THYSPUNT - UP-DATE TO 15 SEPTEMBER

The EIA process continues, and the Thyspunt Alliance, of which the RA is a member, remains fully involved.

• Responses to the Second Draft Environmental Impact Report were submitted by the closing date on 8 August. Many issues remained unaddressed in the second draft. In addition to numerous responses on the specialist reports, expert submissions were prepared by Prof Richard Cowling, Prof Fred Ellery of Rhodes University (on the dune system, and its suitability for a major road system), a Transportation expert, Dr Mike Roberts, (an authority on tunneling, covering the cooling water inlet & outlet pipes), and John Roux(a roads consultant resident in St Francis Bay, on roads construction requirements). Plans are being made on how to respond when the Final Report is published.
• Concurrently with the response period, Sivest released its draft EIR on the "Nuclear Integration Project", alias transmission lines. The response period has been extended to Monday, 10 October, 2011. We are relieved to find that the proposal to take the southern corridor across the tidal portion of the Kromme, which appeared in earlier proposals, has been changed, and it is proposed that both corridors will cross the Kromme at the causeway on the Oyster Bay road, provided the EIA Team recommendation is followed. A copy of the report is available in the St Francis Bay library, open on three days per week from 0900 – 1200. It is also available on the web at www.sivest.co.za/Download.aspx. Scroll down to 9520 Eskom Thyspunt EIA.
• The position being adopted by the Alliance is that these transmission lines will have an intolerable visual impact on the whole region, and are yet another reason why the choice of the Thyspunt site is so inappropriate. Responses can be sent to Nicolene Venter (nicolenev@sivest.co.za)
• Towards the end of July, the Sand River bridge was washed away, providing an additional challenge to Eskom. If they wish to use the R330 as far as "The Dunes" for their heavy loads, the bridge will have to be up-graded to accommodate loads of 1000 tonnes. Should the road not be used for this purpose, a much cheaper & quicker solution will be possible.
• On 4 September,"50/50" broadcast a programme on Thyspunt. This covered the nature of the area, a public meeting held with Eskom and a discussion between Trudi Malan & Eskom representative Lennon. The programme was generally regarded as highly successful from the Alliance perspective. We are trying to obtain a DVD on it, which will be available via the RA office.
• Negotiations are being held with representatives from Bantamsklip and Koeberg with a view to co-operation, if necessary, in contesting the whole EIA process.
• The Alliance has already spent in excess of R100, 000 in legal and other fees. This is in preparation for a legal case, should it be necessary. More financial support will be required if this comes about.
• While there remain those who take the view that Thyspunt is a foregone conclusion, and opposing it is a waste of time, a significant proportion of the St Francis community takes the view that this is possibly the greatest challenge ever faced by St Francis Bay in its 50 year history; that there are still laws in this country, and that due process has to be followed. If it is followed correctly, there is a good chance of preventing Eskom from proceeding with Thyspunt.

Hilton Thorpe