Bantamsklip Kappa Power line

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=30 BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=76 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #3366CC;" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Tulbagh Info Information</B></div> <div> Bantamsklip Kappa Power line</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=28 style=" border-top: 1px solid #0066CC; border-left: 1px solid #0066CC;border-right: 1px solid #0066CC; border-bottom: 1px solid #0066CC;" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=404 width="100%" style=" border-left: 1px solid #3366CC;" BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="120" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#0099CC HEIGHT= 15 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="local_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tulbagh News Page 1"><U>Back to Local News</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> 22 January, 2010</div> <div> NMA Effective Social Strategists (Pty) Ltd.</div> <div> Attention Mr. Theo Hansford</div> <bR> <div> Dear Sirs,</div> <bR> <div> <B>Comment EIA Proposed Bantamsklip power line and associated infrastructure</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> : Multi-Stakeholder workshop for the Witzenberg Drakenstein area.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Our comments are as follows;</div> <bR> <div> 1.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>In furtherance to our previous correspondence, we reiterate that we consider this process flawed for a number of reasons but more especially due to the fact that a further alternative was added to the list of alternatives late in the day and this particular alternative will impact severely on the towns of Gouda, Wolseley and Tulbagh. These communities were not originally made aware of this alternative proposal by way of public participation and information meetings. Should they have been informed, we have no doubt that many more Interested and Affected Parties would have registered as such. </div> <bR> <div> The stakeholder’s list is therefore unrepresentative of the communities on which this alternative Route will impact upon. These communities will have to be consulted before this process is allowed to proceed in the form of ‘Multi-Stakeholder Workshops, which clearly are NOT Multi-Stakeholder and this process of Multi-Stakeholder Worshops, is nothing less than ‘subtle encroachment’ without 'adaquate' public participation.</div> <bR> <div> 2.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>The alternative Tulbagh route appears not to take cognisance of the proposal by Eskom to erect a 795kv power line (Gamma Omega – Cape Strengthening Project), as this alternative is proposing the same entry into the valley, via the Nuwekloof Pass.</div> <bR> <div> 3.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>These communities have indicated their opposition to the first power line proposal by way of a host of objections to both the original EIA application (and have appealed against that Record of Decision) and the subsequent EIA Heritage Impact Assessment application called for by the Minister. The fundamentals are the same in both the 765kv application and the Bantamsklip alternative. We feel it unnecessary to allude to the detail at this juncture, save as to say that we will oppose this ‘alternative’ on the same grounds as we have with regards to the proposed 675kv Gamma Omega line.</div> <bR> <div> 4.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Gouda, Tulbagh, the Tulbagh valley and Wolseley areas, are no-go areas for the proposed Eskom power lines and we will oppose these power lines vigorously and with all the means at our disposal.</div> <bR> <div> 5.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>With reference to Item 5.1, we consider the Nuwekloof Pass as important to us as the Bainskloof Pass as a national heritage site and moreover the entire Tulbagh valley for a multitude of resons and as such we oppose the suggestion that this valley should be used as a ‘corridor’.</div> <bR> <div> 6.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>With reference to Item 5.3, we take note that the Heritage assessment process is not finalised and urge you and Eskom to take note of that too. </div> <bR> <div> 7.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>With reference to item 5.4, we reiterate that our opposition to the Bantamsklip Tulbagh/Wolseley route as we have and are still doing in respect of the Gamma Omega line and will oppose any suggestion for any route from the Nuwekloof pass to anywhere through this valley.</div> <bR> <div> 8.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>With reference to item 6.5m, we concur that a full visual impact assessment will have to be be undertaken and that it will be the responsibility of the consultants to indicate exactly what the proposed power line will look like from all angles and from all heights. But more especially, we insist that a full Heritage Assessment application be done, as was the case of the Gama Omega line and full public participation is a must.</div> <div> Yours faithfully,</div> <bR> <div> John Veschini</div> <div> Convener ETLAC (Electricity Transmission Lines Action Committee</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>