Proteadal: public meeting to be held

Krugersdorp — The environmental consultants from Green Environment who are responsible for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a proposed development in Proteadal give their feedback about the public meeting held in April this year.
Pieter Colyn, an environmental consultant says he wishes to thank all the interested and affected parties (I&APs) for their input, comments and documentation.
“All of this information has been handed to the specialist team who currently is assessing their findings.”
He says that the Scoping Report has been submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and that these documents have been made available for public scrutiny at the local library in Krugersdorp as well as on their company website.
“Unfortunately our website was hacked by an unknown person or persons with a registration address within the Johannesburg service area. We are rebuilding the site and soon will upload all the information once again.”
During the meeting in April the process for the proposed developments in terms of the EIA was explained along with the rights of the I&APs to submit questions, inputs, objections and submissions.
“It was explained that although I&APs must comment at certain stages of the process – within 30 day periods – we would not close the door for inputs until we are satisfied that we have gathered all relevant information,” says Colyn.
“I personally commented that I would hold back on the final submission until I am satisfied that we have covered all aspects.”
He says that at the same meeting he was asked if he could hold back applications. Colyn confirmed that it was at his discretion to hold back until he was satisfied with all the information for the GDARD.
“Unfortunately there are people among us who fail to understand the process and what each phase entails. Although we have replied to numerous questions certain individuals have opted to write a rather scathing report to the GDARD.
“The more we tried to explain that the 30 days timeline is the minimum that is required for I&APs to comment, the less these individuals wanted to understand.”
He states that the current situation has them as a company in a position where they are trying to help by extending timelines, but are accused of not keeping to the prescribed process.
As such they request that all I&APs submit any further inputs on the Scoping Document on or before 14 July.
“Once the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Draft EIR) has been released, all I&APs will have 30 days to comment.”
At the next public meeting for the Draft EIR the specialists will give their individual feedback.
“We will be introducing alternative lay-out plans for the proposed Proteadal Development. Once the presentations have been done the floor will be opened for further questions and discussions.”
The next meeting will be held on Saturday 20 July from 10am to 1pm at the NG Kerk hall at the corner of Nicolaas Smit and Neethling Streets in Monument.
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