Unpacking the Environmental Management Overlay Zones in Betty’s Bay: PROTECTED AREA BUFFER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OVERLAY ZONE (“PROTECTED AREA BUFFER EMOZ”): – Part 3
The segments in each newsletter that will be unpacking the environmental management overlay zones are merely an introduction to what the reader is able to find in the regulations available to him/her on the Overstrand Municipality website. Some useful extracts are shared to inform the reader of the available information but does not replace his/her responsibility as an active citizen to read more to understand these important regulations.
The purpose of the Protected Area Buffer EMOZ is to ‘protect the integrity of National, Provincial and Municipal Nature Reserves from negative external pressures/impacts while reducing pressure on core areas and to assist in preserving their value to the eco-cultural tourism economy of the Overstrand through alignment of appropriate land use and regulation.’
‘Negative impacts on the integrity of National, Provincial and Municipal Nature Reserves in the Overstrand can be minimized by:
(extracts)
– In the light of the serious threat that Invasive Alien Species presents to the environment and the risks it poses to the municipality, its ratepayers and to present and future generations, the municipality will promulgate overarching Regulations in this regard for the entire Overstrand area.
– The municipality may prioritise and facilitate areas of a Protected Area Buffer EMOZ for focused, priority Invasive Alien vegetation control programmes where necessary.
– The municipality may prioritise and facilitate areas for proactive and/or urgent Fire Control Management in collaboration with the landowners – where the fire risk to the natural environment as well as life and property are attaining extreme levels.
Limiting and/or prohibiting inappropriate land uses in the buffer zone of National, Provincial and /or Municipal Nature Reserves in the Overstrand:
– In deserving cases, where there is no NEMA requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) process and Environmental Management Plan (“EMP”), the Municipality may request additional information and/or an EMP for approval by the Municipality prior to granting its written consent and/or approving building plans or any development.
– The implementation of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) during the construction and decommissioning phases of the identified activities/uses is to be monitored and enforced by an Environmental Control Officer (“ECO”) and to be audited annually during the operational phase.
– Land use scheme and inappropriate land use of undeveloped properties in the buffer zone of National, Provincial and /or Municipal Nature Reserves to be investigated and where required additional constraints to be imposed on uses and inappropriate land use.
– The land use scheme of all developed properties within the buffer zones of National, Provincial and /or Municipal Nature Reserve to be investigated and reviewed and where required additional constraints to be imposed on uses and inappropriate land use.’
A list of prohibited activities within the Protected Area Buffer EMOZ can be found in Schedule A of the EMOZ regulations document; where activities with Council’s written consent are listed in Schedule B; and general regulations applicable to EMOZs are listed in Schedule C. Access this document below.
View the document HERE
View the Public Viewer ArcGIS for maps HERE