Dear Nanette

Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC) wish to lodge a strong objection to the TEM/ MRC/ Xolco proposal to mine dunes along the Wild Coast.

Our opinion is based on the following:-

SWC do not believe this project complies with the notion of sustainable development, nor do we believe it is in the best economic or social development interests of the region.

SWC believes there are serious flaws in the public participation process due to incomplete studies and insufficient data, which, given the unrealistic time frames of the project, compromise the public’s access to relevant information and the public ability to make informed comment about the project prior to the Record of Decision.

The situation calls for the precautionary principle to be applied, as the mining will take place within the heart of the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, an internationally recognised botanical hotspot which has been identified as a key area in meeting South Africa’s international obligations to conserve biodiversity as determined by the Bonn Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity. [Read more...]

Posted on November 23rd, 2007 by Louis
Filed under: SWC Comments | 4 Comments »

Guy Rogers ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM EDITOR

THE proposed Xolobeni dune mine on the Pondoland coast will have a
significant negative affect on local tourism, according to a draft
assessment of the mining project commissioned by the developer.

Undertaken by Johannesburg- based consultancy GCS, the draft
environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been made available for
public comment at various libraries and schools, and also online.

The proposed Xolobeni site is situated on the north-east tip of the
Eastern Cape coast in the Pondoland area of the Wild Coast. It
stretches 22km from the Mtentu River in the south to the Mzamba River
in the north.
[Read more...]

Posted on November 14th, 2007 by Louis
Filed under: Press Releases | No Comments »