Environmental alliance opposes development of cell masts on the Bluff
Located in Treasure Beach, Bluff the location of this proposed development of the cell masts is part of eThekwini Municipality.
THE residents of Marine Drive and wider Bluff are up in arms about the proposed construction and erection of telecommunications infrastructure at 865 Marine Drive.
Located in Treasure Beach, Bluff, the location of this proposed development of the cell masts is part of eThekwini Municipality. The site is about 10 km south-west of Durban central. It is proposed to lease a portion of the property for the construction and erection of a telecommunications tower. (The property is described as Portion 4 of ERF 528, Wentworth).
The total area of the project only covers about 36m2 located within the boundary of the property. The layout will include the tower and service provider containers. The entire site will be fenced off and locked at all times.
In terms of the amendments to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulation under the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998, a basic assessment report is to be submitted to the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs KZN (EDTEA), for assessment.
The basic assessment was advertised and notice boards placed on 27 July 2018 giving respondents an opportunity to participate and comment based on detailed information. In total 13 objections were received during initial response period. A petition was also submitted with a total of 44 signatures against the development and further appealed for a public meeting with all interested and affected parties before any plans get given the go ahead.
It was remarked that due to the already constrained nature of the Durban South Basin this proposed development will add further and undue pollution to the area. “Based on the current density of towers in the immediate area, it is not foreseeable that the proposed tower will not add to the current Durban South Basin pollution loading,” said South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) coordinator, Desmond D’Sa.
During this participation process several concerns became evident in terms of responses received. Concerns about impact on health, on property values, on the visual impact, concern about the cell masts vicinity to St. Monica’s Home were brought forward to community members. According to SDCEA, many in the community stand firm in their collective opinion that this ‘unsightly and unhealthy’ construction should not go ahead.
“Immediately in the vicinity is Ocean View Primary School, St Monica’s Home, Ocean View House, WESSA Treasure Beach Educational Centre. The children who are just starting to develop physiologically and intellectually may be severely affected,” shared Shanice Firmin from SDCEA, highlighting the health threat of the community and more especially the young children who would be in close proximity to the proposed cell masts.
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