Meetings on Marine Spatial Planning Bill

THE public and other stakeholders, especially those with an interest in coastal planning matters, are urged to attend one of the upcoming public hearings on the Marine Spatial Planning Bill.

The purpose of the public meetings, an obligation according to the Constitution, is to provide the public with an opportunity to make verbal or written presentations to the Environmental Affairs Portfolio Committee.

The Bill seeks to provide a framework for marine spatial planning in South Africa.

According to the Bill, South Africa’s vast

1 540 000 square kilometres of ocean presents economic opportunities.

It says the ocean is being used more intensively, with multiple usages that may conflict.

Because of this, there is a need to co-ordinate planning in South Africa’s ocean space and optimise sustainable economic growth.

The objectives of the Act are to ‘develop and implement a shared marine spatial planning system that can be accessed by all sectors and all ocean users’.

At the same time conserving the ocean for future generations and facilitating responsible use of the ocean must also be considered.

Public hearings will be held on 29 August at the St Lucia Town Hall (10am) and on 30 August at the Durban Exhibition Centre (10am).

Copies of the Bill are available from the KZN Legislature website – www.kznlegislature.gov. za – as well as all district municipal offices.

All interested parties must submit written comments to the Environmental Affairs Portfolio Committee by no later than 1pm on 30 August.

They must be addressed to Themba Magwaza and can be emailed to magwazat@ kznleg.gov.za.