ETHEKWINI Municipality is inviting the public to comment on the proposed amendments to the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D’MOSS).
The D’MOSS is a spatial layer that incorporates areas of high biodiversity value linked together in a viable network of open spaces. The municipality adopted the D’MOSS layer in 2010 as part of its land use schemes while retaining it as a policy outside the scheme areas.
According to deputy mayor, Nomvuzo Shabalala, the current proposed amendment of D’MOSS came after a new tool, systematic conservation planning (SCP), was introduced to prioritise areas for biodiversity and ecosystem service protection. Systematic conservation planning is global best practice and has been adopted by provincial and national authorities as the methodology to be used in identifying areas for environmental protection.
Shabalala said that embarking on this public participation process is important to ensure that the proposed amendment is clearly communicated with affected parties.
“The municipality considers the identification and protection of key natural areas as one way of halting and reversing environmental degradation. This methodology will assist in identifying priority areas for protection and those areas that can be developed with less environmental impact. This will in turn help to address socio-economic and environmental challenges facing our communities,” said Shabalala.
She said it is the responsibility of the city to inform residents about this new proposal as it impacts on the city’s economy, tourism and the life and wellbeing of people in general.
Conserving biodiversity areas assists in various ways, such as combating climate change, sustaining livelihoods in rural communities and maintaining supplies of fresh water and other services for citizens in order to achieve conservation goals.
The public participation process is already underway and the city is engaging all stakeholders, including property owners and tribal authorities.
“Rural communities have large conservation areas, some of which are under threat. The D’MOSS plan will assist in ensuring that these important assets are well-protected and managed for environmental, social and economic sustainability,” said Shabalala.
Letters have been sent to affected landowners and public meetings to present the proposal are ongoing in various areas of eThekwini and will run until 26 May.
Interested and affected parties are invited to visit the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, room 200, second floor, 166 KE Masinga (Old Fort) Road, Durban, between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. For access to the mapping, visit the municipal website: www.durban.gov.za/dmoss_tp_amendments.
Visit the Land Use Management Regional Offices between 8am and 12.30pm Monday to Friday at the Information Centre, ground floor, 166 KE Masinga (Old Fort) Road, Durban (central region), Sizakala Centre, Land Use Management Counter, 22-24 Delamore Road, Hillcrest (outer west region), Sizakala Centre, second floor, Pinetown Civic Centre, 60 Kings Road, Pinetown (inner west region) or Sizakala Centre, 327 Umhlanga Rocks Drive, Umhlanga Rocks (north region).
Submission of comments can be made to the regional co-ordinator – biodiversity branch, Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, Room 200, second floor, 166 KE Masinga (Old Fort) Road, Durban by hand, per registered post to PO Box 680, Durban, 4000, by fax on 031 311 7134, or e-mail to gerald.clarke@durban.gov.za.
The closing date to submit comments is 27 June.
