DESALINATION CONSTRUCTION SITE WILL BE REHABILITATED FULLY
DESALINATION CONSTRUCTION SITE WILL BE REHABILITATED FULLY
The dune and beach area, which will be affected by the construction of the seawater desalination plant at Voorbaai, will be rehabilitated fully on completion of the project. Measures will also be implemented to ensure that the overall impact of this emergency water project on the environment is limited to the absolute minimum.
This undertaking has been given by Dr Michele Gratz, Municipal Manager of Mossel Bay.
The dune between the tank farm and the estuary adjacent to the desalination plant that will be constructed on PetroSA’s Logistics Base property in Voorbaai, will be affected by the construction of a pump station, to be ingressed in the dune, and the laying of pipelines underneath the beach to pump seawater to the desalination plant and pump brine back into the sea.
An access road that will permit access to the pump station and pipeline construction sites will also be made.
“Mossel Bay’s beaches and the sea are very important aspects of its attractiveness to tourists. Tourism in turn is one of the mainstays of the local economy. While the possibility of running out of potable water is possibly the biggest threat ever to have faced the local economy, we will do our utmost to ensure that the environment receives maximum protection in the process to supplement Mossel Bay’s water supply and that the economy is not harmed.
“Environmental specialists have been involved with the project right from the start. They have already made a full assessment of the dunes and the beach, including the natural vegetation present on the dune, to ensure that the area is rehabilitated fully on completion of the project.
“The vegetation will be removed and stored under their supervision until it can be replanted on the dune after it has been restored. The beach will also be restored to its natural state. The idea is also to plant additional milkwood trees at the affected areas.
“We do, however, request the patience of the public in this regard as it could take several months for the rehabilitation to be completed fully and longer to take full effect,” said the Municipal Manager of Mossel Bay, Dr Michele Gratz.
She said Mossel Bay’s Blue Flag beaches at Santos Beach and Hartenbos represent substantial investment by the Municipality, and the Municipality is on course to achieve Blue Flag status for the nearby Diaz Beach as well. Good water quality is a prerequisite for Blue Flag status. Seal Island is another popular tourist attraction and the Municipality will do its utmost to ensure that these assets are not affected negatively.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the desalination plant is being run in parallel with its construction. The public will have opportunity to review and comment on the draft environmental impact report before submission to the authorities. The EIA will include specialist studies into potential impacts of the desalination plant on the marine ecology, noise pollution, botany and heritage resources.
Interested and affected parties have already been given the opportunity from 10 June 2010 to 24 June 2010 comment on the proposed projec. No issues of concern have, however been raised.
Members of the public, organisations and institutions can still register as Interested and Affected Parties and can submit their names and contact details to Mr Patrick Killick of Aurecon to Patrick.killick@af.aurecongroup.com. He can also be contacted on (044) 805-5410 if more information is required.
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