[ Home ]
[ Speeches & statements ]
Statement on A1 Grand Prix record of decision
12 December 2007
Following a thorough consultative process between the interested and affected parties and the applicant on the proposed A1 Grand Prix, the Head of Department for the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Advocate M Mannya today, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, granted authorisation for the hosting of this major event.
The Head of Department stated that a holistic view was taken in reaching his decision. The need for economic growth together with the possible social and environmental impacts was taken into consideration. He has insisted that an approved Environmental Management Plan must be in place prior to the commencement of any activity. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) will cover areas such as a noise management plan, a pedestrian plan, a communications plan and a traffic management plan.
Special precautions must also be taken in order to ensure that the dune vegetation is not interfered with during the commissioning, operation or the decommissioning phase. Apart from the EMP, he has also placed stringent conditions relating to the storage and handling of dangerous and hazardous substances. The Environmental Authorisation goes further and makes provision for a shuttle service for affected residents as well as provision to accommodate frail and vulnerable persons who may not be able to tolerate the noise during the main events.
In order to ensure compliance with the conditions of the Environmental Authorisation, Advocate Mannya has instructed the organisers of the A1 Grand Prix to submit weekly construction environmental audit reports to the department. Given the scale of this event, the department has also set up a management team to guide and monitor the various aspects of the event.
For enquiries please contact:
Haroon Karodia
Tel: 033 355 9624
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
12 December 2007
Source: SAPA