Residents up in arms about ‘Berlin’
Hoedspruit’s community is up in arms about a proposed “low-cost” housing project on the outskirts of town.
This comes after the Maruleng Local Municipality placed an advertisement in the Herald last week on “a proposed township establishment process over portion 39 of the farm Berlin in Hoedspruit”. A photo of the advertisement was posted on the Hoedspruit Town community Facebook page to alert residents that they have to lodge their objections or interest within 40 days.
This caused an outcry against the proposed development. “If approved it will mean the end of Hoedspruit as you know it,” said Alf Skea. “Where do the water and power come from? Barely enough for the current number of properties,” said Steve Benhow.
“It will be dreadful staying in the nearby area! The sheer volume of traffic cannot be accommodated by one entrance to this proposed development running through an existing suburb already plagued by traffic. “I’m not against proper housing for those currently without it, I would like to see if building regulations and safety would apply to this development?” said Attie Janse van Rensburg.
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“Will the water infrastructure be fixed first? It is not humane to connect more households to a system that is falling to pieces before our eyes. “Going by the efficiency of the water supply, I’m sure that attention needs to be given to sewerage, electricity and the previously mentioned road access as well. “We need to be sensible and insist that we don’t RDP the newcomers and the rest of the town into an untenable situation. Learn from other failed municipal stories, please, Hoedspruit deserves it,” said Ilse Krige.
Maruleng Local Municipality’s acting spokesperson, Sody Magomane, told the Herald that any town planning project is subjected to the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act bylaws. “These bylaws and acts demand that there must be public notices where people with interest and objections can direct them.
“There is an email and contact numbers on the notices. They must forward them in writing and the process will engage with them. The tribunal will make a decision and those that are not happy with the decision of the tribunal can approach the courts,” he said. The consultant on the project, Rendani Musetha of Ndani Projects told the Herald that it is currently merely an environmental impact assessment process (EIA).
“A town planning process will also follow. During the EIA public participation process community members are given a chance to register as interested and affected parties, given a chance to raise their issues and concerns, which would be responded to and sent to the competent authority for decision. “Concerns do not normally stop the development,” he said.
