News

Please note: The Golf Course previously referred to as part of the project, has now been amended to a Game Estate concept.

To all interested and affected parties

NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION : EIA 3761
HIBBERDENE SPRAY ROCK AND WATERFRONT ASSOCIATION

The Hibberdene Marina project entailing the development of external breakwaters, a small craft marina and associated land developments which is to be located on the old airstrip next to the beach opposite the suburb of Woodgrange at Hibberdene within the Ugu District Municipality on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal has recently been authorized by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs.

Copies of the Record of Decision issued on 14 November 2003 may be obtained from either:
Mrs Ramdeen / Mr Ngubane, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X9059 Pietermaritzburg 3200. Tel 033 3559613/528 Fax 033 3559614
Or:
Mr Derrick Powell, Chairman : Hibberdene Spray Rock and Waterfront Association, P O Box 37, Hibberdene 4220. Tel/Fax 039 6992576 E-mail shambani@venturenet.co.za

An appeal against the authorization or condition/s of authorization may be lodged with the MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Mr D Makhaye, Private Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg 3200 on or before 14 December 2003 setting out all the facts as well as the grounds of appeal and including all relevant documents and certified copies in accordance with Section 35 of the Environment Conservation Act, Act 73 of 1989 and Section 11 of GN 1183 as published in Government Gazette 18261 of 5 September 1997.

Yours sincerely

Guy Nicolson (Pr.Sci.Nat. M.S.A.I.E. & E.S.)

GUY NICOLSON CONSULTING CC
(CC Reg No: CK 93/07200/23)
(Members: G & G H Nicolson)
6 Indwa Place Kloof Durban 3610 South Africa
Telephone/Facsimile: +27 (0) 31 764 2515
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 772 9941
Email: guyn@saol.com

To all interested and affected parties

EIA 3761: ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING REPORT ON THE PROPOSED YACHT BASIN MARINA AND ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENTS ON THE DISUSED AIRFIELD AT HIBBERDENE ON THE SOUTH COAST OF KWAZULU-NATAL

The Environmental Scoping Report for the above development has been produced by Guy Nicolson Consulting cc, and a copy will be available for public viewing in the Hibberdene Public Library from Thursday 8 May 2003. The report will also be available for viewing on this website from the said date. Please note that the correspondence received from interested and affected parties has not been placed on the website, but will be made available on request.

In terms of the EIA procedures, if they so wish, interested and affected parties may provide comment on the Environmental Scoping Report until 23 May 2003.

These comments will be acknowledged and passed on to the authorizing authority, the Department of Agriculture and Affairs for their consideration, and you will be informed of the subsequent EIA procedures that will be implemented in due course.

Yours sincerely

Guy Nicolson (Pr.Sci.Nat. M.S.A.I.E. & E.S.)

GUY NICOLSON CONSULTING CC
(CC Reg No: CK 93/07200/23)
(Members: G & G H Nicolson)
6 Indwa Place Kloof Durban 3610 South Africa
Telephone/Facsimile: +27 (0) 31 764 2515
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 772 9941
Email: guyn@saol.com

MARCH 2003

BECOME A PART OF IT NOW!

• Invest in your future •

The Hibberdene Harbour & Waterfront Project is set to change the face of our community ~ and with your commitment we can make it happen together. We want this wonderful Hibberdene development to be owned and managed using our own local talent and resources ~ help achieve that goal.

• Make an investment • Get involved •

Plans are well underway for the Hibberdene Harbour & Waterfront! The Environmental Impact Assessment study (EIA) is happening now so we can obtain the relevant permission to build the Harbour. Once the EIA is completed, the Business Plan will be done and investors sought to raise the R2 billion needed for the project. Our entire community is first in line to take up all the opportunities the Harbour & Waterfront will bring. The project will bring tourism and business to Hibberdene as nothing else can - and that means cash in hand for our whole community! You can make a difference now and stake your claim in the project! You can start by:
• Branding your business or trade as a Preferred Supplier to the Hibberdene Harbour & Waterfront Project.
• Submitting details about your service, trade or skill. Just email us your details!
• Helping to clean up our town to tell investors that we, as a community, are serious about the project, and want our own Harbour & Waterfront!

• Do it for yourself, your family & our community! •

For more information, speak to:
Derrick Powell (Chairman)
039 699 2576 or 072 369 1252
derrick@hibberdeneharbour.com
or
Hein Buekes (Project Manager)
039 699 2430 or 082 424 3972
hein@hibberdeneharbour.com
or
Sue Powell (Secretary)
039 699 2576
sue@hibberdeneharbour.com
or
Juanita Crawford (PR & Webmaster)
039 699 3395 or 082 557 9199
juanita@hibberdeneharbour.com

FEBRUARY 2003

PUBLIC MEETING OF 25 FEBRUARY 2003

The following is a transcript of the Chairman's speech given at the meeting in Hibberdene. The purpose of the meeting was to present an overview of the project with particular emphasis on the Environmental Impact Assessment study.

"Thank you all for coming - I am impressed to see how many are interested enough to come and listen and, hopefully, support us.

Our Credentials

A group of interested persons met on 13 May 2002 at Carousel and decided to facilitate and investigate the practicality and feasibility of the small harbour, so often talked about in Hibberdene.

We have decided to leave all past approaches behind us and present an entirely new case.

After some talking it was found that Messrs Snyman, Maingard and Powell are all happy to become involved and provide the land needed for expansion. Our properties all border on the project and the township boundary.

Having some knowledge of the conditions inland of us, we are all absolutely convinced that this project is needed to provide the district with a shot in the arm!

Accordingly, a committee has formed, a Constitution adopted and credentials presented to the regional and local Councils; Ugu and Hibiscus.

At the end of May 2002, Hibiscus Council advertised and called for Development Proposals for the Hibiscus Coast and in particular, for Hibberdene; for a small craft harbour, commercial and residential developments.

We duly met the deadline and handed in our proposals. From there we were asked to give a presentation of our plans to the Hibiscus Economic Development and Planning committee on Monday 19th August 2002. There were no other submissions for the Hibberdene proposal.

On 3rd October 2002 we were notified by Hibiscus Municipal Manager, Mr Snyman, that the Executive Committee of Hibiscus Coast Municipality expressed their support for the proposal by the Waterfront Association.

On 28th June, we had a meeting with the Mayor of Ugu, Mr Khawula and the General Manager, Mr Kamal Bhimma. As a result of this, and other presentations to Ugu, we were officially granted in October 2002, R150,000 to pay for hydrological studies and the Environmental Impact studies.

Accordingly, we approached Mr Guy Nicholson, and after accepting his credentials, made a firm appointment on 29th November 2002. You must note that it took 7 months just to get to this stage.

Motivation

A safe harbour has long been spoken of as a necessity on our Coast, and recognising that a major project of cataclysmic size was necessary to reverse a slow slide into deeper poverty and disrepair, this project fell into place.

Together with the harbour as part of Phase 1, will be the development of a hotel and conference centre with stunning sea views and the construction of possibly 30 eco-friendly housing units on farm Lucas.

Phase 2 will be the development of an 18 hole golf course and housing estate in the Umzimai valley. The golf course becomes necessary to offer the visitors a complete package of things to do within the area.

Phase 3 will focus on the Umzumbe River valley and flood plain with holiday accommodation around a large inland marina.

Please remember that these are only plans; perhaps the needs will change as the project develops.

We also intend to interact with the Umzumbe Municipality and facilitate an area for the construction of an authentic cultural village.

The projects are all close together and we can blend all the developments with bicycle tracks, or horse rides or walks through the natural areas which many of you don't ever see.

The community has to become involved where security is concerned and we need to join with the people of the inland areas who have historical sites and stunning views to show us all. There are so many possibilities, you all need to get excited!

The Vision

The vision is to develop a first class tourist facility which will become an environmental model as, with careful planning, we can maximise the attractions and indigenous beauty of an unspoilt coastline whilst providing access to many non-consumptive tourist related projects.

Think of whale watching, sardine season, swimming, driving and soaking up the sun. Do you realise what natural attractions we have that those in the rest of the world would love to share?

We wish to provide as a core of the project, local social upliftment via job opportunities and guiding money into local projects :-

• SANTA - It has a ward with 200 beds standing empty because of the lack of funds.
• The Nyangwini Agricultural College needs support.
• We want a training centre so that we can train the artisans who will be needed for building and other jobs on the construction and commercial side of the development.
• Local schools, clinics and home-based care projects for those living with AIDS.

There is so much needing to be done right here on our doorstep. Do you know that our immediate neighbours have an unemployment level of 58%?

Without a major catalyst, how are we to deal with this? The North Coast is flying ahead; we need to catch up and change the perception of the South Coast as the Cinderella of KwaZulu-Natal.

Funding

We are investigating many options but all are dependent on a positive EIA. We do have a written offer, which we will consider, from a reputable company, to buy out the whole project - but we don't want to lose control and influence. All who have been invited to view the project have all expressed positive thoughts and are all waiting for the results of this EIA.

Database

We are setting up a database where we ask those of you with skills to offer, or who need employment, to please leave your details at the desk and we will use these as soon as we can.

Thanks

This is the first chance I have had to publicly give thanks to a number of locals who give us much support.

We started meetings at Carousel and Danie provided a conference room and refreshments. Thanks to Danie.

We thank George Afonso for allowing us to use the doctor's rooms as an office and Wynand for his continuing help.

Hennie of OK Grocers has also provided eats and refreshements for a few meetings and we thank him.

The members of Hibberdene Business Forum have similarly all been supportive and helpful and we hope, as this develops, that we will work together even more.

I want to thank our Consultants Kwezi V3 Engineering for their immense support and point out that all work completed has been at risk for them. Graham has never once hesitated when I have asked for his help.

At the same time, Rikesh Maharaj from African Gabions has always offered his services and, being a local South Coast boy, is very keen to see this work.

I want to thank my Committee for their support and many hours they have already given to this. I know we won't stop here; there is much still to be completed.

Hein Beukes has carried a huge load in being the only one who can draw a straight line, and all these sketches and drawings to scale would have cost us a fortune if we'd had to pay a professional firm to do them. His help with the dives and photos from the helicopter are invaluable. Here too, we thank Mike Futter and Rod Norton for our flying trips.

I have noticed, and here I am speaking generally, that most of the objectors and detractors of this scheme are of similar middle age as myself, not necessarily the pensioners and certainly not the youth. One of the perennial problems on the South Coast has been that our children generally have had to go away to find lucrative jobs. Let us put something together for them, let us create opportunities for entrepreneurs, businessmen, tour guides, whatever; we can generate many opportunities - it's up to you to grasp them.

I have been reminded by Guy himself, that because something is good and viable doesn't necessarily mean it will happen - we have to work at it - we need the support of the whole community - we need you to carry us forward. At the same time, I thank Guy for his work and wish him well - we are all depending on you."

Derrick Powell
Chairman
Hibberdene Spray Rock and Waterfront Association

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