23 August 2007 - Media
Statement - Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism - THURSDAY, 23 AUGUST
2007: This was the firm declaration of the
Director General of the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Ms Pam Yako, when she
signed the Record of Decision in Cape Town,
today, Thursday, 23 August 2007, authorising
the Airports Company of South Africa {ACSA}
to develop a trade port at la Mercy, North
of Durban.
“Given that the proposed activities will
not have a detrimental impact on the environment
and that this project will lead to socio
economic development not only in KwaZulu
Natal but in the whole country, the department
has decided to grant permission for the
construction of this Trade Port” she said.
In 2005 Dube Trade Port Company (DTP) on
behalf of the Provincial Government of KwaZulu\
Natal and Airports Company South Africa
(ACSA) lodged an application with the department
in terms of the EIA Regulations as promulgated
under the Environment Conservation Act,
No 73 of 1989 to develop a Trade Port at
La Mercy, north of Durban.
The Dube Trade Port falls within the Ethekwini
Municipality on Farm La Mercy No. 15124
in Durban; KwaZulu Natal, North Coast. The
extent of the development is approximately
2 060 hectares and the development will
comprise of the construction of the following
four core elements: King Shaka International
Airport, Trade Zone, Support zone and an
Agricultural Zone.
Talking about the process of determining
the record of decision, the Director General
explained it as a thorough going and intricate
exercise that required both acumen and strict
attention to detail. “There’s a number of
scientific studies and a myriad of divergent
inputs from stakeholders and members of
the public which need serious consideration
to ensure inclusiveness and transparency”
she said.
‘This is a public good and we must ensure
that we satisfy both the scientific world
and the need for sustainable economic development”
she added.
She then outlined the various conditions
attached to the granting of the permission
to proceed with the development. “We have
prescribed certain conditions and in this
regard we insist on the appointment of an
environmental control officer whose duty
it is to ensure that periodic environmental
performance audits are undertaken on the
project implementation” she said.
Conditions attached include but are not
limited to issues of access to the construction
from the N2, a water management regime that
complies with the prescripts of the water
affairs department, strict precautions on
the management of hazardous waste, management
plans that will take care of fuel spillages
and issues relating to noise and compliance
with other legislation in this regard.
The Director General was also careful to
consider the impact of the development on
the fauna and flora prevalent in the area.
”The specialist study concluded that the
barn swallows will not migrate to another
area either during construction or operation
of the proposed development” she said. “As
long as the wetland habitat is not impacted
upon, the birds will keep on utilising the
wetland as a habitat’ said the Director
General.
“The Record of Decision outlines in detail
all conditions that must be met and as a
rule allows concerned parties to appeal
to the Minister should they not be satisfied
with the decision of the department” she
added.
The record of decision can be obtained
from our website on www.deat.gov.za and
all appeals on the decision can be directed
to the specified address on the record of
decision.
Mava Scott (Acting Chief Director: Communications)
