Hermanus in uproar over R350m road plan

A HOT debate is raging among residents of the whale-watching town of Hermanus over plans to build a 3km bypass, costing about R350-million, through the edge of town.

The proposed route skirts an ecologically sensitive reserve with about 1 400 species of fynbos — the largest known collection on earth.

The project is in the environmental impact assessment phase and is being considered to alleviate possible future traffic congestion.

But Whale Coast Conservation, an Overberg conser- vation group, said the proposed route was flawed in several respects, including that it was driven by an inflexible provincial roads policy rather than what the community actually needed.

“The road will damage the fragile ecological corridor that runs from the main Fernkloof Nature Reserve to Hoy’s Koppie and may also compromise wetland areas,” said the group’s general manager Rob Fryer.

“Fernkloof Nature Reserve is part of the community’s natural heritage and its boundaries should never be compromised.”

The area is home to the largest carnivorous plant in the world, the vlieëbos ( Roridula gorgonias), as well as several small animal species such as the grey rhebok and Cape grysbok, porcupines, genets and hares.

Some 92 bird species have been recorded, including raptors such as the Jackal Buzzard and Black Eagle.

Fryer said it was “socially irresponsible” of the depart- ment to use an estimated R350-million to build a road that would be underutilised.

It is also argued that the proposed route will compromise the village atmosphere and disrupt learning at Hermanus High School and two private schools.

It will also cut through the trading premises of the Hermanus Country Market. Market manager Liza van Coppenhagen said about 70 stallholders would be affected.

But one proponent — a resident who did not want to be named — said the existing route through Hermanus via the three traffic circles was also 3km long, but had 92 vehicle access points and 24 street intersections.

He said the safety, comfort and time implications for motorists to and from other areas in Hermanus and beyond was worth considering.

Western Cape transport department spokesman AlAmeen Kafaar said the department was investigating the construction of the bypass to “give the municipality control over the main road, [which is currently a provincial road], to rejuvenate the CBD and to alleviate the predicted future traffic congestion here that could restrict economic activity”.

He added: “The department appointed independent consultants to undertake an environmental impact assessment process.

“This process will run into 2016 and they will investigate two feasible alignment alternatives, taking all stakeholder input in account.”