Veschini letter to Witzenberg 24 Dec 08

<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> Veschini letter to Witzenberg 24 Dec 08</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> 24 Dec 08</div> <bR> <div> J A Veschini</div> <div> P O Box 10</div> <div> Tulbagh</div> <div> 6820</div> <div> The Mayor</div> <div> Wizenberg Municipality</div> <bR> <div> Dear Mr. Mayor</div> <bR> <div> Proposed Eskom 765kv Power Line to traverse the Tulbagh Valley</div> <div> The Heritage Impact Assessment has now been made available for public comment (on the internet only) and an interested and affected parties' meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, 24 November 2008 at Morgansvlei Country Estate at 2 pm.</div> <bR> <div> From my perspective and I have no doubt in my mind that also various other bodies such as ETLAC, TRIF, the Tulbagh Branch of the DA and all the other appellants against the Power Line, feel that the Municipality has betrayed the community of Tulbagh by not appealing against the Power Line on the grounds of the severe and damaging impact that this Power Line will have on this valley. </div> <bR> <div> The least that the Municipality could have done is to have ‘conditionally approved’ the line in other areas of the Witzenberg if they deemed it necessary and in the public interest but subject to the Residents of Tulbagh being satisfied with the process and the outcome, given the knowledge that you have now that the Tulbagh residents are dead against the Power Line and have appealed against the decision to grant a ROD.</div> <bR> <div> Once again, it is perceived by Tulbagh residents that this Municipality does not care about Tulbagh.</div> <div> The EIA process from the perspective of many, has been severely flawed in that there was never sufficient consultation and most certainly not enough was done to satisfy the community that the Power Line would not impact severely on this valley in so many respects – to a point whereby the destruction of this heritage valley will be assured for all time – if the Line is proceeded with. </div> <bR> <div> In the process, the EIA consultants (I believe intentionally) did not even illustrate by a computer model (which they can do), what this monstrosity will look like and what effect it will have on the valley, visually, aesthetically, or otherwise. </div> <div> There is only one last chance for Tulbagh and that is only due to the fact that although a Record of Decision (ROD) has been issued, The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has determined in his wisdom that a separate Heritage EIA must first be undertaken and he must be satisfied that the Power Line will not unreasonably affect the Heritage value of Tulbagh and this valley before he can decide on the appeal before him.</div> <bR> <div> You and the new administration formed by a coalition of the DA and other Parties, now have a chance to redeem yourselves as a caring Municipality in the eyes of the Tulbagh residents, by firstly sending a delegation to the meeting on Monday (not only your acting Electrical Engineer whom we know has shown himself to have no problem with the Power Line) and secondly to support the efforts of so many I&AP’s to either have this Power Line diverted or placed underground.</div> <bR> <div> Kind regards,</div> <bR> <div> John Veschini</div> <div> Tulbagh</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>