MCA Planners a consortium of development planners, engineers and environmental consultants were appointed after a rigorous process by the department.
The group has already started their mammoth investigation into the sustainability of golf courses and polo fields, specifically along the Garden Route.
Provincial Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Tasneem Essop announced her intention to launch an investigation into golf course developments and polo fields shortly after taking office in May.
Minister Essop made it clear that the Socio-economic impacts, planning consideration, environmental, cultural and heritage considerations, services, mitigating measures, international and South African best practice needed to be investigated.
Over recent years environmentalists, communities, many of them marginalised, and other interest groups have expressed alarm at the plethora of golf course developments along the world renowned Garden Route.
The MCA consortium is expected to produce a rapid review by November; this will be followed by draft policy guidelines at the end of March.
The rapid review is expected to include a status quo report, identifying existing impacts (positive and negative), issues, practice, existing policy, norms and standards.
They will also produce a map of existing golf courses and polo fields.Ashraf Adam, one of MCA's partner's said their consortium would be keeping an open mind during their investigation to ensure a balanced outcome.
Environmental consultants, Mega, Chand and DJ will work with engineering company, Arcus Gibb, and development consultants Bayete and MCA.
Speaking on behalf of the consortium Adam said they will look at the benefits in general, including job creation (and the kind of work created during and after the construction), the impact on the ecology and the significance to the economy.
For more information contact:
Lynnette Johns, Ministerial media liaison officer
Tel: 021 483 3915
Cell: 083 310 0113
e-mail: Lynette Johns
Director: Integrated Environmental Management
Tel: 021 483 4093
e-mail: Tony Barnes
