Fight for the Ash River - hydro plant will destroy rapids

Monday, 10 October 2011 08:30

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Hi Paddlers.

It is time for all of us to step up to the plate! The Ash is going to disappear. I sill send a next mail with a concept drawing of what we have proposed to NuPlanet and they simply ignored it.  

The reason for this mail is to ask if you guys can please help us. A company, NuPlanet, are about to construct their 4th Hydro Power Plant on the Ash River right where all the rafting and canoeing takes place. They have already driven us off an beautiful rapid in 2007 because we were ignorant of what they were doing. If they now build this power station all river activities and tourism in the area will simply end and the environment destroyed. Many people will lose their jobs and a jewel will be lost forever. We are not at all against the construction of the power station. What we are fighting for is that as part of the development they build a canal adjacent to it so that the river is not lost forever. http://www.vimeo.com/28667887

NuPlanet’s total investment on the Ash is around R 1 Billion (R 250 Million per power station) and they have a IRR of around 20%. We have seen nothing been given back to the community. All we want is for the Ash River not to be destroyed by building a side canal. I have numerous times asked them to include us but they have just ignored it. So now we have decided we will fight this tooth and nail. Tomorrow morning at 10am we are protesting outside the Bethlehem library where the Environmental company doing the EIA for NuPlanet are having a meeting. Our “Save the Ash” group consisting of Rafting companies, tourism, the Bawaria, the Dihlabeng Slalom Club and others will be protesting.

Please try and come down to the protest

Thanks very much,
Cam

--
Dr Cameron McIntosh

30 Main Road
Walmer
Port Elizabeth
6001
South Africa

Mobile: +27 82 879 6762
Fax: 086 655 1130



On 10/10/11 5:49 AM, "philip claassens" <phil247@hotmail.com> wrote:

Howzit.  Please take note of the message below.  The white water tangent represents the kayakers (users).  Read the EI report and comment on the tangent.


Thanks,
Philip


Dear Sir

NuPlanet intends developing and operating a mini hydropower scheme utilizing water from the Ash River in the vicinity of Bethlehem and Clarens.  A hydropower scheme producing a 4,2 MW will be located at the Farm Boston 40 near Bethlehem in the Free State Province (12/12/20/1954).

As part of the environmental assessment and public participation process for the above mentioned project, you are invited to review the Environmental Impact Report.  The report will be available for your appraisal until  Monday, 7 November 2011 at the following public places:

·        Bethlehem Public Library, and

·        Aurecon website (http://aurecon.webfoundryza.com/ Navigate to the Boston Hydro project)


A closed focus group meeting will be held for al register I&APs which you are welcome to attend.  The particulars for the meeting are as follows:

Date:     Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Time:    10:00
Place:    Bethlehem Public Library (c/o Boshoff and Cambridge streets)

Please RSVP on or before 6 October 2011

Kindest Regards,

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