As a newer resident of Paarl, but not new to the winelands, I am deeply disturbed by the seeming lack of environmental concern shown by our municipality. With developments left right and centre, and then even in-between that.
A main reason for moving here was that I have witnessed the WC systematically developing and in the process many wetlands and other prime environmental areas, become concrete jungles. Paarl it seemed even better than Stellenbosch for all its heritage status that went down the same route, had, or so I thought, retained its sanity in preserving our conservation and environmental needs.
A recent Paarl Post article highlighted 31 developments approved in the last 10 years. It transpired these were not approved by the Drakenstein Municipality, but rather the province, owing to the Environmental Impact Assessment aspect. So Drakenstein’s only role was that of an interested party.
Well, perhaps they should have been dubbed the “Uninterested Party”, for it appears they did not even raise a single objection in any regard. Really, how is it that not a single EIA has deterred even one development, knowing prime wetlands and pristine eco systems would be destroyed. I find this terribly puzzling.
Look at the absolute devastation of the wetlands graded away in December in Paarl south near Panda store for a Business Park development. I literally watched the grader sweep a blue crane off the ground nest and all. It was breeding season and it is also our protected bird. A month later work on the wetlands started.
Well, regrowing the wetlands will probably just see it ripped away again, never mind killing endless species, damaging bacteria and enzymes, all vital to the needs of the eco system around us. And this is just because people cannot see the damage that destroying all these wetlands wreaks on the surrounding ecology. Every development causes damage to the ground life and eco systems which, while unseen, has a massive impact.
Shame on you, Drakenstein, for not taking proper and responsible action needed to look after your own area. What was the reason you stood back and allowed this to happen to our town? Maybe you need to go and re-look at the statement on your website, particularly under the banner ”Heritage”, which refers to the environmental conservation aspects of our area.
I do hope members of the public start realising that destroying farms and wetlands for development is destroying the very eco and ground life we need. No good having great buildings in an environment where we can’t breathe, nor can we eat money.
