Mayor answers ‘Berlin’ questions

This comes after the Maruleng Local Municipality placed an advertisement in the Herald last month on “a proposed township establishment process over portion 39 of the farm Berlin in Hoedspruit”. On the matter of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) as requested by the community, it was explained that the community needs to forward concerns as directed by the advertisement, Nanki Hoaeane of Maruleng’s Spatial Planning and Economic Development told the Herald on Tuesday.

“The mayor promised that the detailed study will be made available to the community once it is concluded so that they can interrogate the details or merits of the report. We outlined the town planning process and that all development will be subjected to a town planning process as outlined in the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (Spluma) by-law.”

She said people wanted to understand how far the process is. “It was indicated that the process is in the planning phase. The planning phase requires establishing a geo tech study, traffic study/access to the property, an EIA, and an engineering technical service report. Only after these studies are concluded will an application be lodged with the Municipal Planning Tribunal.

Also read: Residents up in arms about ‘Berlin’

“Prior to this submission we must have public participation included in the reports and the application as a whole,” she explained. She also added that the tribunal will make a decision. If there are any objections, the tribunal will assess the merits and make a decision on that.

“If the municipality or any person/s are not happy with the decision, then they can approach the Municipal Appeal Tribunal which will make a final decision.

“If any party is still not happy with the decision, taken, then they can approach the court of the law of which the process is outlined in the Spluma.” The engineering report will indicate the capacity of water and infrastructure needed, the total kilometers of street, sewer capacity, and electricity needed. “At this point, the studies are underway, and only when they are concluded we all can interrogate the report.

“It was also indicated that all projects are registered in the IDP. This project has been registered in the IDP for the past five years and budgeted for an investment of R3 million per year. The municipality followed the supply chain management (SCM) policy to acquire the land and there is a council resolution in place to this effect,” she added.

• Tracy Den Dunnen shared a feedback summary of Alistair Wren, a resident in Hoedspruit who attended the meeting on the Hoedspruit Town Facebook page. It stated that the meeting was constructive and well attended and lasted two hours.

“Plastic View residents arrived in numbers just after the meeting started. I think there was an intent to disrupt the meeting which the mayor quashed immediately.

“There will be environmental and services’ impact studies and some social housing, that will include some high rise funded by the government with occupation in around four years. The intention is to relocate Plastic View near the bridge as that will become an on-ramp to the R40.

“The entry to Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate and Labamba will be redesigned to accommodate an off-ramp from R40. “It was asked if improvements would be made to the water infrastructure bearing in mind the new development of 526 houses and Zandspruit will be coming on line. “The mayor acknowledged that the pipe to Zandspruit was laid and the water would come from the Blyde, but no specifics on improving the water infrastructure.

“Looks very much like the Berlin development will go ahead but it’s early days with opportunities for residents to raise concerns at public meetings,” the post concluded.