtained by e-mailing Mike Cohen on steenbok@aerosat.co.za. Those who wish to participate should register themselves as interested or affected parties and then submit any issues they wish to see addressed in writing to Mike Cohen on steenbok@aerosat.co.za. The closing date for registration is Monday, July 23.

A combination of commercial and residential activities is proposed in the Central Beach area, consisting of various multi-storey buildings (from three to seven storeys). The Northern and Southern banks of the Piesang River are proposed to house multi-storey residential units. The harbour is proposed in the area between the existing bridge crossing the Piesang and the coastal zone.

The anticipated size of the development is 80 000m² of floor space of which 20% is earmarked for commerce and the remainder for residential purposes. The developer is Western Cape Marina Investments PTY Ltd.

Preliminary EIA investigations have identified the following issues: coastal sediment dynamics; soil disturbance and erosion; storm water management; terrestrial, estuarine and nearshore marine biodiversity impacts; visual impacts; noise, air and surface pollution; groundwater contamination; cultural/heritage impacts; socio-economic impacts and climate-change impacts.

The following initial specialist studies have been identified to address these impacts: terrestrial fauna and flora; avifauna; sediment dynamics; services; traffic impact assessment; heritage and archaeological; palaeontological; wetlands and estuaries; nearshore marine ecology and socio-economic.

Various parties have already come out in support of the development whilst various other parties are decidedly against it.