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Air Quality Management

The Garden Route District Municipality is the Air Quality Management licensing authority for listed activities in the Garden Route municipal region and operates within the prescribed National: Environmental: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act 39 of 2004). Notwithstanding limitations, Garden Route District Municipality has succeeded in substantially meeting the diverse tasks and duties associated with air quality management and defined in its Air Quality Management Plan. The Unit forms part of Garden Route District Municipality’s Department Community Services’s Section: Municipal Health Services.

Legislative requirements

Part B of Schedule 4 to the Constitution lists air quality services as a local government matter to the extent set out in section 155 (6) (a) and (7). The Bill of Rights provides that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. The objectives of the National Environmental Management Act AQA, (Act 39 of 2004) are to protect the environment by providing reasonable measures to protect air quality and to prevent air pollution and to give effect to Section 24 (b) of the Constitution. The AQA promotes a holistic approach to an air quality management system while the air quality management system provides a framework for managing air quality while an AQMP applies this theory in an operational manner. An AQMP is but one component of the overall Air Quality Management System.

Air Quality Management

The Air Quality Management Unit aims to minimise the impact of air pollutant emissions on the population and the natural environment of the Garden Route District.

The following functions can only be done by Districts and Metropolitan municipalities: All aspects of Atmospheric Emission Licensing for Listed Activities, monitoring illegal listed activities, controlled emitters and monitoring compliance with AEL- conditions.

Air Quality Management Plan

Garden Route District Municipality recently published its 2019 Air Quality Management Plan – access it here.

Air Quality Objectives

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) pursues the vision and mission of its AQMP through a series of nine objectives. These objectives are aimed at enhancing the District’s role as manager of air quality in the region.
Objective 1: Set Air Quality Goals
Objective 2: Set Up Air Quality Management System
Objective 3: Carry Out Risk Assessments
Objective 4: Assess and Select Control Measures
Objective 5: Implement Intervention and Monitoring Effectiveness
Objective 6: Revise Air Quality Goals
Objective 7: Integrate the AQMP into the IDP
Objective 8: Compliance Monitoring, Enforcement and Control
Objective 9: Review the Air Quality Management Plan

Other Activities

  • Ambient Air Quality monitoring- In-stack, continuous ambient monitoring, passive sampling.
  • Vehicle emission Testing- Assisting the Local municipalities
  • Emission Inventories
  • Garden Route Air Quality Officers Forum- coordinating Air Quality activities in the region
  • Garden Route Air Quality working group meeting with Industry
  • National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory System management (NAEIS)
  • Comprehensive complaints management system
  • Awareness-raising activities

For more information or queries, please contact:

Dr Johann Schoeman
Manager: District Air Quality Control

Tel:  044 803 1300
E-mail: info@gardenroute.gov.za
Address: C/O Sampson en Marlin Street, Extension 23, Mossel Bay, 6500