Housing plan for Kamfers Dam
A RESIDENTIAL development near Kamfers Dam could be on the cards.
A notice was published at the beginning of this month in the media regarding the environmental impact assessment and calling for interested parties to register and raise their concerns on the possible impact of such a development on the flamingos at Kamfers Dam.
The invitation to participate, placed by environmental consultant Sheila Bolingo, from Envirolution Consulting, states that: “Alley Roads Mega Projects is proposing the construction of a residential development on the Remainder of Portion 18 of the Farm Roode Pan 70, Kimberley, in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality.
“The property lies approximately 10km to the north of Kimberley on the banks of the Kamfers Dam adjacent to Midlands Road.”
According to the notice, an environmental impact assessment (scoping and EIA), as well as a water use licence, is required for authorisation of the proposed project.
“By registering on the project database, you will receive all information relating to the project and will be provided with an opportunity to provide comment and input into the Basic Assessment Process. Comments and registration sheet should be returned on or before Monday, March 4 2019. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require additional information and/or clarification regarding the proposed project. Our team welcomes your participation and looks forward to your involvement throughout this process.”
The notice gives the contact details as follows: Tel: 0861 44 44 99; Fax: 0861 62 62 22 and e-mail: sheila@envirolution.co.za.
Bolingo confirmed yesterday that the private developer was proposing the construction of a mixeduse residential development.
“It is proposed that the site will be rezoned to residential development, the development will also include business land use which will be the supporting land use to the residential land use.”
Sol Plaatje municipal spokesperson Sello Matsie said yesterday that the application was a private proposed development.
“At this stage the municipality has not taken an informed decision, however, the EIA process is at the public participation stage. Members of the public must submit their inputs/comments to the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (DENC). The municipality will await the outcome of the DENC before making an informed decision.”
The notice, which was placed on the Save the Flamingo Facebook page yesterday, elicited concern.
“When I read about it I thought that it was a joke, but then realised that the first of April is still a long way in the future. I cannot understand the mentality of the people who have even thought of proposing a residential development in such a sensitive area.
“Were they fast asleep during the past few weeks when the importance of Kamfers Dam as a sanctuary that is the only place in South Africa where flamingos are breeding has come into the limelight? Did the efforts of the large number of volunteers go unnoticed and did it not prove that this is a sanctuary that should be protected for many?”
According to Tania Anderson, who is currently observing the flamingos at Kamfers Dam, the area of the proposed development was already rezoned in the draft Spacial Development Framework of the Sol Plaatje Municipality (2017-2022).
A previous proposed housing development on the site, the Northgate development, was stopped following a massive outcry from environmentalists and advocacy groups, including the Save the Flamingo Association, which was formed in 2008.
The Northgate development included 6 406 residential opportunities (singe and general), a shopping mall, schools, places of worship, local authority properties and public open spaces.
It was touted at the time as the biggest in the history of the Northern Cape, and drew national and international attention to the site as environmentalists argued that the development threatened the future of Kimberley’s greatest ecological asset, the man-made island on Kamfers Dam.