Please Take Note Of This Information Concerning the Sand Mining Application on the Oysterbay Dune Field.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS AND YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO PREVENT THIS FROM GOING AHEAD!
As the leading project of 2023 for the Kromme Enviro-Trust, the Oysterbay dune field is a national asset and is an enormous archaeological treasure trove. Early Stone Age people lived, hunted, feasted and were buried in the sand dunes, and their remains are there to this day.
As well as the Sand River passing through the dune field, much of it, beneath the dune, there are a number of wetlands situated within the dune fields, some of which are considered to be some of the most important wetlands in the country, both culturally and historically.
There are two important links to view.
1. Background information concerning the application, where the process is at present and the way forward. Please do take a read. – https://stfranciskrommetrust.co.za/…/Gerber_Sand_MP_BID…
2. Narrative forwarded from Stellenryck Environmental Solutions Draft. Basic Assessment Report (DBAR). Click on the link, then Documents, scroll down to ‘Rupert Gerber Trust Sand MP-Draft Bar and to open the document enter password: buffels1885
If you wish to register and comment on the full Draft Basic Assessment Report, access is provided on their website: http://www.stellenryck.co.za/.
Please note that the comment period for the project has been extended to 21 October 2023.
04/10/2023
To Whom it may concern,
Thank you for the comprehensive documentation I have received as a personally interested party regarding the proposed mining permit application from the Rupert Gerber Trust. Although I have already submitted my formal objection to the application, I did this prior to receipt of the latest documentation which fully describes the extent (size) of the intended mining operation and therefore the full potential for damage to the immediate environment.
The relatively small area affected by the project may lead the applicant and others into believing that the environmental damage is likely to be relatively insignificant and therefore of little concern. My real concern however is that approval of the project would be the “thin edge of the wedge” which would be considered to be a precedent, ultimately leading to the total demise of the whole dune area from St. Francis Bay down to Oyster Bay as a result of further successful mining permit applications.
As a regular hiking visitor to the “dunes” including walks all the way to Oyster Bay, providing immeasurable pleasure to myself as a keen observer of all “wildlife” in its widest context, the loss of this irreplaceable asset, not only to myself, but the people of South Africa, would be tragic!
Yours sincerely,
Ronald F C Searle
I totally agree with the comments made by Ron Searle, as I too have been privileged enough to have walked this pristine and beautiful area.
It would be a tragic loss to South Africa if this mining were to ahead. Under no circumstance
should this be allowed to go ahead!!
I am sick of these greedy business people, who don’t care what they destroy as long as they can make a fortune. Kick them out of the EC, under no circumstances should they be allowed to mine anywhere here, on land, sea or Sand dunes.
My husband John and I absolutely agree with Ron Seale’s comment – any mining is the thin end of the wedge – once the evil genie is out of the bottle it cannot be pushed back in.
We have been going to the Richtersveld World Heritage Site for many years. When we returned there last year we were shocked by the extent of the damage caused by the mining being done there in this eco sensitive wilderness area.
No to any mining of our pristine sand dunes.
My husband and I strongly object to any mining whatsoever on our eco sensitive dunes.