Sense of place of indigenous Wilderness ‘endangered’
GEORGE - "It is extraordinary how many people fall in love with Wilderness because of the natural backdrop of indigenous vegetation, only to eradicate this when clearing their properties for construction."
This statement by the Wilderness Residents and Ratepayers Association (WRRA) has been proven true time and again, judging by complaints the newspaper periodically receives about insensitive and even illegal building activities in the village.
According to environmental activist Mike Leggatt, proper legislation exists to prevent damaging development, but enforcement is often neglected. In many instances, damage to indigenous vegetation or illegal building has already occurred by the time the authorities intervene, which intervention is more often than not a response to a complaint.
It was by accident that Legatt noticed extensive excavations for a current homebuilding project where the soil was dumped onto a neighbouring property with indigenous vegetation. Although the property owner is in possession of an Osca (Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Area) permit, the directions of the permit were not followed. An Osca permit is obligatory in Wilderness where a development requires excavations and/or removal of indigenous vegetation.
Another concerned resident, Ronnie Board, says, "The property corner has been totally decimated of almost all vegetation. An environmental officer should be available to do inspections and also give directions before the start of such excavations. This is not an isolated case. A similar and worse case can be seen in a current development elsewhere."
Delia Power, acting director of planning, said the municipality was not informed beforehand that this specific project had started. A notice to cease all works has been issued pending the completion of the necessary steps to redress the situation. Read more about these at www. georgeherald.com.
A disgruntled Leggatt says the authorities have to step up law enforcement to stop this from happening repeatedly, otherwise the Osca permit is just a "bureaucratic exercise" and can be scrapped altogether. An Osca permit application is an elaborate exercise that requires submissions from various bodies and conservation authorities.
Power said enforcement of the conditions of the permit falls in the ambit of the provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP). Furthermore, any clearing of protected coastal shrub, forest thicket and trees requires a license issued by the National Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries (Deff).
The DEA &DP responded that if the municipality is the permit-issuing authority, enforcement of compliance falls in their ambit and not that of the department.
Deff's spokesperson has been on leave and no response could be obtained from any other official.