Louis Trichardt’s “Green Belt” area has once again been earmarked for development.

The past week, Seaton Thomson & Associates, a tourism development, conservation and environmental planning company from Gauteng, started distributing notices in town, urging residents to register as interested and affected parties with regard to the proposed development of a shopping centre on this piece of controversial land.

The process of registering as an affected party forms part of the developer’s application for environmental authorisation to develop a retail centre, hotel and offices on Erf 5147, Extension 9. The property in question is situated just west of the N1 and north of Stubbs Street, an area known as the town’s Green Belt.

According to Seaton Thomson & Associates’ notice, the development will comprise a shopping centre of approximately 35 000m², some 10 000m² of office space and a 60-room, 120-bed hotel. The development also includes the proposed construction of Musina Road, linking the N1 and River Street.

Nowhere on the notice is it indicated who the developers are and it merely states that the “footprint of the various building envelopes will be more accurately verified in the Basic Assessment Report.”

Over the past decade or so, numerous attempts have been made to have this piece of controversial land developed.

From an environmental point of view, the Green Belt area is seen as a sensitive water-catchment area, which is home to indigenous fauna and flora, including the clawless otter, bushbuck, red duiker, banded mongoose, rare bird species and more than 300 indigenous tree species. On the flipside of the coin, there are those who see the area as nothing more than a haven for criminals, who are not only hiding but literally living in the bushes.

As far back as 1998, the municipality had to abandon its plans to develop the area, due to severe criticism from the public. In 2002, the Green Belt area was once again in the news when it was proposed that the area be rezoned into business stands. Residents were shocked in 2005 to hear that the Makhado Municipality had awarded a R15,3 million tender to Madanga-I-Tole Entertainment (Pty) Ltd for the purchase of a 53,5-hectare piece of the Green Belt area, also for the proposed development of a hotel, as well as an entertainment centre, eco-park and even a cable car. The then directors of the company were Messrs Aaron Funyufunu, Jerry Ndou, Shanti Dosa and Vino Ramjee. Madanga-T-Tole’s name later changed to Daybreak Properties 7.

Another public outcry followed, and in July 2007, the municipality resolved to call off the proposed development for the time being to seek legal advice.

Both Seaton Thomson & Associates and the Makhado Municipality were asked for comment with regard to the proposed development and who the developers are. In response, Mr Alter Dhooge of Seaton Thomson & Associates confirmed that the developer is still Daybreak Properties 7.

“The Environmental Impact Assessment process has been initiated and is in the public-registration phase. All other information will be provided in the environmental reports,” Dhooge stated. Municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi also responded by merely stating that the municipality chooses to refrain from commenting on the issue at this stage.

In the meantime, parties wishing to formally register their interest and/or to obtain more information must do so before September 8 by forwarding their contact details to Seaton Thomson & Associates via e-mail to [email protected], fax 012 667 2109 or post it to PO Box 936, Irene, 0062.