Comments HIA Chris Wright

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=30 BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" style=" border-left: 1px solid #3366CC;" BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Tulbagh Info Information</B></div> <div> Comments HIA Chris Wright</div> <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 2"><U>Back to Local News</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Dear Mr Haumann,</div> <bR> <div> <B>Gamma Omega Power Line</B></div> <bR> <div> The original date given for submissions was December 24<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>. But we heard subsequently that this had been extended to January 12<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT>. However I have not received official notification of this extension and attempts to confirm it or otherwise have been unsuccessful. It would seem that your offices have been closed? This seems to be a thoroughly unsatisfactory situation. It is quite impossible to collect information for meaningful comments when everyone is on holiday. I was involved in another EIA recently and this was recognised. In view of the Christmas period an extra four weeks was allowed for comment – in this case it would take us at least to the end of January.</div> <bR> <div> Additionally public meetings only seem to have been held in the Tulbagh area. Why? What about the Reibeek Valley, Gouda etc. There has been virtually no publicity. Is this public participation?</div> <div> In the circumstances therefore my comments are provisional and under duress, given that I have had insufficient time, insufficient information and more especially since the period for comments coincides with the December holiday period (whether by design or not). </div> <bR> <div> There is no doubt that the country needs electricity. But much of the area round Cape Town is a priceless asset to the county. If major projects like this power line are allowed to proceed the asset will be irretrievably destroyed. Tourists will severely diminish and the wealth they bring with them will disappear. So we could get electricity – but at the expense of large numbers of people and the general quality of the environment. It is obvious that consideration should be given to placing large lengths of the line underground.</div> <div> From the point of view of the Riebeek Valley it is clear that the more southerly of the two favoured routes would be preferable. But this route would have an adverse effect on Bartholomeus Klip and its associated game reserve as well as other properties. So if the line must go over ground could it go even further south and so avoid this problem?</div> <bR> <div> Yours faithfully,</div> <bR> <div> <B>Chris Wright</B></div> <div> <B>PO Box 60, Riebeek Kasteel 7307</B></div> <div> <B>0224481081</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" 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></table></body>