Zulu Nyala must apply for water use permit
CHARTWELL - Zulu Nyala Country Manor has been issued with a notice to rectify its construction activities in the Chartwell wetland.
The public have until 12 May to register as Interested and Affected Parties.
Ixhaphozi Enviro Services was appointed to oversee the environmental rectification process and ensure the government made the best decision for the environment.
The service’s Lulu Pretorius, wetland ecologist, and Piet-Louis Grundling, owner, said,
“Following a site visit by the Department of Water Affairs and the City of Joburg, Zulu Nyala was issued with a pre-directive to apply for a Water Use License for their activities in a wetland, and this triggered a S24G to rectify illegal activities, such as in a wetland, at both Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Environmental Affairs.”
The S24G concerned the construction of infrastructure and the infill of material within a watercourse. This referred to a conference centre and a sewage treatment plant respectively.
Pretorius said the authorities had to weigh-up the socio-economic aspects before deciding whether the conference venue and sewerage plant should be removed. She said that while the hall was being built in a dam, the dam also impacted the wetland.
The sewage treatment plant could cause pollution if it was not maintained but could also contribute to cleaner water and take the load off the municipality.
Proxy for the country manor Gary Purdon said the company had not been informed to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment before building and all relevant documentation had been approved by the city council. “Plans cannot be retracted after they have the stamp of approval,” Purdon said.
Pretorius said local government approval was bound to provincial and national approval too.
Senior legal adviser in the office of the executive mayor Alwyn Nortje said, “Zulu Nyala is not in compliance with all of the relevant legislation applicable to the site. Certain buildings on the site have been erected without the necessary approvals from the city.”
Chairman of Wetlands in Crisis – Gauteng Wetland Forum Paul Fairall agreed with Purdon that the damage to the wetland did not only stem from the manor but from all the development along it.
The services and Fairall were confident that this impact could be mitigated.
Fairall said that the correct process was taking its course and urged the community to register.
Details: pretorius.lulu@gmail.com
