Roads not toads: Endangered species at risk after go-ahead for road through Noordhoek wetland

Appeals against the first phase of a controversial new road link through part of the extensive Noordhoek wetland system on the Cape peninsula have been dismissed by Western Cape environment MEC Anton Bredell.

In his appeal decision, Bredell acknowledged that the wetland was still rated as of moderate-to-high conservation importance, but he quoted the finding of a specialist consultant that the impact of the new road on freshwater ecosystems would be acceptable if all the recommended mitigation measures and proposed rehabilitation were properly managed.

Bredell also dismissed the “numerous” allegations that objectors had levelled against the environmental practitioners who managed the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the project, notably Sadia Chand, whom appellants had alleged was biased and had a conflict of interest because of her directorship in road construction company Martin & East.

Chand is the founder-owner of Chand Environmental Consultants that managed the EIA, including the public participation process, on behalf of the City of Cape Town.

In his decision, Bredell said the City had described the objectors’ allegations against Chand as “unfounded”.

“Both Ms Chand and [her colleague Ingrid] Eggert have years of experience as environmental consultants and are fully aware that their independence as consultants is pivotal to their continued practice. The information gathered, conclusions drawn, and recommendations made [by them] are based on the available information,” he stated.

The 1.2km phase 1 extension of Houmoed Avenue, Sunnydale, involves extending an existing section of this road that runs along the eastern side of the wetlands – known as the Pick ‘n Pay Reedbed Wetlands – near the Longbeach and Sun Valley shopping malls, to link up with Lekkerwater Road to the south-west.

It was approved by Bredell’s department of local government, environmental affairs and development planning at the end of last year, but was appealed on behalf of 240 appellants by Simonstown-based environmental consultant Andre van der Spuy.

Phase 2 of the project involves a further extension of the new road link that will facilitate upgrading of both formal and informal housing in the densely populated township of Masiphumelele. This was approved in August, but that decision is still under appeal.

Bredell also stated in his phase one appeal decision that:

• his department had concluded that adequate mitigation measures could be applied to all identified impacts and cumulative impacts;


• the public participation process had complied with regulations;


• there had been “adequate regard” for the socio­economic and environmental benefits;


• the road corridor did not fall within a classified Critical Biodiversity Area on terrestrial or aquatic grounds, although the wetland was considered to be an ‘aquatic Critical Ecological Support Area’, and impacts could be mitigated to an acceptable level; and


• the potential impacts on the endangered Western Leopard Toad would be addressed through “engineered mitigation measures” such as “toad underpasses with associated drift fences”.