Media Release: Oudtshoorn Local Municipality progress in clean-up, recycling initiatives by Garden Route District Municipality and Community involvement.

For Immediate Release
25  July 2023

The Oudtshoorn Municipality is pleased to report significant progress in the comprehensive clean-up of the Greater Oudtshoorn area, with numerous residents and schools actively participating in maintaining a cleaner town. Additionally, the Garden Route District Municipality has launched a Recycle Campaign Initiative in two schools, aiming to foster a cleaner and more sustainable environment for the entire community.

This recycling campaign initiative from Garden Route District Municipality aims to tackle the pressing issue of waste management and promote recycling practices in the region. The Oudtshoorn Municipality has partnered with two schools, De Villiers Primary School, and Protea High School, to implement the campaign. The involvement of these schools is pivotal as it represents an investment in our future leaders and demonstrates the significance of active youth participation in environmental conservation.

These two schools will spearhead the recycling drive in its immediate vicinity. The recycling launch raised awareness about the importance of recycling and demonstrated the processes involved. The school will establish recycling stations on its premises, encouraging students and their families to embrace sustainable waste management practices.

“The Clean-Up and Recycle Campaign is an embodiment of our commitment to the environment and the well-being of our community,” stated Ambrose Carelse, Municipal Environmental Officer, expressing the municipality’s enthusiasm for the project. “By involving our local schools, we are nurturing a culture of environmental consciousness from an early age. We believe that this project will inspire positive behavioural change and forge a cleaner, greener future for Oudtshoorn.”

During the cleanup and recycling event, Councillor Berry, Councillor of Ward 7, urged learners to be ambassadors for Cleaning and Greening, educating peers and friends by discouraging dumping in open spaces. She commended the community’s responsible use of open spaces for sports and expressed gratitude to the Garden Route Municipality and Cape Nature for their initiative and for using the municipality as a pilot to launch the recycling campaign.

“Local businesses, residents, and community leaders are encouraged to support the Clean-Up and Recycle Campaign by actively participating in the organized clean-up events and embracing recycling practices in their daily lives.”

These projects also form part of the MyTownMyProblem initiative, whereby it is crucial that all the residents young and old commit to their responsibility to look after the areas in which they live, work, and play with the help of the municipality. We want to encourage all residents to take pride in the areas where they reside in. Furthermore, the municipality would also like to encourage residents to report any illegal dumping activity within their areas.

Together, let us embrace this collective responsibility for the betterment of our environment. For further information or to get involved in the campaign, please contact Ambrose Carelse on 044 203 3982.

Students, teachers, and municipal officials will join forces to clean up litter and debris, restoring the beauty of the surrounding area and fostering a strong sense of civic pride.

Issued by Oudtshoorn Municipality Media & Communication Services on Monday, 24 July 2023.

Pictures of the different stakeholders who took part in the Clean-Up and Recycle Campaign.

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Garden Route DM rolls out multi-stakeholder anti-litter clean-up campaign regionally

21 July 2023

As part of the District Illegal Dumping Strategy, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Waste Management Unit this week started with a multi-stakeholder approach to clean hotspots from illegally dumped waste. The aim of the campaign is also to reduce pollution caused by the mismanagement of waste and educating communities on the importance of legal waste disposal. The campaign will continue until 28 July, whereafter it will be reviewed and rolled out throughout the region. All seven (7) municipal areas within the Garden Route district will be covered.

“Activities in each area include litter picking, road gutter cleaning, clearing of illegal dump sites, as well as education and awareness,” said Innocentia Sikweyiya District Waste Management Officer.

Some pictures taken at Ward 5 in Plettenberg Bay before and during the clean-up of a hotspot.

According to Sikweyiya the cleaning of a hotspot in Bitou on 19 July went as planned although work was interrupted by some rain. Our first clean-up session showcased that many community members are passionate about living in a clean and safe space. The focus will now shift to Oudtshoorn today, with Mossel Bay following suit. “Ward Councillors will also participate in the campaign in areas,” she said.

Partners of this campaign include the GRDM Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP), Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), and POLYCO along with each local municipality.

“My plea is really for us all to work together to create a cleaner, greener, and safer environment for generations to come.”

Feature image: The team who helped with the clean-up of Ward 5 in Plettenberg Bay.

ENDS

Garden Route DM and Standard Bank Sign Loan Agreement for Regional Landfill Construction

For Immediate Release
3 July 2023

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) signed a critical loan agreement with Standard Bank of South Africa for an amount of R278 249 907,00 today at its Council Chambers in George. This loan will be utilised for the construction of the GRDM regional waste management facility, which will initially serve the municipalities of Bitou, Knysna, George, and Mossel Bay.

According to Monde Stratu, GRDM Municipal Manager: “The funding will now enable the construction of the regional waste management facility, providing an essential waste management solution for the four participating municipalities.” “A site handover meeting was held with the Tefla Group (Pty) Ltd on 13 June 2023, which means the project is on track as planned.”

“Today is quite an exciting moment for us and I never thought it would happen in my tenure here at the GRDM. It was not an easy process to get to this point,” said Stratu.

In witnessing the event, Junaid Sonday, Standard Bank Provincial Head: Public Sector, said: “Standard Bank has an excellent track record in partnering with Local Government in the Garden Route.”

Sonday emphasised that Standard Bank’s support goes beyond mere profitability and is dedicated to prioritising what is good for the community, which is one of the reasons why Standard Bank granted GRDM the loan.

He also shared how impressed they were at Standard Bank with the previous Acting Chief Financial Officer, Thembani Loliwe’s comments during an engagement around credit risks. He said: “Thembani Loliwe was instrumental in adding value to credit risk committee discussions, swiftly identifying and addressing risk factors within the first few minutes after deliberations started”.

The publication of the Public Participation about the loan agreement was approved and concluded in December 2022. During the negotiations, Standard Bank requested that participating Municipalities provide council resolutions confirming their support and participation in the project. These resolutions were sourced from the participating Municipalities, namely Bitou, Knysna, George, and Mossel Bay Municipality. Furthermore, GRDM enters into section 33 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) agreements with participating municipalities.

The GRDM expresses its gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the loan agreement process, including Standard Bank and the participating Municipalities. Their cooperation and support have been instrumental in reaching this significant milestone.

The project timeline is as follows:

• Contractor on-site:  June 2023
• Completion of Phase 1: February 2024
• Estimated completion of project: March 2025

Related media releases:

• Media Release GRDM Regional Waste Management Facility construction to start before July 2023
• Media Release: Waste Management Licence for construction of the GRDM Regional Waste Management Facility extended with 10 years

Feature image caption: An exciting and historical moment for GRDM and Standard Bank shortly after a loan of R278 249 907,00 was signed. Pictured is Junaid Sonday, Standard Bank Provincial Head: Public Sector with Monde Stratu, GRDM Municipal Manager.

ENDS

Public Notice: Notice in terms of MFMA Section 116(3) for the Proposed Amendment of Existing Contract: Professional Services for the Establishment of the Regional Waste Management Facility – Open for Comments

Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 116 (3) (a) and (b) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) that it is the intention of the Garden Route District Municipality to amend the following existing contract:

Tender Number
GRDM/29/20-21

DESCRIPTION
Provision of Professional Services for the Design, Drafting of Tender Documentation and Contracts Supervision for New Regional Waste Management Facility and Associated Infrastructure to be Established for Garden Route District Municipality

SUPLLIER NAME
Zutari (PTY) Ltd.

AMENDMENT
As per Council Item F1 which served at the Special Council Meeting held on 9 June 2023. 

Notice is hereby further given in terms of Section 21 and 21A of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000) that the local community and affected parties are invited to submit comments or representations on the proposed amendment of the existing contract with Zutari (Pty) Ltd.

The reasons for the amendment and variation of the existing contract have been considered and accepted by the Municipal Council at its special Council meeting held on 09 June 2023 under item F1 of which a copy will be made available to all interested parties on request via the e-mail address indicated below.

Such comments or representations must be submitted by no later than 13 July 2023 at 12:00. Comments or representations must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly endorsed “COMMENTS ON NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OF EXISTING CONTRACT” and be physically submitted at the Garden Route District Municipality Reception located at 54 York Street, George.

No faxed or e-mailed comments will be considered.

For any information about the above, please contact Johan Gie via e-mail at johang@gardenroute.gov.za or at telephone number 044 693 0006.

Closing date: 13 July 2023 

MG Stratu
Municipal Manager
Notice number: 78/2023

View/download the Official Notice here.

Media Release: Waste Management Licence for construction of the GRDM Regional Waste Management Facility extended with 10 years

For immediate release
17 March 2023

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with regards to the process of establishing a Regional Waste Management Facility for the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) was completed during 2012.

Following the finalization of the EIA process, the GRDM was issued with an Environmental Authorisation by the Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning (DEA&DP) and a Waste Management Licence (WML) (no. 12/9/11/L1395/9). This was issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment (DFFE). The licence was issued to GRDM (Eden DM at the time) on 05 February 2014.

A condition of the WML is that the activity i.e., construction of the Regional Waste Management Facility, is to commence within a period of two (2) years from the date of issue of the WML. Due to the various delays in the establishment of the facility, including the inconclusive Public Private Partnership process that did not come to fruition largely because of the Covid-19 pandemic, GRDM had to apply to DFFE for an extension of the commencement date on a bi-annual basis.  The last approved extension of the commencement date was to expire on 24 May 2023, and another application for an extension of the commencement date was submitted on 07 December 2022.

The WML is only valid for a period of ten (10) years from the date of issue (05 February 2014); meaning the validity period of the WML was to expire on 05 February 2024. Therefore, together with the application for an extension of the commencement date, GRDM further applied for an extension of the validity period of the WML.

Approval of the commencement date was granted for a further two years, and an extension of the validity period of the WML was extended with ten (10) years. The extension was issued by the DFFE on 06 March 2023.

ENDS

Media Release: First phase of the Regional Waste Management Facility scheduled to conclude by 30 June 2023

For Immediate Release
22 June 2022

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) appointed Zutari (Pty) Ltd to design and draft tender documentation and contract supervision for the Garden Route Regional Waste Management facility and associated infrastructure on Farm 419 in Mossel Bay. The design drawings and report have already been submitted on 6 May 2022 to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for statutory approval.

COST OF THE NEW SITE

The final cost of the site can only be determined once the loan tender, construction tender and the operations & maintenance tender have been concluded.  The loan tender will require funding institutions to provide 10-, 15- and 20-year loan funding options.  The costs will include the construction of the landfill and associated infrastructure, the loan repayment and associated interest rates, operation costs including plant and equipment, rehabilitation costs etc.

WHAT WILL THE SITE INCLUDE?

The Regional Waste Management Facility will include a domestic waste cell (Class B) and a separate hazardous waste cell (Class A) to accommodate hazardous waste with low and medium hazard ratings. Other infrastructure includes roads, stormwater pipelines, a leachate storage dams, a stormwater dam for contaminated liquids, offices, a laboratory, weighbridges, a workshop, and security infrastructure. Provision has also been made to accommodate a waste tyre recycling facility by means of a 3-hectare portion of land for long-term lease to the Waste Bureau. The domestic waste Cell 1, as well as the hazardous waste cell, will both have a lifespan of approximately 20 – 25 years.

HOW FAR HAS THE PROJECT PROGRESSED?

An Environmental Impact Assessment was concluded in 2012 and GRDM received Environmental Authorisation.  A Waste Management Licence was issued by DFFE in 2014.  A section 78 investigation in terms of the Municipal Systems Act, concluded to provide the Regional Waste Management Services by means of a Public-Private Partnership.  A Private Partner was appointed to construct the facility and operate it for a period of ten years, however, withdrew from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) at the final stages of the process on 29 September 2020.

GRDM then concluded to no longer pursue the PPP process and opted to rather make use of loan funding to construct the facility and to outsource the operations and maintenance to a reputable service provider.

The Geotechnical and Geohydrological Investigations required to finalise the designs of the facility have been concluded and the design drawings and design report have been finalised & submitted to DFFE on 06 May 2022 for approval which is required prior to commencement of construction.

The loan tender was advertised on 15 May 2022 and closed on 21 June 2022.  The construction tender specifications are being finalised & scheduled to be advertised in July 2022.  The operations & maintenance tender will also run concurrently to the construction tender process.

Phase 1 of the construction of the facility is currently scheduled to be concluded by 30 June 2023, at which time waste disposal can commence.

ENDS

Garden Route Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference – 12 August 2021 from 09:00 till 17:00

Presentations and panel discussions on the state of the Waste and Biomass situation in the Garden Route and possible opportunities for Waste and Biomass beneficiation and minimisation solutions.

Despite the Covid-19 economic implications and other issues, there is a huge interest to develop waste and biomass beneficiation solutions that can benefit not only our region, but also be part of a new drive to go green with a selection of technologies, using both alien invasive plants (AIPs) and general waste as a resource.

Interest was expressed to use AIPs and other waste to either manufacture syngas or ethanol, produce Black Pellets or biochar for agricultural use, generate energy (electricity) for local use and becoming less dependent on Eskom, or many other applications.

The Garden Route District Municipality, the Western Cape Government, the Garden Route Development Partnership and the Climate Neutral Group have partnered to present the Waste and Biomass Beneficiation Conference in August. We are privileged to confirm the services of more than 20 presenters and experts across a wide variety of topics to assist you – as a technology and solution provider – with
access to all the important facts and numbers you will need to build a true business development project that is based on tangible collaboration opportunities in a Waste Beneficiation Cluster or precinct.

THE FOLLOWING BROAD TOPICS WILL BE COVERED:

• The Waste and Biomass situation in the Garden Route and Western Cape
• Completing the value chain — keeping the Cluster sustainable and looking after the environment
• Logistics and infrastructure
• Turning Waste and Biomass into Value
• Finance and Development options

Join us to minimise waste and maximise value –

Biomass Expo 2021 – Invite

Presenter Biographies -Waste and Biomass Conference 12 Aug 2021

Programme Waste and Biomass Conference 12 Aug 2021