Durban - The Msunduzi Municipality says an environmental impact assessment report, which suggests that land earmarked for the Bakerville Heights housing project is unsuitable for construction, was part of ongoing studies that it and the provincial department of human settlements are undertaking in connection with the development.
The municipality said in a statement issued late on Wednesday night that the report by the Msunduzi’s Environmental Management Unit (EMU) was not the final conclusion on the project.
“A more detailed study is still to be undertaken by a specialist and the recommendations will be submitted to the Department of Human Settlements.”
It added that the project was at the inception and feasibility stage.
“At this stage the Bakerville housing project has not practically started on site. The municipality and the department of human settlements are currently looking at the project feasibility to determine whether or not it would be feasible to have a project at Bakerville Heights. The municipality is assessing the condition of the Infrastructure Services, cleaning and unblocking manholes, stormwater channels.”
The Mercury has seen the copy of the EMU report that was provided to DA councillors and Members of the Provincial Legislature.
DA spokesperson on Human Settlements Marlaine Nair said the ward 30 project forms part of a KZN Department of Human Settlements development, with plans to build 115 housing units for military veterans as part of Phase 1.
The screening report said a site visit was conducted on July 18 and August 1, 2022 and the property has been assessed in terms of the provincially Gazetted Municipal Environmental Management Framework (EMF), Draft Ecosystem Services Plan (ESP) and Draft Msunduzi Conservation Plan (C Plan).
It identified the property as having High Biodiversity Development Constraints.
“The area does fall within an irreplaceable Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA). High Wetland Development Constraints: a wetland feature has been confirmed on site.
“In addition, the application site is surrounded by a municipal owned public open space area, therefore these environmentally sensitive areas must be protected and no land clearing, removal of vegetation, illegal dumping, erecting structures...
“In principle, and in accordance with the approved Municipal Integrated Environmental Management Policy and Strategic Environmental Assessment, this unit does not support the cumulative loss of wetlands, biodiversity and public open space areas,” said the report.
The report warned that the municipality must take into consideration a burden placed on council, as Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations.
“There are financial implications that would be incurred by council by negligently developing the environmentally sensitive areas, which will result in infrastructure damages and the loss of life during catastrophic events.
“The application site is environmentally sensitive and it is highly possible that once it is disturbed from its natural form, (denuding its vegetation) there will be increased run-off water due to the increased hardened surface.
“As a result, this is not perceived as a good investment on the municipal side. This unit would suggest that the municipality identify the alternative site for the said development to ensure that justice is served on an environmental side,” it said.
In response to the report, provincial Human Settlements department spokesperson Mbulelo Baloyi, said they were aware of it.
Baloyi said working with the municipality, the department had undertaken all the requisite statutory requirements with respect to social facilitation concerning the development of housing for military veterans in the Bakerville area.
“The land in question belongs to the Msunduzi Municipality and it has always been zoned for housing development,” said Baloyi.