Ratepayers Report
Hallo to all Lagooners and visiting guests:
It seems to me winter decided to stay for summer? We are really great full for the rain that eases the consumption of our limited water resources for just another while.(I hope the wheat farmers doesn’t read what i just said.) We unfortunately have to start on a sad note and convey our condolences to both Rockey Breytenbach ,Eddie Fletcher and their families with the great loss of their spouses.We think of all of you during these difficult times.
Allow me to address the following issues is this edition:
- IDZ Public meeting
- SDF Comments
- Iron ore dust pollution in Langebaan
- EMF registration
a) IDZ Public meeting
Both ministers Allan Windy and Anton Bredell from the Western Cape Provincial Government visited us on Monday ,8 November 2010.The purpose of the meeting was to communicate the standing of the Western Cape Government and Wesgro regarding the so-called “ IDZ “ process.The meeting was extremely meaningful in the sense that i hope that now both council and the municipal manager understands the process.It is just a pity that this initiative did not unfold a year ago since it would have saved the Saldanha Bay Municipality a huge embarrassment and the ratepayers a few million rands.Minister Windy from the Department of Economical development and Tourism stated clearly that the Wesgro feasibility study is well under progress and should be completed some time between March and June 2011.We wholeheartedly supported this process from the start and just wished that council were on the same page.Minister Bredell from the Department of Local Government and Environmental Affairs specifically expressed his concerns regarding the lack of capacity to deliver bulk services in the Saldanha Bay Municipality area.
The L.R.R.A commented specifically on the the following:
a)The mandate of the Saldanha Bay Municipality
- We are of the opinion that the Saldanha Bay Municipality,Council and Municipal Manager acts way outside their legal mandate in terms of their actions regarding the IDZ based on the following facts: The White Paper on Local Government states it clearly in paragraph 53 that,” Local Government is not directly responsible for creating jobs.Rather ,it is responsible for taking active steps to ensure that all economic and social conditions of the locality are conducive to the creation of employment opportunities.”
The Local Economic Development (LED)Guidelines of 2005 states very clearly in paragraphs 28,29 and 30 the following: “
ii)Whilst the Constitution (1996) places great responsibility upon municipalities to facilitate LED ,the schedule in the Constitution that lists the functions of municipalities does not include LED ….it is envisaged that municipalities play only a connector role in respect of LED whereby they draw on resources locked in a range of different government support instruments into their localities…..The idea is NOT for municipalities to run programs themselves but to rather focus on establishing forums to build partnerships and to network with a range of stakeholders”
b)Sustainable bulk services delivery capacity of the Saldanha Bay Municipality.,
We shortlisted only 5 pillars of crucial sustainable bulk services capacities in the Saldanha Bay Municipal area.
- The provision of enough clean potable or drinking water in the area.-We have serious questions about the quality and availability of potable water as the first signs of regular low or no pressure during peak seasons became a normality rather the exception.
- Collection and management of sewerage in the area.- We recently determined that the sewerage plant at Langebaan runs for the past 11 months at between 170% and 260 % over capacity according the reports from Abbots Laboratories.Substandard treated sewerage ends up in the Saldanha Bay at both Leentjies Klip and Blue water Bay due to this irregularity.
- Waste management and waste management sites.During August 2009 an independent waste management consultant appointed by the Saldanha Bay Municipality founded that the Langebaan waste management site are only 37,53 % compliant.( It also means 62,47% NON-compliance to those in council that doesn’t understand the concept)
- Storm water management.No storm water management plan exist for the Saldanha Bay region as the only “solution” for the SBM is to discharge this into the bay and lagoon
- Provision of adequate electricity distribution networks in the area.How often do we experience power outages due to melting cables?I thought i shall just ask the question.
Bearing in mind that in:
a) Langebaan alone we currently have +- 3500 already approved plots without any top structure on it.
b) In the Saldanha Bay area we currently have +- 12000 to 13000 already approved plots without any top structures. (This excludes all current and new proposed developments.)This means that no prior approval are needed to start with the development of these plots nor to increase the downstream services capacity.Capacity are sold over and over again in the name of development.We are in serious trouble and yet the Municipal Manager , James Fortuin “during a brief visit to SBM” both denied and justified the situation.The Honorable Mayor Mr Randall Abdoll proudly stated on Monday the 8th of November 2010 that the SBM received 95 % on the evaluation of service delivery in the region. Quite sadly both the Municipal Manager James Fortuin as well as the previous Mayor, Joubert Skei declined our challenge to debate this publicly.I wonder why????
b)_ SDF Comments (Spatial Development Framework)
The L.R.R.A appointed an independent consultant to professionally aid us with the SDF, as we as an organisation are hugely disappointed in the outcome of this document. The L.R.R.A are convinced that this document grossly threaten the historical character and feel of Langebaan due to senseless allocation of some more senseless zoning of the town and its surrounding.We believe that this document is not based on the professional advise of the appointed town planners only but rather riddled with political interference and tampering.We therefore( backed by professional advise),reject huge parts of this concept document..The L.R.R.A also have grave concern that the SDF are not preceded by the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) and that the higher order EMF might be in conflict with the SDF.This would result in a potentially flawed SDF in general.The comments of the L.R.R.A could be viewed on our website www.langebaanratepayers.co.za
c) Iron Ore Dust Pollution in Langebaan
The L.R.R.A recently picked up that some of the streets in Langebaan are stained with red iron ore dust or FE2O3. This is mainly due to the result of dirty vehicles leaving the Port of Saldanha and Mittal Steel.We have already identified various vehicles in Langebaan which hugely contributes to this problem and vehicle registration numbers were forwarded to the individual potential Environmental Officers of these companies.As recently as last week a sub-contractor from the Port were urged to clean Alabama street,Main Road ,Flamingo Road and parts of Wylo street.We intend to name and shame future culprits in the local press should this ill practice continue. Come on people help us keep our town tidy or except the consequences.
Next time you see a red stained/dirty vehicle please take the registration number , make and colour of the vehicle and if possible the drivers name and report it to me immediately on 082 88 90 685 .Lets make an asserted effort to combat this new way of pollution in Langebaan.
Please remember to register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) for the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) on www.langebaanratepayers.co.za Date of closure of registration closes on 21 November 2010
Till next time (“Stywe lyne” to all competitors)
Jaco Kotze (0828890685)
