Lakes Eco - Fatal Flaw in Public Participation Process

Susan Garner

By the time you read these words, the news may be gathering dust, but we shall put you in the picture of this moment regarding the application procedures of the Lakes Eco and Golf Development located on the north shores of Swartvlei.

There are two issues WALEAF is attending at present. The first is the developers’ response to interested and affected parties (I&AP’s) objections to its application for amendment to the Structure Plan. The George Municipality is giving I&APs a chance to comment within 30 days (by 22 August) on the developer's response. (This extra large “rebuttal” document is available for perusal at municipal offices and a copy provided for R125.) The line that WALEAF is taking here is that to make any decision regarding a change in Structure Plan should have as its basis a regional environmental assessment. We contend that the Lakes Eco process has essentially put the cart before the horse by attempting to gain planning approval even before a site-specific Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been completed to inform decision-making.

One particular point that we find contentious contained in this rebuttal document is a copy of a letter from the Lakes Eco developer, reporting on a meeting with the national Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, Dr David Mabunda, who, it seems has unilaterally overridden the “initial negative reaction” of local SANParks to the proposed project. The letter states “SANParks changed its approach and now enthusiastically supports the initiative”. In summary, Dr Mabunda believes that all potential environmental negatives of the project can be mitigated by sound environmental management to be set out as Conditions of Approval. WALEAF has since written to national SANParks, supporting the local SANParks concerns. We think that all objections to this massive township proposal should have been carefully considered by Dr Mabunda before making such a sweeping decision. Our biggest concern is the familiar old style “top down” decision-making which effectively rings the death toll on any meaningful “public participation” process. The George Municipality should take cognition of this negative “side-effect”.

The second issue WALEAF is attending at present concerns the unfinished EIA scoping process and a sudden inclusion of two new access roads to the proposed development. In mid July, some (not all) I&AP’s received a letter from HilLand & Associates (the Lakes Eco environmental consultants) requesting comments and concerns regarding this new impact. No meaningful details of the inclusion of the Die Vleie and Pine Lake Marina access routes have been provided to inform comment, and yet I&AP’s are required to respond within 14 days. With the introduction of such a massive new dimension to the proposal, WALEAF also recognises that many new affected parties remain uninformed. For example, relevant authorities such as the Knysna Municipality, SA National Roads Agency and the RAMSAR Convention Secretariat should be given fair opportunity for input.
WALEAF concludes that the issues briefly touched on above constitute a fatal flaw in the public participation process. You, the public, now have opportunity to react.