APPENDIX D Correspondence to I&APs during the Impact Assessment Phase
19 October 2002 Dear Sir/Madam PROPOSED N1 N2 WINELANDS TOLL HIGHWAY PROJECT: PUBLIC OPEN DAY IN STELLENBOSCH ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR) Our previous correspondence of September 2002 regarding the above project has reference. This letter provides information on a Public Open Day in Stellenbosch arranged at the request of certain Interested and Affected Parties to present the findings of the Draft EIR on the Proposed N1 N2 Winelands Toll Highway Project. In October 2001, the Final Phase of Scheme Development for the Proposed N1 N2 Winelands Toll Highway Project (formerly known as the N1 N2 Protea Parkways Toll Road Project) commenced, including the Impact Assessment Phase of the EIA. As part of the Impact Assessment Phase of the EIA, twelve specialist consultants were appointed to assess the key issues of concern raised during the EIA Scoping Study undertaken in 2000. The findings of these specialists were then brought together in the Draft Environmental Impact Report that was made available for public comment on 25 September 2002. It was distributed in public libraries throughout the study area including the Stellenbosch Library. In order to afford the public an opportunity to discuss the contents of the report, Public Open Days were arranged at a number of venues in the study area. Although a Public Open Day was not originally planned for Stellenbosch, one has now been arranged at the request of a number of stakeholders in the Stellenbosch area. The Public Open Day will present the findings of the specialist studies and the relevant specialists will be available to discuss their work. The Public Open Day will run from 15h00 to 20h00 and the public can attend at any time within this period as there will be no formal presentation. Comments sheets will be available for the public to write down any comments they may have on the Draft EIR and place them in the comments boxes provided. Comments can also be sent to Nomi Muthialu & Associates at the details given below within the six-week comment period that commenced on 25 September and will end on 6 November 2002. Details of the Public Open Day are provided below. Tuesday 29 October 2002 Stellenbosch Town Hall, Cnr Plein and Ryneveld Streets, Stellenbosch As an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) from Stellenbosch on the project database, we would like to invite you to attend this Public Open Day. We would like to thank you in anticipation and hope to meet you at the venue. Yours sincerely JULIAN DREW PROJECT MANAGER PUBLIC CONSULTATION NOMI MUTHIALU & ASSOCIATES (Pty) Ltd P O Box 2135, CAPE TOWN, 8000 TEL: 0800 005 668 FAX: 0860 102 928 Email: nmacpt@global.co.za
PRESS RELEASE - PROPOSED N1 N2 WINELANDS TOLL HIGHWAY PROJECT In April 2000 the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) awarded scheme developer status to Protea Parkways Consortium to develop the consortium s unsolicited proposal to upgrade, maintain, operate and toll the N1 and N2 in the Western Cape. The extent of the proposed scheme is the N1 from the Old Oak Interchange just west of the R300 through to Sandhills, a distance of 104 km, and the N2 from just west of the R300 through to Bot River, a distance of 66 km. The initial phase of scheme development from April to November 2000 included an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping study undertaken by independent consultants Crowther Campbell & Associates and Nomi Muthialu & Associates. The final scoping report included the terms of reference for specialist studies to address the key issues and alternatives identified during the scoping study. It was submitted to the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and the provincial Department of Environmental and Cultural Affairs and Sport (DECAS) in November 2000. DEAT, in consultation with DECAS, approved the scoping study in May 2001 and advised that the impact assessment phase of the EIA could begin. After due consideration of the project s feasibility, SANRAL gave approval to the consortium in October 2001 to proceed with the final phase of scheme development. The final phase of scheme development includes the impact assessment phase of the EIA as well as topographical surveys, preliminary materials assessments, geo-technical drilling tests and preliminary design work. As part of the EIA, 12 specialist consultants were appointed to assess the impact of the project on the environment, which includes both the socio-economic and biophysical environment. The findings of these specialist studies and all other relevant information have been drawn together in the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which will be made available for public comment on Wednesday 25 September 2002 at public libraries along the route. The report can be viewed at the following libraries: Cape Town Central Library (City Hall); Kleinvlei Library (Blue Downs / Eersterivier); Masakhane Library (next to Khayelitsha Railway Station), Elitha Park, Khayelitsha; Moses Mabhida Library (next to Nonqubela Railway Station), Khayelitsha; Macassar Library; Helderzicht Library; Somerset West Library; Strand Library; Lwandle Library; Gordon s Bay Library; Stellenbosch Library; Bellville Library; Brackenfell Library; Kraaifontein Library; Eikendal Library; Wellington Library; Paarl Library (Mill Street); Worcester Library (Baring Street); Rawsonville Library; De Doorns Library; Touws River Library; Grabouw Library; Pineview Library, Grabouw; Kleinmond Library; Hermanus Library; Caledon Library and Bot River Post Office. In order to afford the public an opportunity to discuss the contents of the report, Public Open Days have been arranged from the end of September at a number of venues in the study area. The Public Open Days will present the findings of the specialist studies and the relevant specialists will be available to discuss their work. The Public Open Days will run from 15h00 to 20h00 and the public can attend at any time within this period as there will be no formal presentations. Comments sheets will be available for the public to write down any comments they may have on the Draft EIR and place them in the comments boxes provided. Comments can also be sent to Nomi Muthialu & Associates at the details given below within the six-week comment period that will commence once the Draft EIR is released on 25 September and close on 6 November 2002. Details of the Public Open Days are provided below.
Thursday 26 September Podium Hall, 2 nd Floor, Civic Centre, Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town Monday 30 September Zions Church Hall, Klein Drakenstein Road, Paarl East, Paarl Tuesday 1 October Strand Town Hall, corner Fagan Street and Main Road, Strand Wednesday 2 October Hex Vallei Lede Klub, Voortrekker Rd, De Doorns Thursday 3 October Old Kromco Hostel, opposite Post Office, Bot River Monday 7 October Hemel en Aarde Conference Centre, Cnr R43 & R320, Hermanus Tuesday 8 October Andile Msizi Hall (New Community Hall), Site B, Khayelitsha Wednesday 9 October Worcester Town Hall, High Street, Worcester Monday 14 October Kraaifontein Town Hall, Brighton Road, Kraaifontein Tuesday 15 October Gerald Wright Memorial Hall, Old Cape Road, Pineview, Grabouw Comments from the public, together with responses to these comments, will be incorporated into a final EIR for submission to the environmental authorities. They will then consider the report and, through a Record of Decision, either issue an authorisation, with or without conditions, or reject the project. The public will be allowed a period of 30 days in which to appeal against the decision should they wish to do so. END. Nomi Muthialu and Associates: Tel: 0800 005 668 or Fax: 0860 102 928 or e-mail: nmacpt@global.co.za Journalists who require further information may contact: Julian Drew of Nomi Muthialu & Associates on 082 654 4365 Fuad Fredericks of Crowther Campbell & Associates on 021 461 1118 Dave McCracken of Protea Parkways Consortium on 011 620 7206 Kobus van der Walt of the South African National Roads Agency Limited on 021 957 4600