Amendment of EA for the residential development on Erf 9459, Plettenberg Bay: The Plett Hilltop Lifestyle Estate

HilLand Environmental, independent Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs), have been appointed by The Plett Hilltop (Pty) Ltd represented by Mr R Bluett, to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA, No. 107 of 1998, as amended) and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2014, as amended).

Erf 9459 (here after referred to as ‘the property’) is a 16.5ha erf located west of Brackenridge Private Residential Estate and south of the Plettenberg Bay Country Club and overlooks the golf course and country club.

An Environmental Authorisation (EA) issued 30 June 2023 and appeal decision (dated 3/11/2023) is in place for the residential development on the property.

The proposal is to amend the approved SDP to remove the apartment blocks (138 apartments) and revise the layout to include a total of 83 single residential erven. The development zone associated with the residential houses will remain exactly the same as assessed and approved in 2023.

The proposed new description of the development is as follows

Residential development on erf 9459 consisting of the following:

83 single residential zone I erven varying erf sizes on 5.5668 ha
7 private internal open space areas to be used for recreation and services including stormwater management and sewage reticulation.
6 transport zone erven for internal roads and communal gate house facilities;
1 open space zone III conservation area of 8.4589 ha for low impact recreational impacts and conservation of biodiversity.

Access to the development will no longer be from a new servitude over the adjacent erf, erf 8011, but from the existing right of way servitude road over Erf 8011, accessing the southwestern corner of Erf 9459. The previously proposed improvements on the servitude road remain necessary as do the improvements to the provincial road (MR7211) which will become a municipal road on completion. The circle at the Piesangs Valley intersection remains necessary, while the second circle at the Brackenridge entrance is no longer necessary.

No new listed activities (not previously assessed and approved in the EA) in terms of the NEMA: EIA Regulations (2014, as amended) are triggered by the changes to the SDP.

This amendment falls within the ambit of a Part 2 Amendment Process. This EIR describes the amendment being applied for and is subject to Public Participation. In terms of Regulations 3(4) & 40 of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014, as amended) to notify you of the availability of the Amendment Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and associated appendices for its 30-day commenting period (2 May – 2 June 2025).

Please provide us with your comments / concerns relating to the proposal during the aforementioned timeframes in written format via email. Please note that your comments on the above matter will form part of the public record in terms of POPIA.

Please note if you do not have access to e-mail, internet and / or are experiencing any problems with downloading information, please do not hesitate to contact this office and we will assist you according to your needs/requirements.

If you require any further information or assistance, please contact us on (044) 889 0229 (Tel) / admin@hilland.co.za (email).