Will the landfill site go ahead?
Another landowner, who was among the first to fight back against Greenwich Farm as a landfill site, said there was much confusion surrounding the matter.
What is the true status of the proposed landfill site at Greenwich Farm, near Normandien?
According to municipal Head of Communications, Dr Dumisani Thabethe, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is still underway, with a report submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in mid-2018 for its consideration.
“Therefore, final determination on the site’s suitability has not been made yet.”
Landowners who registered as interested and affected parties however, state they have received no ‘proper feedback’ despite their repeated requests to senior municipal officials.
Some seem doubtful the project will go ahead at all.
Others are more sceptical of the silence by the municipality, noting more than 100 days have passed since feedback to all interested and affected parties was due.
“Looks like they are looking at other sites as well for the new landfill site. The municipality is very quiet about what is happening; there were probably too many objections to Greenwich Farm [as the landfill site],” said one resident.
One landowner noted the concern among affected parties was how the cash-strapped municipality would ensure the proposed landfill would remain compliant in terms of environmental legislation, as failing to ensure compliance would be a disaster.
“The biggest issue appears to be the municipality finding the money to ensure the site operates according to the National Environmental Act.”
Another landowner, who was among the first to fight back against Greenwich Farm as a landfill site, said there was much confusion surrounding the matter.
“I don’t really know what’s going on. I spoke with some people and they claim the project isn’t going ahead,” he said.
Numerous attempts were made to clarify the claims from residents, and to address the supposed breach of protocol by the municipality in not responding to interested and affected parties.
This included direct calls to SED of Town Planning, Khatide Ntseki.
No further information has been forthcoming to date from Newcastle Municipality, and rumours and theories by landowners remain just that – rumours and theories.
ORIGINAL STORY: Landfill site still stirs up outrage
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