Question NW1696 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
06 September 2016 - NW1696
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1)Whether each (a) objection and (b) appeal to the proposed Malelane Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga was considered before her Department granted final approval for the specified development; if not, why not; if so, what are the further relevant details; (2) whether she will make copies of all (a) minutes and (b) accompanying documentation of all deliberations addressing the specified objections and appeals available to Mr T Z Hadebe; if not, why not; if so, by when?
Reply:
1. (a) All objections received during the public participation process for the application for Environmental Authorisation (EA) were considered by the Chief Director: Integrated Environmental Authorisations of the Department prior to the issuing of the EA on 26 August 2015.
(b) Following the issuing of the aforementioned EA, 5 appeals were lodged, all of which were considered by me, the Minister of Environmental Affairs, as per the Appeal Decision of
15 April 2016.
2. (a-b) The record of information considered by me in the appeal process consisted of the following:
- Material information contained in the EIA project file (14/12/16/3/3/1/1/1280);
- the first appellant’s grounds of appeal, and annexures thereto, dated
30 September 2015; - the second appellants grounds of appeal, dated 15 October 2015;
- the third appellants grounds of appeal, dated 16 October 2015;
- the fourth appellants grounds of appeal, dated 26 February 2016;
- the fifth appellants grounds of appeal, dated 16 October 2015;
- the applicants response to the appellants’ grounds of appeal, dated
14 November 2015; - the site visit conducted by the Department of Environmental Affairs officials (DEA) with the applicant on 09 November 2015;
- the site visit and meeting conducted by DEA officials with the second appellant on
10 November 2015; - the follow-up meeting by DEA officials held with the appellants on 13 January 2016;
- the additional documents provided by the appellants at the meeting with DEA officials on 13 January 2016;
- the meeting by DEA officials held with Leopard Creek, on 08 February 2016;
- the meeting by DEA officials held with the South African National Parks management, on 09 February 2016; and
- the comments received from the Chief Directorate: IEA of the Department.
Access to any of the aforementioned documents will be allowed upon request.
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