The Western Cape government has approved the development of a multimillion-rand Dreamworld film studio complex.
This, after Western Cape environment MEC Tasneem Essop ruled against concerned environmentalists’ appeal that the development could harm a sensitive wetland.
”I believe that in making this decision we have found a win-win solution for all parties concerned,” Essop said on Wednesday, after ruling on the appeal by the Wildlife and Environmental Society of SA (Wessa) and CapeNature.
She said her decision reflected the Bill of Rights’ principles stressing conservation, and implementation of the ”sustainable development triple bottom line” which obliged decision-makers to consider economic development, social equity and environmental integrity.
It ensured that the wetland would be protected while 8 000 direct jobs were created and economic infrastructure provided in a previously neglected and poverty stricken node.
Dreamworld’s development of the land between Eerste Rivier and Khayelitsha was conditional on the implementation of mitigating measures including ”buffering”, the compilation of environmental management plans for the construction and operation phases, and the establishment of an environmental monitoring committee.
An additional condition was that an offset amount of R1,8-million go to a fund for conservation purposes such as the Working for Wetlands programmes, biodiversity management and other wetland conservation initiatives. – Sapa