Reviving Paradise: Eastern seaboard development needs proper public participation
Representatives from various local environmental, civil and social groups gathered to participate in the discussion.
The Green Net hosted a discussion on Monday last week around the Eastern Seaboard Spatial Development Framework proposed by the Presidency.
Representatives from various local environmental, civil and social groups gathered to participate in what turned out to be a very constructive debate.
Most agreed that, while the proposal contains some really good ideas, there also seem to be some wasteful and poorly conceived plans. What was very clear to all was that there had not been enough public participation in the drafting of the framework.
The framework proposes to develop the Eastern Seaboard, comprising four South Coast and Eastern Cape districts, into an economic hub. The proposal includes an international airport, a few ‘African SMART Cities’, high-speed rail, multiple harbours and new roads and infrastructure.
Suggestions like creating an education hub were well received by the participants, but many aspects of the proposal seem to point to a glaring lack of a socio-economic assessment. The report seems to assume to know what people want, rather than finding out what residents really need.
Lack of faith in local government structures to manage the proposed development in an integrated and sustainable way became a major concern as discussions moved on. Current infrastructure is not adequately managed or maintained and water, sanitation and electricity resources are already strained. This situation could deteriorate further with increased urbanisation such as the proposed ‘smart city’.
Sewerage and waste management are not adequately addressed in the proposal and the two landfill sites we do have are close to full. Furthermore, the lack of burial sites in urban areas, which is already problematic, would be exacerbated by rampant urbanisation.
Tourism in the region depends largely on natural spaces and biodiversity. The proposal mentions the importance of protecting Critical Biodiversity Areas, but the maps indicating development contradict this.
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