What is the situation/progress with the proposed hotels in Kruger?

[Lisbeth]

Where is the first brick?

[H. erectus]

Received this communication with the EIA company

Thanks
Take your time I will only be home on Friday again, will be in Pretoria tomorrow.
Regards

Hi,



I have received your mail.



I will spend some time on the response. I am swamped this afternoon. I will get back to you by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.



Thanks for your time and your participation.

Dear ....

I trust you are keeping well.

We spoke mid July 2013 and you said that you will be sending me the minutes of the 3 August 2012 meeting at Groenkloof. I have not received anything yet.

You also mentioned that the parking area was planned to be moved to behind the Malelane Rangers quarters. This will increase the potential for road kills as the quarters are approximately 5 km from the Malelane entrance gate, meaning that visitors to the MSR will travel 24/7 from the gate to the parking area from where they will be shuttled to the planned hotel. This would mean an approximately additional eight to ten kilometres of travelling with the increased noise and light pollution. This idea is worse for the environment although better for Pestana Lodge.

This new idea of the changed parking area will increase the potential for undesired happenings in the KNP e.g. poaching, theft, smuggling and whatever else criminals have in mind.

Is the final scoping report available yet, if so - where can the registered I&AP's have access to it.

You also mentioned that the draft scoping report was sent off to the DEA, what is the status of this?

I trust that you will understand my concern.

Kind regards

[H. erectus]

How much time do we need,...????

Over one year ago these minutes were taken!!!

Obviously serious transparency lacking here!!!

To my mind it can only be part of a concocted deal,
meaning that funding will determine the final scoping
report. In other words,..The developer pays out by
instruction to do so,.....

until such time,....who would look a gifted horse in
the mouth??????



Another Message:

Dear ...,

I trust you are keeping well.

Here below are two extracts from the 2012 - 2013 SANParks Annual Report, which I collected from the SANParks Head Office, Groenkloof - Pretoria on Thursday 19 September 2013.

The above annual report was tabled to Parliament end August 2013.

Extracts from the SANParks 2012-2013 Annual Report.

Page 17.

Business development & public private partnerships.

Malelane Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park – Significant progress was made with the Environmental Impact Assessment, with the draft Amended Scoping Report distributed for comments. It is anticipated that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be concluded by July 2013 where – after construction will commence.


Page 39.

Share and provide access to correct information and knowledge to internal and external and external stakeholders.

The development of the Malelane Safari Lodge, and the rezoning of the Kruger National Park, attracted media interest in the early stages of the year, but it quietened down as the concerns were addressed through the on-going and thorough responses to queries raised.

I have great concern in what I have read.

1. What significant progress was made with the Environmental Impact Assessment, and which is the latest draft Amended Scoping report that is available. Also what was the closing date for responses and where can I as an I&AP have access to the queries raised and the mentioned thorough responses. I have been lead to believe that latest draft scoping report is the one of which I was given a copy of on 3 August 2012.

2. It is in print that "It is anticipated that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be concluded by July 2013 where – after which construction will commence", this has come as a huge surprise to me. Now has the EIA been completed, if so when and to whom was it made available as I have NO knowledge whatsoever of this.

3. I need an urgent response to my concerns, I also request that you please enquire from where SANParks obtained their information, and advise me.

Should it become clear that the annual report is incorrect or that the process has been short cut, it is very important that it be corrected.

I trust that you will understand my urgent concern.

Regards

[H. erectus]

Received this further communication.

Thanks for your email and reassurance.
I was very concerned as up to now we had a very good and open relationship which I hope will continue.
I can then only conclude that the SANParks Annual Report is incorrect.
Kind regards

Hi



Thank you for your E-mail.



I would like to confirm that NO work has been done on the EIA report thus far. We are still awaiting a decision from the DEA regarding the Scoping Report. We still need to submit an addendum which includes the minutes of the previous meetings. These will be reviewed by yourself before we submit them. We are hoping to submit them in the next 14 days, after your review.



I think the confusion below is caused due to your interpretation of the terminology. The process is known as an Environmental Impact Assessment. The Scoping Report forms part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, which is then follow by the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.



You have not received any communication regarding the EIA Report because we aren’t at that stage of the process as yet. We have provided the Scoping Report for Public Review which you commented on and now we are finalising the addendum’s which must be submitted to the DEA.



They will then proceed with decision making. Should the DEA decide to approve the Scoping Report, the EIA report will be initiated. I can assure you that we have not started with the EIA report as yet. The proponent is still making the final arrangements for funding for the EIA process.



I do believe the date for construction (July 2013) emanates from previous timeframe estimations. Obviously these are no longer relevant. There were a number of different dynamics which had an impact on these timeframes but I can assure you that no construction will take place before the EIA report has been completed and you and your organisation have had a fair opportunity to comment on the report. We will then need to submit the report to DEA for decision making purposes.



As you well know, we have been trying our best to provide the I&AP’s with a good service whilst ensuring that this process remains transparent and that you are provided with factually correct information. If you feel that you have not received adequate information, please let me know and I will do my best to address your information requirement needs.



Once again, as independent consultants to this process we will ensure that this process runs its course and that no shortcuts are taken. I can also ensure you that this is not the intention of the proponent. He would like to ensure that this process is undertaken 100 % according to the requirements and that all I&AP comments are heard and taken into consideration.



Please review the SANParks article again with this information at hand and please advise me if you still have concerns relating to our process. We are unfortunately unable to respond to issues such as the Roan, etc.



I am always happy to have a discussion with you telephonically as well.



My warmest regards,

[Richprins]

Thanks, H.!

The above is from the EIA company regarding Malelane hotel only!

(Have asked mods to take out personal details)

[H. erectus]

We have a reply,.....Phew,...

The proponent is still making the final arrangements for funding for the EIA process

There you have it,...

[H. erectus]

We still need to submit an addendum which includes the minutes of the previous meetings. These will be reviewed by yourself before we submit them. We are hoping to submit them in the next 14 days, after your review

The DEA gets a more than a year too linga longa, we get 14 days inclusive!!!???

[H. erectus]

Now what,...

All the messages posted by the assessment practitioner are as,...

H. erectus wrote,...

[Richprins]

Now we wait?

[H. erectus]

Now we wait?

We are hoping to submit them in the next 14 days, after your review.

Hah RP are you coming or going?????