Du Toit, Jessica
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Du Toit, Jessica From: Sheraine Van Wyk <[email protected]> Sent: 15 December 2015 12:26 PM To: Du Toit, Jessica Subject: Re: Hermanus CBD Bypass: Release of Final Scoping Report Thank you Jessica for the report. I am of the camp that believes that the upgrade should not go ahead until the need is more pressing and that the resources rather be spent on the section of the R43 further east where we have a number of accidents annually and the road is dangerous. I am strongly opposed to any reduction or degradation of wetland and nature reserve area and also opposed to the altering of the urban area of Eastcliff one of the premier neighbourhoods in Hermanus. Furthermore I feel that the impact of a bypass road on the borders of the two schools is undesirable. I have done frog and wetland heath monitoring in the golf course and look forward to read the various environmental assessment reports going forward. Regards Sheraine van Wyk On Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 2:58 PM, Du Toit, Jessica <[email protected] > wrote: Dear Sir / Madam, The Provincial Government Western Cape: Department of Transport and Public Works (WCDTPW) proposes to construct a bypass road approximately 3 km long, to the north of the Hermanus Central Business District (CBD), abutting Mountain Drive, past the Hermanus Sports Complex and along Fairways Avenue, in Hermanus in the Western Cape. SRK Consulting (South Africa) Pty Ltd (SRK) has been appointed to undertake the Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR, also referred to as EIA) process required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, as amended (NEMA). You are registered as a stakeholder for the above EIA process. We would like to inform you of the availability of the Final Scoping Report for public comment. The Scoping Report released earlier this year was updated to reflect and address comments received from stakeholders to produce the Final Scoping Report, which is being re-released to stakeholders before it is submitted to DEA&DP together with all comments received. Please find attached the Executive Summary of the Final Scoping Report. 1 Du Toit, Jessica From: Gail Rosslee <[email protected]> Sent: 23 December 2015 12:02 PM To: Du Toit, Jessica Subject: Hermanus Bypass Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Dear Madam/Sir, I have reviewed the report sent out by yourselves. I think that the proposed Southern Alignment would have less negative impact on all concerned. I still believe that the bypass is not necessary but if it is inevitable then choose the Southern Alignment. Many thanks, G Rosslee [email protected] 1 Du Toit, Jessica From: Michael Green <[email protected]> Sent: 11 January 2016 07:30 AM To: Du Toit, Jessica Subject: Proposed Hermanus CBD bypass. Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Dear Ms. du Toit, Proposed Hermanus CBD bypass. Further to my previous comments made awhile ago about the proposed bypass, please note the following points. I am in favour of the alignment that runs to the North-west i.e. the alignment that is on the mountain side of the Cemetery and the mountain side of the Sports Fields. The reasons for this are: • If the South-eastern alignment is chosen, it shall send a clear indication to Hermanus that the Provincial Government shall, in time albeit a long time from now, extend the bypass in future through the Hermanus Gold Course by probably expropriating the fairways on the North-western side of the Golf Course. • The Cemetery is a “Place of Interest”. The South-eastern alignment shall place the Cemetery more on the fringe and essentially cut it off from the rest of Hermanus. • It makes no sense to have a Provincial Road run close to the Senior School due to: o Noise that shall be detrimental to scholars learning. o Exhaust fumes that are detrimental to scholars and staff health. • Construction costs of a pedestrian underpass or underpasses or a pedestrian overpass or overpasses. Note that people often ignore pedestrian overpasses. Although those in opposition to the bypass maintain that "only 7%” of Hermanus road traffic passes through Hermanus: • There is no doubt that the volume of traffic is increasing fast in one of the fastest growing urban municipal areas in RSA i.e. Overstrand including Greater Hermanus. • A far greater percentage of traffic than “only 7%” travels along Royal Street and Main Road to reach the suburbs of Voelklip (a large suburb), Hermanus Heights, Fern Kloof and the eastern side of Eastcliff. The fixation with the term “only 7%” is, in my opinion, a red herring and should be treated as such. • The new Whale Coast Mall that is due to begin construction during 2016 shall stimulate and increase in the current growth rate of people and traffic in Hermanus. • The new Whale Coast Mall shall attract traffic from the eastern side of Hermanus and the surrounding districts as far away as Bredasdorp, which shall add incrementally to local traffic. • Based on new CEM passenger car registration changes of approximately 150 vehicles per month (mainly from Gauteng and Natal), Greater Hermanus alone is currently receiving a conservative 1 estimate of 70 new families per month. This is likely to increase during 2016 due to people moving to this part of South Africa. This migration is because Overstrand Municipality is recognised as being the best managed municipality in South Africa of 178 municipalities assessed by Municipal IQ. Many thanks, Michael Green 082 212 5116 Anytime 24/7 2 VOGELGAT NATURE RESERVE (PTY) LTD South African Natural Heritage Site No 5 Tel 028 3141411 Fax 0866932708 · P O Box 2115 · Hermanus 7200 South Africa · Email [email protected] 13th January 2016 DEA & DP 16/3/1/2/E2/15/2124/14 Proposed New CBD Bypass Road Comments on Final Scoping Report To whom it may concern Thank you for your final scoping report. I would like to place my comments on record with regards this proposal. As mentioned in your report; Fernkloof Nature Reserve is a small yet important biologically speaking in this region. Due to this clear fact no attempt should be made to alter this near-pristine natural system. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) highlights the significance of the area north of Mountain Drive as deemed as a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA). The whole of Fernkloof is regarded as a critically endangered mountain fynbos and is considered of high importance for biodiversity conservation (your report page 4). Due to these 2 important points above this bypass should not be developed along or through this stretch of Hermanus. Page 4 in your report states that the wetland in the Hermanus Golf Club is of ecological support area and in this case no bypass should be built over or through this area. In your section 7 Alternatives there is no mention of the suggestion of improving signage on the N2 to direct traffic through Caledon to Bredasdorp on route 316. This route is a quicker alternative than travelling through the Hermanus CBD and would thus alleviate any potential traffic into Hermanus. There is no mention of the ongoing discussions between Overstrand Municipality and major role players (IDP) of the notion to develop a local transport system. Board of Trustees J M Williams D S Morrison M M Fouchè A D van Hoogstraten There is no indication of the impact that the new mall in Sandbaai may have on the traffic flow into the Hermanus CBD. The movement of key commercial businesses to this mall will definitely reduce the volumes of traffic entering Hermanus itself. The residents of Mt Pleasant, Sandbaai, Onrus, Vermont, Hawston and Fisherhaven will certainly travel to this point and no further to carry out their daily errands. I find your comments misleading, that the existing road network in Hermanus is “close to capacity”. Your own research has detailed that there is only a total of 25%; 21% through Hermanus. This does not constitute close to capacity. In your point 5.3 – Increase in demand for traffic calming? I find that the proposed road will in fact do the opposite. At present there are calming zones on Mountain Road. The proposed 80km speed limit next to places of worship and schools will increase the risk of pedestrian impact, noise and air pollution. Where is the calming that this new road proposes to enhance? In your report a statement “create liveable environment in the CBD”. Surely this is out weighted by the adverse impacts on the liveable environment on residential, places of worship and learning institutions in the immediate areas of the proposed bypass. This proposal will transfer the suggested CBD problems into the quieter residential areas. Another of the statements mentions “the bypass road will primarily benefit residents”. Where is this impression gained from? As from the public participation processes and the over 500 respondents that you have had to this proposal I would hardly imagine that the road benefits the residents. I would argue that the majority of residents are against this bypass road as it has negative influences on their daily living environment. The traffic circle at the junction of Hermanus Private School would have a likely negative effect on the risk of scholar pedestrians. Again the calming that the road proposes to have is in fact having the opposite effect i.e. safety issues with young pre-school pedestrians etc. In your map there is no mention (numbered) of the likely impact on places of worship in this area. There is a mention that the costs of creating a road through the existing CBD is costly.