Media Statement: Odour complaints in Mossel Bay receiving attention
For Immediate Release 8 October 2020
As part of an investigation about the offensive odour complaints in Mossel Bay, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Air Quality (AQ) and PetroSA convened a two-weekly meeting on odours in communities. The latest odours originate most likely from an oily effluent spill in the two storm-water dams on the refinery site. This incident was reported to the authorities and discussed in length at an engagement, followed by a media statement by PetroSA which addressed details of the incident. As part of the action list emanating from the meeting, GRDM visited the site and incident on the 6 October 2020. During the site visit the GRDM AQ Unit was joined by Mr Rudzani Makahane, Water Use Officer of the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency.
The oil spill into the storm water system was confirmed as signs of oil residue was visible in both the storm water ponds and the Blind River. There was a distinct pungent smell of hydrocarbons present at the ponds. Although, the GRDM is the Air Quality Licencing Authority for PetroSA, and offensive odours form part of air pollution, the primary origin of the odour is storm water. Thus, the primary source must be addressed in order to mitigate the air quality offensive odours (secondary matter).
Speech by Garden Route District Municipality Executive Mayor, Alderman Memory Booysen, at the Council meeting of GRDM on 30 September 2020.
Speaker
The bulk of my communications will be done as agenda items are being discussed.
One of the issues for me at the moment is that we seem to have been experiencing issues again with syncronising our council meeting dates and times of council with that of council meetings at b-municipalities. It often happens that meetings at local municipalities clash with those at the GRDM.
The other matter, which was raised at the MAYCO this morning, is that there is huge confusion about alert level 1 and the dangers still posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus. It seems like businesses are operating as per usual and that not all members of the public see masks as important to wear in public spaces. It therefore looks like the environment we find ourselves in is riskier than before because of human behaviour. We need to be reminded that under level 1 the virus still exists.
Media Release: Environmental Health Practitioners still optimistic amidst the pandemic
For Immediate Release 30 September 2020
Since March 2020, all Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) have worked at grassroots level to raise awareness about COVID-19 to formal and informal business sectors. Awareness shared not only included the signs and symptoms of the Coronavirus disease, but more importantly, ways in which to minimize and prevent the spread of it.
“Since March 2020, three (3) EHPs out of 39 contracted COVID-19,” said Mr Johan Compion, GRDM Manager: Municipal Health & Environmental Services. “It has been a stressful time for EHPs and their families, especially for those who have family members at home stressed if their partners contracted COVID-19 while moving around,” he said.
GRDM Executive Manager, Mr Clive Africa explained that the multi-agency approach to curbing the spread of the virus is one of the reasons why not many lives were lost. “Our Firefighters and the additional 20 Expanded Public Works Programme workers, since 1 April 2020, disinfected a countless number of sites,” said Africa.
“None of these front-line workers contracted the virus, which is something we can be very grateful about”.
More frequent inspections were conducted at premises to ensure that the public stayed protected. Basic principles such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and social distancing were taught. In addition, important factors such as adequate ventilation, the use of personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfection of transport vehicles and pest control, were also shared and monitored.
Disinfection taking place at ablutions in Rosedale, George.
Disinfection taking place at a shopping centre.
Today, COVID-19 education is still done at informal and formal businesses, which include the following:
beauty salons (barbers, hairdressers and tattoo parlours)
old age homes/retirement homes
retail stores
churches
banks
SASSA PAY points
soup kitchens
clinics
schools
crèches
homes of COVID-19 patients
correctional services
police stations
door-to-door awareness
libraries
farms
holiday resorts/spas
hospitals
funeral undertakers
milking parlours
EHPs monitor compliance at a funeral.
Despite the hard work already done by EHPs, many community members do not wear masks. EHPs also found that many people do not adhere to social distancing protocols and ignore other COVID-19 preventative measures. In some cases, family members of those who were awaiting test results moved around while they should have been in quarantine. It has also noted with concern that social stigma and discriminatory behaviour occurred against people with COVID-19 or those who recovered from it. GRDM urges the public to play their part in helping to curb the spread of this virus instead of fuelling the stigma around this pandemic.
Despite all the challenges faced, EHPs will continue to roll out preventative measures to combat and curb the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease.
Media Release: Resource management is key to Eastern Cape survival
For Immediate Release 29 September 2020
“The inevitable advent of Day Zero, combined with renewed load shedding, COVID-19 impacts and political and policy uncertainty, will no doubt impact upon regional socio-economic prospects. An urgent effort is required to collectively plan around resource management and water security, in particular, for the Gamtoos Valley and the Eastern Cape as a whole,” says Rienette Colesky, Chief Executive Officer of the Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) in an interview with Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF).
The interview is part of an ongoing climate change debate and interview series, facilitated by the Forum to examine the correlation between some of the nett-effects experienced during COVID-19 and those enforced by climate change. In the interview, Meiring asked Colesky about the relevance and sustainability of resource management in the Eastern Cape.
Farming activities in the Gamtoos Valley: Gamtoos farmers are adapting to the “new normal” exerted by a changing climate. (Photo: Cobus Meiring)
Says Meiring: “The geographical borders of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) extend close to where the regional footprint of the GIB and the Sarah Baartman District Municipality starts. There are many shared similarities that the respective regions have in common in terms of environmental management, including climate change, in particular, drought and changes in rainfall patterns.”
Meiring wanted to know from Colesky what the GIB’s main concerns about climate change and resource management are in going forward.
Says Colesky: “The Gamtoos River community and its socio-economic survival is almost exclusively agro-centric and dependent on what the natural environment gives us. Resource management – water resource management in particular – is vital, not only for the Gamtoos and Kouga region, but it is essential for the Eastern Cape economy and the communities it supports. Water (management) is also a forex generator – it is a critical component of the entire agricultural produce export value chain and forex markets and therefore contributes to the South African economy as a whole.”
Asks Meiring: “The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has now reached Day Zero. Given the extremely vulnerable status of the Kouga dam level, what are your sentiments on the immediate future of the regional water security situation, and the prospects for the farming community that is almost exclusively dependent on water from the Kouga dam, catchment and supply system?”
Says Colesky: “We are basically in uncharted waters with regards to water security and the impact thereof will have a harsh and tangible influence on both the short, medium and long-term prospects of agricultural productivity in the Gamtoos Valley.”
“Compounding the socio-economic situation, over the past few decades we have seen a significant influx of people from destitute Eastern Cape communities into the Gamtoos region in search of work. The influx generates ever-increasing demands on sparse resources, and, as COVID-19 highlighted, poses new economic and social challenges, impacting both directly and indirectly on our mandate and management resources.”
“Over and above our mandated environmental management issues, GIB has taken on a significant number of state-subsidised relief efforts aimed at poverty relief, mostly centralised around environmental rehabilitation work in wetland systems, invasive alien plant management and infrastructure maintenance and improvement.”
Continues Colesky: “We know that the interior and western parts of the GRDM also suffer from almost perpetual drought, and the Gamtoos farming community most certainly is feeling the same pressure, having to resort to adaptive measures to reduce water use, whilst maintaining as high as possible quality production levels.”
“Despite the restrictions imposed on us by nature in the form of a changing climate, especially in terms of severely reduced rainfall in our vital catchments, our farmers’ ability to adapt to the new normal in order to survive has been remarkable thus far.”
Concludes Colesky: “We are deeply concerned about the water security situation in the region as well as what is happening in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, as we are socially and economically closely interlinked and co-dependent on the same resources.”
“An urgent and collective effort in terms of planning around resource management, and water security in particular, from regional, provincial and national levels are required, without which a prosperous future for the Eastern Cape, as a whole, will not be sustainable.”
Caption: Cover image – A noticeable influx of people from destitute Eastern Cape communities is contributing to socio-economic sustainability concerns in the Gamtoos Valley. (Photo: Cobus Meiring)
ENDS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES 1. Rienette Colesky, CEO of the Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB)
Tel: 042 007 0382; Cell: 083 703 0428
Email: rienette.c@gamtooswater.co.za; info@gamtooswater.co.za
2. Cobus Meiring: Chair of the Garden Route Environmental Forum Secretariat
Cell: 083 626 7619
Email: cobus@naturalbridge.co.za
The Western Cape Government has estimated that 170 000 jobs will be lost due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is thus critical that a fund providing relief to businesses operating in the Western Cape Province be implemented to minimise the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of the Fund is to alleviate the economic impact on small and micro enterprises operating in the Western Cape caused by COVID-19. The Fund will provide relief in the form of financial grants to the affected enterprises.
In providing support and assistance to selected businesses, the objective of the Fund is to contribute to the sustainability of qualifying Western Cape enterprises i.e. for the assisted enterprises to remain going concerns (sustainability) during the C-19 crisis in order to emerge (post the crisis) as viable labour-absorbing businesses
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The application guideline, which must be reviewed before submitting your application can be downloaded here
Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update
For Immediate Release 4 September 2020
GARDEN ROUTE HEALTH PLATFORM UPDATE
As of 4 September 2020, the Garden Route District has 9070 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Cases
Garden Route cases and recoveries per subdistrict.
Bitou 579 cases; 534 recoveries
Knysna 1370 cases; 1275 recoveries
George 3352 cases; 3079 recoveries
Hessequa 275 cases; 252 recoveries
Kannaland 110 cases; 106 recoveries
MosselBay 2172 cases; 1998 recoveries
Oudsthoorn 1212 cases; 959 recoveries
The Garden Route has recorded 309 Covid-19 deaths.
Hessequa
15
Mossel Bay
60
George
97
Knysna
46
Bitou
22
Oudtshoorn
68
Kannaland
1
Hospitalisation
From our latest available information, there are currently 97 patients admitted in public and private hospitals of which 17 are in High Care/ICU.
Isolation and quarantine
People who cannot isolate or quarantine safely at home (risk to themselves or exposure risk to others), can be referred to an isolation or quarantine facility.
Isolation facilities are for patients who have been infected with the COVID-19 virus (with mild to moderate symptoms) where they can recover. Quarantine facilities are for those have been exposed and are awaiting test results. These facilities are safe, have been made as comfortable as possible and you will receive free transport, meals, and a laundry service. PetroSA (West Camp) is currently the only activated isolation and quarantine facility in the Garden Route. More facilities have been identified and will be activated, if and when the need arises or capacity is exceeded at PetroSA. We currently have 13 people at the West Camp facility.
Catching up on the most urgent essential health services without risking patient and staff safety
While the health service platform must remain geared to deal with COVID-19 pandemic (including a possible second wave of infections), the Department of Health wants to scale up essential health services in a balanced manner. The Department’s risk and impact based approach is guiding the services to be reintroduced identifying those services which have low risk yet high impact (such as immunisation services). These services which had reduced significantly during the COVID pandemic, will have a significant long term impact for those clients who had missed immunisations, follow-up appointments and scheduled non-emergency treatment.
Please note that currently all preventative services are offered:
Women’s health (family planning, antenatal and post-natal care)
Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Town Clinic,Plettenberg Bay
Tel: 076 379 5423
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za
Media Release: Let’s talk more about the businesses we support
For Immediate Release 3 September 2020
COVID-19 has severely impacted businesses, including Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). It is for this reason that the Garden Route District Municipality has decided to launch a campaign in collaboration with Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism and the Garden Route Development Partnership to help these businesses to recover, remain open and to keep their current employees.
September is also Tourism month, with the focus on boosting tourism and rural development. These role players are critical and play a major role towards the development of rural communities through measures that could alleviate poverty, create jobs and stimulate the economy.
According to the GRDM Tourism Coordinator, Ms Amagene Koeberg, the impact of COVID-19 on the Tourism sector was devastating, causing most businesses not to operate for months. “This resulted in many communities to having no form of income, however communities can help get businesses back on track by promoting them amongst their friends and family on social media,” said Koeberg.
Call-to-Action
Garden Routers are therefore invited to participate in a campaign which seeks to boost the visibility of businesses on social media. This can be done by posting a positive review of a business you often support to your personal profile on social media. We recommend that people include photos/videos of the products or services rendered to make the post more appealing.
For the GRDM to be able to track the campaign success, hashtags of #gardenrouteandme and #myfavouritebusiness have to be used. Posts also need to be made public (shareable). If a person is not making use of social media, pictures or videos can be shared to communications@gardenroute.gov.za. The GRDM primarily uses Facebook and Twitter, but will monitor other social media platforms too.
What does this campaign offer to businesses
The primary benefit for a business is visibility. When Garden Routers promote a business by reviewing it and using the hashtags provided, posts are shared to social media pages of Local Government and Tourism offices. After this, possible re-shares, mentions and interactions might occur. Word-of-mouth is also at play here, because awareness is created about the existence of businesses that might not be known to everyone else. Also, the person sharing pictures and a word of support also means that a business might get some leads.
It is now more than ever before important for us to show businesses our support. Let’s all be committed to get the region back to work safely.
Download these free designs and share it to your social media profile(s) and page(s)!
Media Release: Proposed Long-Term lease to develop, manage and operate Kleinkrantz Resort
For Immediate Release 3 September 2020
Notice is hereby given in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act (No 56 of 2003), read with the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations (R878 of 2008), the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (No 3 of 2000) as well as the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (No 32 of 2000) that the Council of the Garden Route District Municipality in terms of Resolution H1 of the council meeting held on 25 August 2020 intends to enter into a long-term lease agreement (50 years) and an option to renew with Waterleaf Properties (Pty) Ltd to develop, manage and operate Kleinkrantz Resort. The lease agreement is the cornerstone of a key social-entrepreneurial venture which will have an immense socio-economic impact on the region. The lease will attract a multi-million rand investment into the local economy, boosting job creation and reducing unemployment, investment in relevant and quality skills development which increases employee earnings, an investment in green technology at the resort including solar energy which will be integrated with municipal infrastructure, thus bringing energy security to the resort and clients. The district will attract fiscal revenues from tourism and hospitality generated from the development.
The entire property (30ha) is proposed to be used for resort purposes. The George Municipality SDF states that Kleinkrantz is to be upgraded and formally developed sensitively in an ecologically sustainable way to minimise impact on its surrounds; minimise ongoing operational servicing costs; exploit economic opportunities primarily associated with the surrounding environment and heritage; and to discourage further growth of the settlement.
The developer recognises the sensitivities of the site and the need to conserve the natural environment as an asset to strengthen the social and economic environments. Therefore, prior to making any firm development or commencing any works, the developer acknowledged and agreed to undertake all required assessment and authorisation processes to determine the most appropriate form and spatial distribution of development.
Phased Development to the identified 5 areas
Phase 1
Conference Facility (Area 2)
The venue will offer a comprehensive array of services to clients, playing host to national, international conferences, events and tradeshows.
Luxury Villas (Area 4)
The height of luxury and refined living, these opulent 3-and-4 bedroom villas will offer the most generous indoor and outdoor living areas, giving potential buyers, short-term tenants a true sense of space, freedom and privacy while stimulating the Garden Route economy by creating jobs.
Roads and Infrastructure
Access Roads to the resort
The civil works and electrical
Fencing and security
Phase 2
Hotel, Spa, Shops and Restaurants (Area 2)
Garage, small shopping centre and take away (Area 1)
Hiking trails, biking trails, and conservation area (Area 3 & 5) with walkways, look-out points and an adventure hub hosting cycling/canoe/canopy/bike carrier rental
Beach access
The Applicant will also be responsible for all the costs involved. The property is, in terms of the provisions of section 14 of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) not required for the purposes of providing minimum basic municipal services.
Any comments and/or objections to the proposed long-term lease, with your reasons for such objection(s), must be submitted in writing and addressed to the Municipal Manager, Garden Route District Municipality, P O Box 12, George, 6530, by no later than Friday, 06 November 2020.
Any comments and/or objections which are received after the abovementioned closing date, may possibly not be taken into consideration. In terms of section 21(4) of the Systems Act, notice is hereby given that people who cannot write, may approach the Economic Development Department during office hours, where a member of staff will assist them in converting their comments or objections in writing. Any enquiries may be directed to Mr P Dongi, Planning & Economic Development, at telephone number (044) 801 1418 or email Lusanda@gardenroute.gov.za or Passmore@gardenroute.gov.za
Media Release: Innovative Re-Imagine Garden Route WebiShop video and presentations now accessible online
For Immediate Release 2 September 2020
A first ever WebiShop was hosted by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) in collaboration with the South Cape Economic Partnership (SCEP) and Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (WESGRO) on 12 August 2020. This WebiShop aimed to address several topics relevant to re-imagining the Garden Route in an innovative and creative way. It also provided a platform for representatives from various think tanks, based locally and internationally, to share how they do things differently in a streamlined way to enable a “next” normal. Presenters logged in from as far as the United Kingdom and Finland to share their ideas.
At the beginning of the WebiShop (attended by close to 100 people), Alderman Memory Booysen, Executive Mayor for GRDM, said: “I am in awe when looking at all the brainpower together today”.
“I would like to see all of us putting our ‘thinking caps’ on and come up with innovative ideas,” said Alderman Booysen.
The following themes/topics were discussed on 12 August 2020:
The place to be – Garden Route as a first choice;
Keeping it tight – the Circular Economy Model, concepts and examples;
Design it right – service design for the ‘new normal’;
Get Smart – solutions for a SMART region;
Funding for impact – Crowd Funding as an alternative to conventional funding;
The next normal – alternative business models;
Time to hold onto customers – practical steps to keeping your customers and attracting new ones;
Where to from here – next steps and way forward; and
Scenario planning concepts.
The themes and topics discussed provided a perfect baseline from which to begin with a process of re-imagining the Garden Route. The next phase would be to initiate sector-specific workshops. “These will consist of journey-mapping exercises led by three focus sectors namely Tourism, Agriculture, and Construction,” said Mr Paul Hoffman, Project Manager for SCEP. He added that a variety of sector-specific workshops and webinars, training opportunities, sector expert advisors, and business mentors will visit the Garden Route virtually and physically over the next few months to assist individual businesses. “We need to rebuild our economy, and these interventions form part of the Garden Route Recovery Plan that is in progress,” said Hoffman.
Towards the end of the four-and-a-half hour WebiShop, Mr Monde Stratu (Municipal Manager) reflected on the contents of the programme. He also said: “It is clear that COVID-19 has shown us that one sector is not going to be successful without another.” Stratu also stated that government is interested in building partnerships with the private sector. Proof of this commitment is the platforms the GRDM created to attract investment to the Garden Route – including the Garden Route Investment Conference, Green Energy Summit, to name but a few.
“In a month or two we will launch our Growth and Development Strategy for the region. This strategy will help the region to see what needs to be done to change the economic trajectory of the district. Coupled with this, the GRDM is finalising an investment prospectus. “We are trying to show people outside and inside our region what opportunities are available in the district, and that we are open for business,” said Stratu.
View the WebiShop online by browsing to this Youtube page.
