Elephant Coast Domestic tourism and beach access

ARBU seeks your mandate to tackle 4×4 ban issues

The ARBU requires a mandate from the public to take up the problems and issues associated with the 4×4 ban.

4×4 ban and tourism

The proposed new legislation found here is grounds for us as the ARBU (Association of Recreational Beach Users) to take up the issue afresh.

In the past we failed miserably even with the support of T-KZN which was ignored at central government level due to mining policies.

This time around we will be a little better prepared, but only if we can get your help or at least your moral support.

The ARBU has a few different social media profiles in place which are there to funnel visitors to our web pages at http://arbu.info4u.co.za

When we as the management of ARBU stand up at meetings we would like to say that we have a very large support base. To be able to do this the support base must be active, functional and accessible. The ARBU has a social marketing page at http://social.me/arbu which has links to all our social media profiles.

We thus ask that you visit our social media pages and help us by making use of these platforms and

1. like
2. share
3. tweet
4. circle
5. promote
6. or otherwise interact with our SMP’s (Social Media Profiles)

Your help in informing others of our plight and current lack of public interaction would be appreciated, so please get active and let others know of our situation.

We are busy with a membership drive and would like to include as many members as possible. Membership is free, and you will receive our regular (weekly) info update with links to all our posts and online efforts. You will be able to unsubscribe at any time, by following the instructions at the bottom of every news letter.

our social media profiles

Objection to proposed amendments to the 4×4 ban

forwarded copy of mail sent to Jpeter@environment.gov.za in terms of Notice 150 of 2013 as published in the Government Gazette No. 36183 of 1 MARCH 2013

PLEASE HELP US GET THIS INFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

http://social.me/arbu – our social media profiles all in one place, choose the one that suits your needs and communicate with us….

QUOTE  (Sent mail) <<<<<<

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Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:04:52 +0200
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Message-ID: <CAKaEUSq6Hy9nu0rr1JepMi6ACJOS=eSbseWe1yEnq6L-HzLHQg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Objection Notice 150 of 3013 -
From: Frank Gainsford <admin@info4u.co.za>
To: Jpeter <Jpeter@environment.gov.za>, Frans van der Walt <frans@qs2000plus.co.za>
Cc: Petrus Viviers <petrus@forafrica.co.za>, pretpeppie <pretpeppie@vodamail.co.za>, 
	coastwatch@ceasy.co.za
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Attention Mr. Ryan Peters

All other recipients FYI (also please forward to whom ever you think
may have an interest in these matters, especially if you feel they may
support the |ARBU in our attempts to gain reasonable recreational
access to the Elephant Coast beaches)

Please reply soonest with acknowledgement of Receipt.

If you are not the person appointed to deal with objections to Notice
150 of 2013 in terms of the proposed legislation to close all beaches
to reasonable motor vehicle access please advise who is, as your email
address was listed as the official point of complaint - objection.

Your Notice No 150 of 2013 as published in the Government gazette No.
36183 dated  1 MARCH 2013 is a direct attempt at government to destroy
the  local tourism associated with recreational beach use, and we as
the Association of Recreational Beach Users (ARBU)  hereby object to
this legislation in the strongest terms possible.

The ARBU (Association of recreational Beach Users) will be doing all
within our power to gather the support of the people on the ground and
use all the tools at our disposal to enure that this legislation is
re-written and that it makes provision for recreational beach access
as the original document way back in 2001 had. You may visit our
social media promotional page at http://social.me/arbu where you will
links to our various social media profiles and web site
http://arbu.info4u.co.za

We will also enure that the gross economic losses associated with this
legislation are dealt with according to the ICMA (Integrated Coastal
Management Act) , the NEMA (National Environmental Management Act),
The WHCA (World Heritage convention Act) and the MSA (Municipal
Systems act) as well as other relevant legislation which is in place
to ensure that the environment is used to create sustainable
Eco-friendly jobs along our coast line.

We will also do all in our power to ensure that those who pursued this
legislation which violates our collective economic rights in terms of
section 24 of the South African constitution are prosecuted for their
part in this very corrupt legislation which in our view is in place to
ensure that the mining of the Elephant Coast sand dunes takes place.
Proof of this is that the legislation makes provision for mining
vehicles to access our beaches, but makes ZERO provision for
recreational beach use in any shape manner or form.

Attached bellow find some correspondence from our supporters. There
are many more people who feel the same way, and the ARBU (Association
of Recreational Beach Users) will be gathering their support, and
channeling their collective anger and frustrations to enure a larger
support base, which will be used to tackle this legislation at local
political level.

The people on the ground are also frustrated and upset that their
situation is not addressed, and that the issue (Read 4x4 ban) which
caused so many job losses, within the Elephant Coast local tourism
industry, is treated so lightly and flippantly by government.  In 2004
KZN tourism issued an objection to similar legislation which was also
just shrugged off by government. Read that objection here
http://www.zulu.org.za/userfiles/1/file/ForIvestorandResearcher/Research/Occ%20Papers%20PDFs/Occ%20paper%2020%20Legislation%20on%20the%20Use%20of%204X4%27s%20on%20Beaches%20.pdf

The ARBU (Association Of Recreational Users) will be guided by public
opinion and the current trend is that this legislation needs to be
re-written to include recreational vehicle access to our beaches, or
else we must go for broke and ensure that this legislation is
completely over-turned.

This is how ever not the first choice, as we realise that the
environment needs protection, and that a sustainable plan must be in
place to ensure that our remote coast line does not become like Cape
Town and Durban with hard surface development right into the ocean.

It thus follows that the legislation needs some serious work, and that
the government needs to take the people on the ground into account.
The economic impacts of this legislation for the Elephant Coast  is
huge. in the --  BILLIONS OF RANDS

The minister has in the past claimed to have done economic studies,
and we advise you to verify that these studies were legitimate and
took into account the huge number of job losses as mentioned in KZN
Tourism Occasional paper 20 as well as the true economic value of the
coastal zones of the Elephant coast as a tourism draw card.

It would further be appreciated if your could arrange for the
minister, or a delegate of the minister,  to come to Mtubatuba and
discuss these losses at the Mtubatuba local municipality Integrated
Development Plan Public Representatives Forum  (IDP PRF) so that the
Mtubatuba local municipality could make suitable plans as part of
their IDP (Integrated Development Plan) to assist those made indigent
by the related legislation which this new draft desires to perpetuate.

Looking forward to working with you to have this legislation amended
so as to include provisions for recreational use areas with reasonable
motor vehicle access, so that the local economy of the Elephant Coast
may prosper as it once did.

Regards Frank

Frank Gainsford
072 505 5111
arbu@info4u.co.za
www.arbu.info4u.co.za

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "pretpeppie@vodamail.co.za" <pretpeppie@vodamail.co.za>
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:24:33 +0200
Subject: Fw: Re: Emailing: St. Lucia 4x4-on-beach
To: frank@info4u.co.za

From: Louis Fourie
Date: 3/15/2013 11:47:38 PM
To: pretpeppie@vodamail.co.za
Cc: Nelius.Smith
Subject: Re: Emailing: St. Lucia 4x4-on-beach

WHO CAN HELP LOCAL TOURISM  AND THE LOCAL POPULATION IN AND AROUND THE
iSIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK?

St Lucia, Sodwana, Kosi bay South Africa are fishing villages. Most
residents live there because they could make a living from fishing or the
more wealthy live  there because they could drive on the beach to fish or
relax. That is the main recreational activity for locals.

Without consultation vehicles were banned from the beach eleven years ago.
The poor locals since suffer tremendously. Many of the more wealthy locals
relocated. We were promised many hotels and thousands of job oppertunities
but eleven years later nothing has happened and the mayority of locals are
poorer than ever and are suffering more than ever before. They are not
allowed to hunt or catch prawns and are shot dead when caught. They have  to
rob tourists to survive. It is dangerous for any tourist to visit Kosi bay
or Sodwana bay because you will be robbed. Crime is increasing in St Lucia
quickly. The poor locals have no other income or jobs. They are forced to
steal to survive.

The authority is backed and sponsored by the government and Unesco. Under
the name of conservation we are all made to suffer.

Eleven years ago there used to be twenty charter boats and everyone made a
living. Today there are three and they are hardly make a living. The town
has'nt grown at all in size. Not one street has been added!  There was about
fifty small boats for hire by the public........TODAY THERE IS NONE!!!!!!

Total filling station closed. Standard bank closed. Restaurants open and
close regularly. I can go on and on.

Only a handfull of individuals enjoy the money the few overseas tourists
bring in. Hundred thousands of poor locals are exploited, promised a piece
of the cake but nothing. So called illegal houses of local entreprenieurs
were bulldozed and wrecked in the park by officials with fat, fat cheques in
their pockets. No wonder there is so much crime in the park.

And somewhere UNESCO said us locals should'nt be worse off after they
declared an area WORLD HERITAGE

We can see that the authority try to promote overseas Eco tourism but at the
cost of us locals and local tourism. A few days ago on national TV it was
said " The authority does'nt want the brandy brigade in their park and the
overseas tourists' footprint is not so big"  I've seen some senior park
officials as drunk as can be in public.

We asked the minister of conservation as well as the public protector for
help but to no avail. The organs of government are just too strong.

----- Original Message -----
From: pretpeppie@vodamail.co.za
To: Louis Fourie
Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 7:39 PM
Subject: Fw: Emailing: St. Lucia 4x4-on-beach

St Lucia.
Picture 1. The old days with the Estuary open to the sea and 4 x 4"s allow
to drive on the beach.
Photos 2 - 3 - 4 is with a person in the 4 x 4"s  with a disable permit. Feb
 2013

 Will it be possible to investigate matters regarding  rules and laws
applied to the the banning of driving and parking vehicles on the beach at
St Lucia.

------Original Message-------

Help !!!!

The country belongs to the people of South Africa and not to individual
people making rules and laws to suit them selves !!
It is our right as South African citizens to drive and park our 4 x 4"s  on
the beach. We stay in a democratic country, vote for a Government and pay
Taxes to keep the country going and on the world map.
We must be given a piece of beach for recreational purposes. Northern KZN,
St. Lucia.
The rest of the world are driving on their beaches  ( world heritage we
asked for in KZN ) except us in South Africa with 3000 km of beaches. What
is the reason for the 4 x 4 beach ban that was implemented by the government
 ( Mr. Moosa )
This law remind the RSA citizens of the apartheid regime !!
We want the president Mr. Zuma to do away with this unacceptable 4 x 4 beach
ban law.

M. Pretorius
RSA Citizen

Cc.UNESCO

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072 - 505 - 5111

Press Preview – presentation to Mtubatuba Municipality Council

ARBU – Association of Recreational Beach Users is a socio – economic development initiative within the tourism industry of the Elephant Coast for the 4U branded Group and Info4u CC is the prime sponsor of ARBU

The Mayor of Mtubatuba has considered an initial verbal presentation by ARBU (Association of Recreational beach users) of some of the issues around the closure of the coastal zones within Mtubatuba Municipality to reasonable motor vehicle access and the very negative impact on the local economy of Mtubatuba as well as the district wide losses associated with the absence of domestic tourists from the Elephant Coast tourism market caused b the 4×4 ban, and subsequently requested ARBU (Association of recreational Beach Users) to put a presentation together to form a local municipality coastal committee and arrange a meeting of ARBU management committee and the Mtubatuba Municipality council to discuss this further.

Question! : How do we mitigate the considerable losses associated with the 4×4 ban if we are not represented on any committee or forum where these issues are debated and major decisions are taken on behalf of the Mtubatuba rates payers as well as other people living within the Mtubatuba municipal area without our consent or even concern over the potential impact of these decisions on us as a community?

The integrated Coastal Management act makes provision for these issues and puts forward the notion that the economy and people must be considered in all environmental impact assessments especially those associated with coastal management.

In the Intro to the ICMA (Integrated Coastal management act) it states very clearly that “ ensuring that development and the use of natural resources within the coastal zone is socially and economically justifiable and ecologically sustainable “ is one of the many purposes of this act.

The following issues are highlighted in the pre-amble of the ICMA (integrated Coastal Management Act)

• • Constitutional rights (Section 24 of the South African constitution)
• • Integrated Coastal Management • sustainable development
• • Protection of environment
• • Biophysical, economic, social and institutional considerations
• • Rich natural heritage
• • Economic and social benefits
• • Conservation and sustainable use
• • A new co-operative approach to coastal management

The last sentence in the pre-amble of the ICMA (integrated Coastal Management Act) states that integrated coastal management should be an evolving process that learns from past experiences, that takes account of the functioning of the coastal zone as a whole and that seeks to co-ordinate and regulate the various human activities that take place in the coastal zone in order to achieve its conservation and sustainable use,

Section 48 in chapter 6 part 3 of the Integrated Coastal Management Act (ICMA) informs us that a coastal Municipality must, within 4 years of the adoption of the Integrated Coastal management Act (ICMA), adopt a Municipal coastal management plan. This plan must be reviewed every 5 years and may when necessary be changed or amended.

Section 49 of the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act) specifies the content and structure of a coastal management programme.

There are some special requirements that need dedicated and sincere efforts on our part (Mtubatuba Municipality and all residents) to ensure that our many local communities various needs are addressed. These considerations will include but are not limited to ensuring that our various interest groups and local communities social needs and environmental requirements are brought to the attention of

1. the national coastal management committee
2. the provincial coastal management committee
3. the IWPA coastal management committee
4. The Umkhanyakude district Municipality’s Coastal Management Committee
5. The Environmental Management committee established by the NEMA (National Environmental Management Act)
6. The minister of Environmental affairs
7. Other Ministers which have jurisdiction over any part of our local economy and / or social environment
8. Other forums and / or social structures that will assist the ARBU (Association of Recreational Beach Users) to achieve our purpose, aims and objectives.

This is vitally important for us as a municipality because history has shown us that these proposed and mandated structures and their predecessors have ignored our problems in the past, and treated us within the Umkhanyakude district Municipality, and Mtubatuba in particular like a bunch of grade 1 school children, ignoring all our pleadings about the lost economic opportunities and the many jobs shed within the local tourism industry due to the knock on effects of ROD A /25/8/7/3/2/4/ including the impacts of subsequent alterations to this said ROD which mandated the IWPA to enforce the so called 4×4 ban.

If The Mtubatuba Municipality does not have a Coastal Management Committee in place we have no chance of having our voice heard in the correct forums where our issues are discussed.

With no voice we will never be heard.

The following documents all discuss these issues and inform the reader of economic losses associated with ROD A /25/8/7/3/2/4/ and subsequent amendments.
1. Occasional paper 20 issued by KZN Tourism
2. SEED(Social, Environmental , Economic and Development) report
3. Tourism Report

As the Mtubatuba Town council is well aware, we (ARBU) have been trying to get the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) to discuss these issues and related reports which the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has been mandated to create on an annual basis at the Mtubatuba IDP PRF (Integrated Development Plan Public Representatives Forum).

This has not taken place due to political tactics and poor public participation procedures of the IWPA. The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) is a state entity established in terms of the world heritage convention act, and their mandate is to look after the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park World Heritage site, which has been renamed as iSimangaliso wetland Park.

The NEMA (National environmental Management Act) states in chapter 1 section 2 (2) that Environmental management must place people and their needs at the forefront of its concern, and serve their physical, psychological, developmental, cultural and social interests equitably.

The NEMA further states in section 2 (3) that development must be socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

History has shown us that the above 2 mandated points of view have not been put into practice and neither have they been considered by the Minister of environmental Affairs and his subordinates in terms of ROD A / 25 / 7 / 8 / 3 / 2 / 4 and its long term impact on the Mtubatuba local municipality’s economy and the serious economic losses within the Elephant Coast tourism industry.

It is thus imperative that the Mtubatuba Municipality establish a coastal management forum and a coastal management committee which will enable the Mtubatuba Municipality to fulfill it’s mandates in terms of
1 the ICMA (integrated Coastal Management Act),
2 the NEMA (National Environmental management Act)
3 the MSA (Municipal Systems Act)
4 the South African Constitution

This Coastal management committee and related forums will give the Mtubatuba Municipality’s residents a voice in the right forums, where our socio – economic issues can be highlighted and addressed in a manner that best suits all citizens of South Africa.

ARBU institutes procedings to establish a local municipal coastal committee

The Association of Recreational beach users has began the procedings to institute a local municipality coastal management committee as is required by the ICMA (Integrated CoastalManagement Act)

We have written a letter to the mayor of Mtubatuba Municipality requesting a meeting to discuss the setting up of this committee as soon as is practicaly possible so that we may proceed to establish the Mtubatuba local Municipality coastal management Committee.

If the Mtubatuba Municipalty does not have a Coastal management plan in place then one will be provided for us in which we will have no input or influence. If we have a committee in place the Act mandates

the Minister,

the MEC

The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority)

The national coastalanagement committee

the provincial coastal managemenyt committee

to consult with the local municipality coastal committee on any matters effecting their coastal management plan.

This will alow us as the Association of recreational beach users to have some influence in the matters affecting our members and the potential tourism impacts which any changes to the mtubatuba municipal coastal management plan which may be forecd upon us by the higher levels of the coastal management system envisaged by the ICMA

iSimangaliso Wetland Park snubs Mtubatuba IDP

The iSimangaliso wetland park Authority (IWPA) has snubbed the Mtubatuba Municipality IDP (Integrated Development Plan Process) and has neglected to send a representative to the Mtubatuba IDP PRF (Integrated Development Plan Public Representatives Forum)

This is a mandated process in terms of the Municipal systems act, and the ROD which effectively closed our beaches to motor vehicle access. The ARBU (Association of recreational beach users) is in the process of dealing with this politically at the Mtubatuba Municipalities IDP process.

We are convinced that this failure to show up at mandated process meetings is deliberate and that it needs to be challenged legally. We require your mandate to do this. check out our petition and consider giving us your morall support

iSimangaliso wetland Park IMP

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is busy with their IMP (integrated management Plan) review for 2009.

Part of this process is surposed to include meaningful public participation, and the open day held at Hluhluwe on Friday 23 January 2009 (23/01/09) was interesting, but does not qualify as meaningful public participation. This meaningful public participation is required according to the regulations associated with the world heritage act, act 49 of 1999, and the NEMA as well as other related legislation.

We arrived at the HluHluwe Protea Hotel expecting to attend a meeting but got a surprise as it was an open day with a show and tell team who were not as well rehearsed in all matters as they should have been. Unfortunately I got rather upset and lost the plot.

I was actualy so upset about some issues, and the lack of depth that the consultants showed that I began to shake. Fortunately I had some friends at this show, and they managed to calm me down, so that I could speak to some of the consultants and ask some questions which need to be addressed, without shouting and behaving like a lunatic.

The issue of tourism associated with the recreational beach users is not in their plan, and the fact that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) wish to extend the marine protected area, and apply new limitations on resource extraction methods needs to be evaluated properly to ensure that it does not have a huge negative impact on tourism, like the closure of the recreational use areas of the Elephant Coast did.

The studies done back in 2002 by the same consultants Acer Africa need to be revisited, and questions asked as to the wetlands Park Authority’s response to these reports, and their inclusion in the EIA (Environmntal Impact Assesment).

The IWPA IMP Consultants need to be invited to the Mtubatuba IDP and they need to describe and implement the methodology that will be used to integrate the Mtubatuba IDP and the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) IMP (integrated Management Plan) so that they (the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) may comply with the world heritage Act (Act 49 of 1999) in terms of chapter iv section 22 in its entireity.

The Association of recreational beach users will need to do a lot of negotiating and arrange a huge ammount of pressure on the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to ensure the law is followed, and that the economic losses associated with the absence of the recreational beach users from the Elephant Coast recreational use areas is considered.

The figures are huge, with at least 200 000 overnight visits to the park, and about 400 000 day visits being lost due to the closure of recreational use areas to motor vehicle access.

If you want to help us visit http://groups.google.com/group/arbu and register as a supporter. it is free and we will appreciate your moral support.

Help need at public meetings

The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) are busy with their IMP (Integrated Management Plan) and your presence at the public participation meetings will be included.

If you can be there please attend.

If you cant be there your self, perhaps you can convince a friend to be their. If we do not get enough people at these public meetings then our point of view will not be included in the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) IMP (Integrated Management Plan)

We need to get the 4×4 ban issue addressed at these public participation meetings. If there are not enough numbers at these meetings then our point will not b e taken seriously.

The Integrated Management Plan (IMP) is a tool that is used to develop and manage iSimangaliso. It is the framework for decision making over the next 5 years, and has been drafted in terms of the World Heritage Convention Act 1999 (Act No.49 of 1999) and National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act 57 of 2003). The IMP also meets the requirements of other legislation, such as the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act 18 of 1998).

The IMP sets out to integrate conservation, tourism development, and the local economic development of historically disadvantaged communities in and adjacent to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

The IMP provides the integrated management tools for iSimangaliso, including:

* Spatial planning measures, including zonation, activities plans and nodal frameworks, the intended proclamation of the entire coast off iSimangaliso a Marine Protected Area.
* A five year implementation programme.
* General planning measures and controls.

The IMP is available for your review and comment for the period from the 24 December 2008 until 18 February 2009. Holiday makers to the Park over the festive season will have an opportunity to review the Plan, making the IMP available for comment for an extended period of 8 weeks.

Hard and electronic copies of the Integrated Management Plan will be available at the venues below:

KWAZULU NATAL
Durban Central Public Library
Durban North Public Library
Mkuze – Ghost Mountain Inn
Hluhluwe Public Library
Jozini Public Library
Manguzi Public Library
Mbazwana Education Centre and Library
Mtubatuba Public Library
Mtunzini – ACER (Africa) Offices
Richards Bay Public Library
St Lucia Public Library

GAUTENG
Bryanston Public Library
Rosebank Public Library
Blackheath Public Library
Johannesburg Public Library
Pretoria Public Library

MPUMALANGA
Nelspruit Public Library

WESTERN CAPE
Cape Town Public Library

iSIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK
St Lucia Crocodile Centre
uMkhuze – Mantuma Reception
Sodwana Bay – Camp Reception
Kosi Bay – Camp Reception

The Draft IMP is also available on ACER Africa’s website: http://www.acerafrica.co.za under the “iSimangaliso IMP” link.

At the end of January 2009, Open Days will be held to provide an opportunity for the public to discuss the content of the IMP.

KWAZULU-NATAL
23 January 2009 – Protea Hotel Hluhluwe – 09h00 to 13h00
27 Janaury 2009 – Durban Botanical Gardens – 15h00 to 19h00

GAUTENG
28 January 2009 – Protea Hotel Midrand – 15h00 to 19h00

Comments can be submitted in one of the following ways:
By mail: ACER (Africa) Environmental Management Consultants
IMP Consultation Public Participation Office,
PO Box 503,
Mtunzini, 3867
By fax: 035 – 340 2232
By email: IMP@acerafrica.co.za

The comment period commences on Wednesday, 24 December 2008 and ends at the close of business on Wednesday, 18th February 2009. Please make sure that ACER has received your comments.

All those with an interest in iSimangaliso Wetland Park are encouraged to review the draft IMP, attend Open Days and/or submit written comment. Comments received will be considered in the finalisation of the IMP.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Public Participation Office.

iSIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK
DRAFT INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT PLAN – PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OFFICE DETAILS

Ms Bongi Shinga or June Mottram
ACER (Africa) Environmental Management Consultants
P O Box 503, Mtunzini, 3867
Tel: 035 340 2715
Fax: 035 340 2232
E-mail: IMP@acerafrica.co.za

REVIEW PERIOD: 24 December 2008 – 18 February 2009

For more information email roland@iSimangaliso.com

iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority plans missing ?

On Wednesday 3 December 2008 the Mtubatuba IDP (Integrated Development Plan) held a meeting of the Public Representatives Forum as part of their public participation process in the development of their IDP.

The subject of the IWPA iSimangaliso Wetland Park and integration of their IMP (Integrated Management Plan) came up, where the facilitator said that she had been trying for more than 6 years to acquire a copy of their IMP.

I have also personally been on the hunt for this plan, as I want to know what the IWPA is doing about the significant losses suffered when the recreational beach users along the Elephant Coast simply stopped coming to the Elephant Coast.

I am tired of being Mr. Nice Guy and so requested that the PRF (Public Representatives Forum) request that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) produce a copy of their Integrated Management Plan (IMP) or face the music.

The forum then took a resolution to request that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) produce their plan within 14 Days. This is a start, and we will keep up the pressure.

It must be remembered that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) is the Successor of GSLWPA (Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park Authority) and as such is liable for not implementing policies as per instructions of the world heritage Act clauses 21, 22, 23 and 24

IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) is the new name for GSLWPA (Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park Authority) and the name change was quite a serious affair, as this name change affects UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) which is the world body in control of world heritage sites and their marketing to the public.

Read more –