Invitation for Public Comment: Draft Environmental Management Framework for Mossel Bay Municipality
IMPORTANT NOTICE
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1998 (ACT 107 OF 1998) ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK REGULATIONS, 2010
INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR MOSSEL BAY MUNICIPALITY
The Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, in terms of regulation 3 of the Environmental Management Framework Regulations, 2010, published under Government Notice R547/2010 in Government Gazette 33306 dated 18 June 2010, read with section 24(2) and (3), of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) (the Act), invites members of the public to submit written representations on or objections to the Draft Environmental
Management Framework for Mossel Bay Municipality (the Draft EMF).
Section 24(3) of the Act provides that the National Minister, or a Provincial Minister with the concurrence of the National Minister, may compile information and maps that specify the attributes of the environment in particular geographical areas, including the sensitivity, extent, and interrelationship and significance of such attributes that must be taken into account by every competent authority. Such information and maps are to be used as environmental management frameworks in the consideration of applications for environmental
authorisations in or affecting a geographical area to which the framework applies.
Mossel Bay is situated in the Garden Route bounded by the Hessequa Municipality to its west, George Municipality to its east and Oudtshoorn Municipality to its north. The population of Mossel Bay is 96 114 people in 2021, making it the second most populated municipal area in the Garden Route District (GRD). Given the anticipated growth in the area, Environmental Management Framework (EMF) was drafted for the Mossel Bay Municipality to promote sustainability, sustainable development, secure environmental protection, and cooperative environmental governance in the geographical area.
The Draft EMF supports the environmental rights of people situated in the geographical area to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being, and to have the environment protected. The Draft EMF will prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation and secure the sustainable development and use of natural resources in the geographical area while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
The Draft EMF may be viewed as follows:
(a) on the website of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (“the Department”) at
https://www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp/;
(b) at the head office of the Department, located at 1 Dorp Street, Cape Town;
(c) on the website of the Mossel Bay Municipality at https://www.mosselbay.gov.za; and
(d) at the office of the Mossel Bay Municipality, located at 101 Marsh Street, Mossel Bay.
The contact persons for information related to the Draft EMF are:
CONTACT PERSONS EMAIL ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Ms Liza Petersen Liza.Petersen@westerncape.gov.za
021 483 4247
Mr Vuyani Zuma Vuyani.Zuma@westerncape.gov.za
021 483 2790
Mr Jaco Roux jroux@mosselbay.gov.za
044 606 5071
Written representations on and objections to the Draft EMF must be submitted before or on 26 March 2023 by—
(a) posting the representations or objections to:
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Attention: Ms Liza Petersen / Mr Vuyani Zuma
Directorate: Planning and Policy Coordination
Private Bag X9086
Cape Town 8000;
(b) emailing the representations or objections to:
Liza.Petersen@westerncape.gov.za or Vuyani.Zuma@westerncape.gov.za; or
(c) delivering the representations or objections to:
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Attention: Ms Liza Petersen
2nd Floor, Leeusig Building
1 Dorp Street
Cape Town 8001.