New EIA Malelane Lodge

[H. erectus]

Just as much his entry of traffic congestion in the slide shows!!
He very well tried his best to point out that the roadway was open
use at a sighting scenario!!!

[H. erectus]

Bullshit baffles brains,.. them trying hard to find a niche!!
while the crap keeps slinging!!!

Mr. Phillips and his land claim promises,....

The very same day good old Cyril, our new one,
touched heavily on the redistribution of land claim,...

[Richprins]

Found this old Feb 2017 article by Elize Parker where H. is quoted!



SKUKUZA – The construction of Malelane Safari Lodge (MSL) in the Kruger National Park (KNP) has been put on hold, but it is all systems go for the construction of the 250-bed Skukuza Conference Lodge.

The lodges will add almost 500 beds to the accommodation available in the Kruger National Park.

According to Mr William Mabasa, acting head of SANParks communications, the tender for Skukuza Conference Lodge construction has been awarded and work on the project will start within a few weeks.

Murray and Roberts Construction is the project manager, and JR Mashilo Lambrechts is the architect.

The budget for the project is R230 million and it will be financed solely by SANParks. As previous tenders called for by Murray and Roberts for subcontractors were too high, new tenders will be called for.

MSL, which is also planned in the Malelane Gate Precinct, is short of funding, partly due to all requirements set by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) not being met.

Mr Michael Wright of Secprop Leisure, a shareholder in the development company of the tented camp at Malelane Gate, said they hoped to sort out the funding challenges before the end of the month. The estimated cost for the construction of MSL is R273 million, according to Wright.

The total cost of construction, including the opening and start-up capital, is predicted to be
R335 million. It will comprise 240 beds in a tented camp, and once completed, provide 130 jobs.

The international hotel group, Rezidor Radisson Blu, will manage the lodge.

SANParks is not contributing financially towards the lodge but only towards the development of the park-and-ride facility at the gate. Guests will leave their cars at the gate and be driven to the lodge.

The project was conceptualised seven years ago, but has been held back by various factors, including outstanding environmental impact studies (EIA) and resistance to the commercialisation of the KNP by activist groups.

Wright is pressing ahead with negotiations with possible investors and foresaw that guests will be able to move into the tented camp in September 2018.

He emphasised that no extra approvals were required from the minister of environmental affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, but that his company still needs to submit two studies to her as specified when the EIA was approved in April 2016.

They were unable to complete the traffic-impact study and a study on the impact of the park-and-ride facility, in the specified time. The department has given him another six months to do this.
Wright has five years to complete the project.

“As soon as we have funding in place for these studies, we will also be able to go ahead with them and submit them to the minister and SANParks,” Wright told Lowvelder.

According to him, the project is likely to proceed in June.

The lodge was designed by a Ballito-based architect. Bushtec Safaris will be responsible for erecting the tents.

Wright explained that as the owner, “we will provide services to guests like game drives, bush walks, birding and stargazing”.

Mr Reynold Thakhuli, SANParks’s general media manager, confirmed that the the developer needed to sort out any objections.

“We have some issues to iron out. We cannot commit to a date when work will start,” he said. We need to carefully look at all these concerns as SANParks is a state-owned entity”.

Mr Fred de Groot, who is registered as an interested party for Africa Wild in the public participation process (PPP) concerning MSL, told Lowvelder it was clear that funds would not be available soon, not even for the extra two studies.

“Some investors, like the Africa Fund of the European Union, apparently indicated that it would not like to be involved any more as investors.”

He is concerned that protocol on the PPP was not followed by Secprop Leisure, as interested and affected parties had to be advised that the company would be asking for an extension so that they could send comments to the minister’s office.


https://lowvelder.co.za/372407/building ... e-on-hold/

*At the time of going to press, the DEA and Rezidor Blu Radisson had not responded to requests for comment.

[Flutterby]

[nan]

[Richprins]

Sent: Tuesday, 10 April 2018 21:18


Subject: MALELANE SAFARI LODGE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT CANCELLED

Honorable Edna Molewa

MALELANE SAFARI LODGE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT CANCELLED


In the light of recent statements indicating that this development,
which has been in the offing since 2009, has been called off, we would
like to have this confirmed in writing by yourself and the Chairman of
the South African National Parks Board of Trustees.

The CO of Kruger National Park, Mr Phillips, has also repeatedly stated
that no new tourism developments will be undertaken in the Southern
Region of Kruger Park other than existing projects. We would request a
list of all 'existing projects", in writing.

Yours in Conservation
The Africa Wild Committee

[H. erectus]

Oh, where did this media release just pop-up from?

Is it an official statement,..??? I have yet to be informed
by the honorable ones staff of such decision Z. Hassam.
They are obligated to do so!!!

[Richprins]

It is a question from AW to the Honorable, H.!

[H. erectus]

To my knowledge Richard the project has been put on hold,
not called off!!! This according to Phillips at sanparks!!!
Some communication prior would have sufficed!!!

[Richprins]

Hopefully it will come out on paper, H.