Rest camp at Klein Mooimaak site, West Coast National Park

[Toko]

Received the confirmation that I am listed as an I&AP

[Toko]

Monique Sham of KHULA Environmental Consultants says there are no plans available from SANParks yet.

“The first step is the EIA. Klein Mooimaak is the beach below and on the far side of the lookout point at Zeeberg. Whilst we totally support the idea that the park needs a rest camp, particularly with camping sites, they are proposing to build 20 chalets and put in sewerage, electricity etc as well — this will have a big impact on the character of the park on this until now undeveloped side of the lagoon. Our opinion is that they should rather go for a ‘touch the earth lightly’ approach with fewer chalets, solar power, compost toilets etc.”

Source: http://www.cape-hike.co.za/proposed-dev ... onal-park/


Interesting that those who are supposed to do the EIA are apparently not really for this development.
Wonder how it is that some biased organization (or at least employees of the same) are allowed to conduct the EIA.
I would expect them to be neutral...
(Not that I was opposed to that, just thinking )

Also, 20 chalets and beach got me thinking of an earlier article where there was talk of 20 homes for soldiers and
something about revitalising the beachfront... Is this what we are talking about here.

Post here: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=186&t=2192

Mel, what is quoted there on the Cape Hike Forum, is from Facebook Gravity Adventures, the EIA company has not said so

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gravity- ... 5980075165

[H. erectus]

"Kru taal in ’n e-pos het glo SANParke se provinsiale bestuurder woedend gehad".
Translated,..
Foul laguage in email addressed, has Sanparks official in fury,..

A member of the rate payers association also a member of the parks forum apparently
upsetting local SANparks manager about New development/project Klein Mooimaak!!!!

A heated story very difficult too translate but quite obviously contains big
differences of opinion. Perhaps Sanparks can explain or maybe the member
of the ratepayers would like too elaborate on "this" forum.


The story,.... is here

We are independent and for the sake of conservation would like too accommodate all
differences of opinion, for a resolution.

[Toko]

Here the Google translation

Park cord Kotze's mouth
08/12/2013 07:00:00 AM
Bad language in an e-mail had believe SANParks provincial driver furious.

Unhappiness about an alleged planned resort in the park led to the recent suspension of Jaco Kotze, Langebaan Ratepayers chairman of the Park Forum.

Kotze said he was frustrated about a park issue has complained in a personal e-mail with Jimmy Walsh, the chairman of the Park Forum divided. Kotze allegedly e-mail accidentally Gary de Kock, the park's former manager and now the district manager of SANParks sent.

Kotze and Walsh are friends and the e-mail was only meant for Walsh's eyes. He was in easy language, "as a man talking to a friend, speak out his heart to his pal," he explained. This e-mail with bad language in it, led to his suspension after being Gary de Kock distributed and at one of the forum meetings were presented to members.

Kotze admitted his mistake was embarrassed him, but felt his suspension was unlawful because the email has nothing to do with "official forum correspondence".

According to Kotze the unhappiness all 18 months long. The park 13 guest chalets at Kraalbaai planned, standing on stilts in the shallow water. Infrastructure (water and electricity) of R9, 2 million was allegedly prematurely and without the necessary environmental approval was laid before the environmental impact study is completed.

Kotze said it was a fruitless expenditure of money because the outcome of the environmental impact study after completion now determined that the resort should be built elsewhere. The infrastructure therefore has no purpose and is currently unused. The provincial park manager, despite the Park Forum unanimous opposition and advice on a second choice in Klein Mooimaak decision.

Kotze said the Langebaan Ratepayers unanimously Park Forum against this development at Klein Mooimaak decision. It is an ecologically sensitive area and millions will be spent on infrastructure and environmental impact assessments, he explained.

Kotze with the Park Forum makeovers for the proposed construction of the chalets as suitable infrastructure and buildings already on the site. It will probably requires no environmental impact studies because it is from an old farmyard and farmsteads. The park was apparently not to be found there.

The proposed development at Klein Mooimaak within the B zone (boards for the use of sailboats and sailboards; motorboats and fishing are not allowed). It will probably have a greater environmental impact than the Shark Bay development.

"The whole area is then sensitive area in the West Coast National Park's spatial development framework has been identified, but recently a lack of public participation to a low-intensity recreation zone changed," said Kotze.

According to Kotze is no process to suspend him. He finds it odd, especially in light of the incident with Councillor Andre Kruger.

" Kruger park vehicle and personnel for the promotion of a political party. It is pointed out to De Kock and the park manager. Yet the matter is not raised at the Park Forum and it was said it would be addressed internally. "

Weslander with De Kock and Patricia Bopape, the current park manager, contacted, but they chose not to comment about the incident.

Bopape had some feedback about the alleged planned resort Weslander shipping. She said there is no longer a holiday resort on stilts in the water at Kraalbaai planned, but a ruskampontwikkeling Klein Mooimaak, and the environmental impact study is still underway. Klein Mooimaak is zoned as a low-intensity recreational area. Permanent structures and motorized activities are indeed allowed.

The infrastructure at Kraalbaai which referred Kotze, is apparently part of an approved revitalization project that began in 2007 in a park and renovation of gates, dagbesoekergeriewe and a camp at include Kraalbaai.

Bopape said the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) requires an environmental impact study for the project, because it does not meet the minimum requirements.

She also said the park makeovers for the camp will be considered, because it is not the site of the park's new offices will be.

[Toko]

West Coast NP Management Plan

The northern shores of Langebaan Lagoon were designated low intensity leisure to accommodate the proposed Klein Mooimaak Rest Camp and associated infrastructure and activities.
PAGE 20

9.1 Long term development plan
Two key tourism features of the park are the unique Langebaan lagoon, with its surrounding landscapes, and the seasonal spring wild flowers. The key tourism infrastructure focus of park management over the next planning cycle is firstly to unlock the tourism potential of the Langebaan hotel site through a Public Private Partnership (PPP), and while detailed precinct planning is required, current options are for a nature-based commercial centre, park head office and park gateway; and secondly the establishment of a rest camp within the park, where EIA processes were initiated to assess the feasibility of a rest camp at either Kraalbaai or Kleinmooimaak. The Kraalbaai EIA produced a no-go result, while the Kleinmooimaak EIA is still ongoing.
The long term strategic plan calls for a move away from the seasonal spikes in tourism numbers (spring for flowers, summer for the lagoon) to offer year round attractions.
Within the park there are existing sites that currently are, or in the future will be, fulfilling a specific tourism and visitor role. These sites are all at locations with existing facilities and infrastructure that have traditionally provided a tourism or visitor service and / or access to the park. The type and nature of facilities provided for at these sites need not only meet visitor expectations, but also be compatible with the ethos of the area. There is a clear relationship between the role that a site fulfils and the underlying visitor use zone in which that site is situated in. Table 3 summarises the role of the site, what facilities are suitable, which park zones are applicable and the management guidelines for the sites. In order to enhance the visitor experience of these tourism features, appropriate and sustainable infrastructure and facilities need to be provided.
A number of unused historical homesteads and farm buildings in the park are currently falling into disrepair. In order to preserve them an appropriate use must be found for them. Several of the buildings lend themselves to a mixed use of tourism accommodation and auxiliary functions, while Mooimaak farm has the potential to support environmental education programmes.
Infrastructure use and upgrading on the offshore islands poses several tourism challenges. The islands are extremely ecologically sensitive, particularly when birds are roosting and moulting, logistically difficult and unpleasant to access the island in rough weather, the climatic conditions on the islands are harsh for infrastructure and there is limited capacity on the islands to deal with waste (liquid and solid). However total exclusion of the public from these areas is undesirable due to the special interest that they hold to the birding community. As such, visits to the islands by the public should be strictly controlled via special permits and related to park management activities such as research and monitoring. The larger bulk of the infrastructure footprints should be reduced.
It is important to note that the execution of the programmes is dependent on the availability of
funds.
PAGE 29

[Mel]

Mel, what is quoted there on the Cape Hike Forum, is from Facebook Gravity Adventures, the EIA company has not said so

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gravity- ... 5980075165

That makes more sense

[Toko]

SPARKS AT PARK FORUM MEETING
By helene.meissenheimer
2014-07-14 07:00

Sparks flew at the Friday meeting of the Park Forum, an advisory body to the West Coast National Park, representing civil society and conservation organisations.

The hottest topics were the making of audio recordings of forum meetings, the proposed new rest camp at Klein Mooimaak in the West Coast National Park and SANPark’s turnaround with regard to the Shark Bay residential development.

Forum member Chris Bester, representing Afriforum, said the ruling by the forum chairman, Mel Richter, and Park manager Pat Bopape, not to allow recordings of forum meetings was in contravention of the country’s Constitution. After many to-and-fro arguments, Richter ended the discussion by saying he knows it is illegal and against the Constitution, but “I say no recordings”.

The next controversial topic was the proposed rest camp at Klein Mooimaak on the lagoon’s edge near the Seeberg view point in the park.

SANParks has stalled on the Klein Mooimaak project for more than a year. Monique Sham of Khula Environmental Consultants said on Monday they haven’t received any plans for the project from SANParks yet, but over 200 interested and affected parties have registered so far.

Interested parties can still register as I&APs by emailing monique-sham@gmail.com.

Park Manager Pat Bopape said on Friday they have identified a need for accommodation in the park with a view of the lagoon. Therefore they propose building a rest camp at Klein Mooimaak which will include 15 accommodation units, 20 camping and caravan sites, bulk services (water, sewer, electricity) and internal roads.

Keith Harrison of the West Coast Bird Club said “it’s a no-brainer birdlife wise” to oppose the project. Several forum members said the park’s own environmental management plan was also against the Klein Mooimaak project.

Bopape eventually said the decision on Klein Mooimaak wasn’t hers to make, but a separate department in SANParks. * (Bopape later denied that she excluded herself from the decision-making group on this issue, although it is the Infrastructure & Special Projects Department within SANParks that is communicating directly with the environmental consultants with regards to Klein Mooimaak.)

Jaco Kotze of the Langebaan Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association told Weslander this week they have proposed Mooimaak, an old farmstead with housing, water and electricity connections and access roads, to the park as an alternative, but he says they weren’t interested, possibly because it doesn’t have a view of the lagoon. Alternatively Kotze suggested the park considers building a rest camp on their office property (Erf 304) and the adjacent Erf 158 (currently eyed by the Defence Force for the building of housing) “if having a view of the lagoon is so important”.

SANParks also took flack for signing an agreement with the developers Dormell regarding the Shark Bay residential development bordering Myburgh Park to the north and the Langebaan lagoon to the west.

After years of opposing this development close to their Langebaan entrance last December, SANParks accepted Dormell’s proposal that 85% of the Shark Bay property be donated to the park in return for strict environmental controls being enforced on the development. Bopape said the donation ensures no further development of the area and freezes the northern urban edge as the park’s new northern boundary “allowing SANParks to effectively manage the Shark Bay lagoon area”.

Park Forum member, Jaco Kotze, said that SANParks, by accepting “this deal”, became “estate managers”. “That is not your job, your job is conservation.”

Willem Louw, SANParks manager: Park planning and development, responded “we are not estate managers, there is no need for that. We only manage the high biodiversity part.”

Forum member Jimmy Walsh’s concluding remarks were, “I just hope there is something left here for the next generations to come.”

[Puff Addy]

From the South African National Parks Strategic Plan 2016/17-2019/20:

No. 94 Construct Klein Mooimaak Rest Camp, 15 x units, bulk services
Start: 2019/04/01 Finish: 2021/03/31

No. 95 Klein Mooimaak Camp & Caravan Site, 10 x camp sites, ablutions & services
Start: 2019/04/01 Finish: 2021/03/31