5 April 2006
Minister of Environment, Planning and Economic Development Tasneem Essop
today announced that the Dreamworld Film Studio Complex application had been
approved with a variation of decision and conditions.
The Dreamworld Record of Decision (RoD) was appealed by the Wildlife and
Environmental Society of SA (WESSA) and CapeNature.
Minister Essop, as the appeals authority in the Province, held a site
inspection and an appeal hearing on 6 February, where all sides were able to
place their positions and concerns on the table.
One of the main concerns had been the impact on the wetlands, in terms of
which wetlands of high significance would have been lost. The appeal decision,
made by Minister Essop alleviates this concern as the overall impact on the
wetlands has been substantially reduced.
In authorising this significant development, mitigation measures will be put
in place and will include appropriate buffering, the compilation of
environmental management plans for both the construction and operation phases
of the development and the creation of an environmental monitoring
committee.
An additional condition of the decision is an offset amount of R1 840 000 to
a fund to be established by the Department of Environmental Affairs and
Development Planning and CapeNature. These funds will be used for conservation
purposes such as the Working for Wetlands programmes, biodiversity management
and other conservation initiatives related to wetlands.
"I believe that in making this decision we have found a win-win solution for
all parties concerned including the broader interests of all the people in the
Western Cape Province. Our Bill of Rights says that we have to prevent
pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation and secure
ecological sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting
justifiable economic and social development.
âThis decision reflects both the principals of the Bill of Rights and the
implementation of the Sustainable Development triple bottom line approach which
obliges decision makers to consider economic development, social equity and
environmental integrity. We have achieved these objectives.
"We have protected the critical wetland, promoted, through this development
that 8 000 direct jobs will be created and the location of the film studio
itself places critical economic infrastructure in a previously neglected and
poverty stricken node. The benefits should accrue to the communities
surrounding the development. The economic benefits spelt out here does not
include the downstream opportunities that will be created in the value chain of
the film industry," Minister Essop said.
Enquiries:
Lynnette Johns
Tel: (021) 483 3915
Cell: 083 310 0113
Email: ljohns@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environment Affairs, Development Planning and
Economic Development, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 April 2006
