San Marino

Draft BAR Commenting period – 01 October 2021 – 02 November 2021

(DEADP reference number – 14/12/16/3/3/1/2360)

HilLand Environmental have been appointed as Independent Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAP) by the applicant, San Marino Home Owners Association (HOA), represented by Lawrence van Staden, to ensure compliance with regulations contained in the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA Act No. 107 of 1998) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2014), as amended, for the proposed riverbank maintenance at San Marino, Erf 586, Keurboomstrand, Plettenberg Bay.

The proposed activity will entail the replacement of the existing creosote timber poles and vertical riverbank retaining wall with a different designed retaining structure consisting of a sloping stepped sandbag foundation which will be covered by re-vegetated reno-mattresses. The existing mooring poles will be replaced with CCA treated poles within a plastic sleeve and a jetty walkway with 19 floating jetties that will be attached to the new mooring poles (positioned perpendicular to the walkway).

Access to the walkway and floating jetties will be gained via timber walkways which will extend from the grass riverbank over the installed reno-mattresses. Creosote treated poles are known to cause harm to water bodies and leach chemicals into the ground. As such, these poles will be replaced Polywood / CCA treated poles that do not leach into the ground and are much more environmentally friendly.

The proposal will provide the best practical environmental alternative which is being recommended for all similar situations and for situations where the existing walls or protection measures require maintenance or replacement as per the Keurbooms-Bitou Estuarine Management Plan (2017).

Draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) and associated appendices for a 30-day commenting period commencing on the 1^st of October 2021. In terms of Regulation 3 (4) and 40 of NEMA: EIA Regulations (2014, as amended) you are hereby advised that you have 30-days from the 1^st of October 2021 to submit any comments. Please provide us with your comments / concerns relating to the proposal during the timeframe (1 October 2021 – 2 November 2021) in written format via fax or email. Please note that you need to declare your interest in the above matter and that the information will form part of the public record in terms of POPIA. Should you have no comments, please send us an email as soon as possible indicating as such.

Please note if you 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. Additionally, a full hard copy of the BAR and associate appendices are available at HilLand Environmental’s office. Should you wish to view this document, please make sure to make an appointment with the administrative department at admin@hilland.co.za or Tel: (044) 889 0229. All of the necessary Covid-19 hygiene protocols and social distancing will be implemented during such a visit.

If you require any further information or assistance, please contact us on (044) 889 0229 (Tel) 086 542 5248 (fax) or Email: environmental2@hilland.co.za / admin@hilland.co.za.