Cape Winelands Airport: Appeals against Environmental Authorisation dismissed
Cape Winelands Airport is strategically positioned to serve as an alternate airport for airlines flying into Cape Town.
Image: Supplied
Appeals lodged against the Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the expansion of the Cape Winelands Airport have been dismissed.
The news has been met with relief from developers, who in October confirmed it had received the green light from Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell.
Bredell last week said five appeals lodged in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the 2015 National Appeal Regulations, were dismissed.
The airport, which is projected to open in 2028 or by early 2029, secured a landmark partnership with Growthpoint Properties.
Bredell's spokesperson, Wouter Kriel, said granting and approval was due to the supportive and comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA), which included the input of specialists and experts.
“The granting of the EA was informed by a comprehensive EIA report, which included numerous specialist studies on, amongst others, geohydrology, air quality, noise, botanical impacts, freshwater ecology, socio-economic impacts, agricultural ecosystems, and poultry biosecurity impacts,” said Kriel.
“The EIA process also included extensive public participation processes, which afforded interested and affected parties, including organs of state, opportunities to raise issues and provide comments regarding the proposed expansion of the airport. The public participation reports included detailed comments-and-responses reports outlining how issues raised by stakeholders were addressed throughout the EIA process.
"Appeals against the EA were received from five interested and effected parties. The appeal decision comprehensively addressed the grounds of appeal raised by the appellants."
Kriel said in addition, the appeal decision introduced further conditions to strengthen environmental mitigation measures.
These include the installation of a noise monitoring terminal at Fisantekraal High School, with opportunities for registered, interested and effected parties to comment on post-authorisation documents such as management plans and guidelines required in terms of the EA conditions, as well as the implementation of the amended Environmental Management Programme during both the construction and operational phases of the development.
Kriel said in dismissing the appeals, the MEC found: "The information before the Department was sufficient to enable a lawful, rational, and procedurally fair decision in terms of NEMA and the 2014 EIA Regulations. The environmental, social, and economic impacts of the proposed development were adequately identified, assessed, and considered. The public participation process was adequate and procedurally fair in the circumstances, and the issues raised were adequately addressed."
Bredell also found that the conditions of the EA and the Environmental Management Programme were adequate to mitigate and manage the potential significant impacts associated with the development.
“It should be noted that the MECs decision on appeal is final, and the MEC is accordingly functus officio in respect of this matter,” said Kriel.
Deidre Davids, spokesperson for the Cape Winelands Airport, said while the MEC had given it the approval stamp, the public participation process saw 1 500 interested and affected parties submitting their input, with six appeals logged, which later became five following a withdrawal.
“Following the granting of the Environmental Authorisation, six appeals were lodged. One appellant subsequently withdrew their appeal, leaving five appeals for consideration by the MEC, all of which have now been dismissed."