Fear milkwood trees might be affected
A Mossel Bay resident has enquired whether the milkwood trees in the suburb of Dias on Louis Fourie Road will be affected by the widening of the road.
Sandra Falanga said: “I am concerned about remnant thicket vegetation on the Louis Fourie Road verges, particularly a remnant of a veritable mini milkwood coastal forest between Louis Fourie, the railway line, Beach Boulevard West and the Total garage.”
Falanga said there were about 57 mature white milkwood trees.
She is an active member of Southern Cape Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wild Flowers (CREW) and the Botanical Society of SA
“Overall, I am extremely concerned about loss of Mossel Bay’s plant diversity. For example, the old part of Mossel Bay is running out of fynbos fast,” Falanga said.
“The remnant milkwood thicket provides opportunity for cultivation of valuable local plant material. The sunken milkwood forest may not look like much as one drives past, but it would be an opportunity missed to preserve something quite beautiful and unique of the old town’s vegetation heritage.”
Mossel Bay Advertiser asked Louis Fourie Road project manager Peter Henderson if the milkwood trees would be affected.
Henderson works for Hatch Africa, the consulting engineering company for the project. He said: “I acknowledge the milkwood is a protected tree and that permits will be required if the project affects them.
“These trees were not raised as a concern in the environmental authorisation process for the project; as such I am of the opinion they will not be affected.
“We are, however, in the process of surveying all the milkwood trees in that area. Following the survey, we will know accurately if any tree is affected.”
Henra Civils is the Mossel Bay contractor on the road project. Mossel Bay Advertiser spoke to Robbie Searle, Henra Civils senior contracts manager about the milkwoods. Searle confirmed Henra had been asked on 25 August to do a survey of the milkwoods and provide exact co-ordinates. “We are busy with that,” Searle said. “We will submit the findings to Hatch Africa.”
The environmental contractor appointed to the road upgrade project is Sharples Environmental Services.