Business - Sakenuus

• Agrivillage sites studied
• Opname van wynbedryf
• Report on new estate
• Taste award winners

A NUMBER of sites are being investigated for the erection of an agrivillage of 600 houses in Groot Drakenstein by Boland District Municipality.

At a public open house at Simondium Primary School recently the three preferred sites indicated were Meerlust Bosbou, a site east of Wemmershoek Bosbou and a site at Drakenstein Prison near Safariland.

Arcus Gibb have been appointed to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to determine and assess the potential environmental impacts of the proposed sites.

In addition to the houses, the infrastrcture will include a sewage network, a possible water reservoir, stormwater drainage and a possible retention pond, roads, community hall, library, crèche, clinic, shops and a business area.

During a previous process initiative by the Winelands District Municipality the preferred development site was situated on 67ha of land on Meerlust Bosbou.

In April 2000, Arcus Gibb were appointed to undertake an environmental impact assessment of the proposed development.

In July 2000, a Final Scoping Report was submitted to the Department of Environmental and Cultural Affairs and Sport (DECAS) for their consideration.

DECAS approved the proposed development in Jnuary 2001 but in April 2002 a group of stakeholders lodged an application to the High Court against the proposed development.

The High Court ruled in favour of the applicants on the grounds that the process was flawed and the approval was dismissed.

Now the District Council has reinitiated the process.

All activities associated with the development of infrastructure will be investigated and assessed under the Environmental Conservation Act (Act 73 of 1989) and the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998).

The aim is to provide ample opportunity to all parties to exchange information and express their views and concerns and identify all the significant issues.

Potential sites will be assessed accordaing to a broad range of criteria, including the availability of the land, cost, services, physical characteristics, the visual impact on scenic routes, the environmental sensitivity of the site, the compatibility of the development with the surrounding landuses and potential impacts on the cultural environment.

The Draft Scoping Report will be finalised and submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) and the Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) for their consideration.

Once the relevant environmental authorities have reviewed the Scoping Report they can either disapprove the development, approve the development, with or without conditions, or request that the next phase, the Assessment Phase, be initiated.

All the significant issues identified in the Scoping Phase will be investigated and assessed during the Assessment Phase. 

The Assessment Phase will include specialist input, public consultation and the completion of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The findings of the specialist studies and the EIR will be made available for public comment.

Interested and affected parties may register with Kerry Agliotti of Arcus Gibb at PO Box 3965, Cape Town 8001, fax 424-5571 or email kagliotti@gibb.co.za. Enquiries on 469-9100.

'n OPNAME van die komplekse Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf word beplan, wat as hulpmiddel sal dien om prestasie teenoor mededingers te meet.

Dit is nie slegs direkte faktore soos die weer, siektes, koste van die invoer van saad en tegnologie en kwaliteitsbeheer waarmee rekening gehou moet word nie, maar ook met unieke Suid-Afrikaanse faktore soos tranformasie en Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging, globalisering, Vigs en die bekendstelling van internasionale rekeningkundige standaarde - dit alles in 'n toenemend mededingende omgewing.

Gevolglik sal wynplase, koöperasies en private landgoedere Deloitte se beplande "Wine Industry Benchmarking Survey" as 'n hulpmiddel nuttig vind om prestasie teenoor mededingers in die industrie te meet.

Volgens Michael van Wyk, vennoot van Deloitte Kaapstad, sal dié opname 'n belangrike bron van inligting word en dit het die verdere voordeel dat dit totaal onafhanklik en onpartydig is.

"Die opname is reeds suksesvol voltooi in Australië en in die VSA waar dit 'n gevestigde reputasie opgebou het onder produsente en bemarkers vir die verskaffing van tydige en gepaste industrie verwante inligting, wat hulle tot voordeel gebruik," het Van Wyk gesê.

Die opname het ook 'n verdere unieke kenmerk wat Deloitte glo verdere waarde sal toevoeg tot alle rolspelers in die industrie en dit is Deloitte se Global Wine Industry inisiatief wat toegang gee tot industrie-inligting vanuit Australië.

"Die internasionale komponent van die opname sal help om vir ons 'n idee te gee van waar ons staan in terme van internasionale kompetisie, spesifiek met verwysing na die Australiese wynbedryf," het Van Wyk gesê.

Deloitte is ook van mening dat dit 'n voordeel is wat nie misgekyk behoort te word deur wynmakers wat ernstig oor hulle internasionale kompeterendheid is nie.

"Ons meen daar is sekere dinge wat ons beter as die Amerikaners en Australiërs doen, maar ons het dit nog nie gekwantifiseer nie.

"Ons weet egter dat ons meer en meer internasionale wynproekompetisies wen, wat beteken dat die kwaliteit van ons wyne uitstekend is, maar weinig inligting is beskikbaar oor die kwaliteit van ons prosesse."

Deloitte gaan  dieopname tussen Junie en Desember onderneem en moedig alle rolspelers in die Suid-Afrikaanse bedryf aan om deel te neem.

"Deelname en toegang tot die resultate is gratis. Deelnemers sal 'n indruk kan kry van die huidige tendense in die bedryf. Alle inligting sal as uiters vertroulik hanteer word.

"Die idee is om kwaliteitinligting aan die wynbedryf deur te gee en om nou saam met deelnemers te werk om te verseker dat die inligting toepaslik is tot die hele SA industrie."

A DOCUMENT concerning the proposed development of an upmarket residential housing estate, a restaurant and guesthouse on the farm La Cotte in  Franschhoek has been completed.

A copy of the final submission document was submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and is available at the Franschhoek Library, for public information.

This document contains responses to the comments received from interested and affected parties, regarding the proposal.

An integrated estate, which includes a low density, upmarket residential component on a portion of the property, and vineyards with agricultural activities is planned.

It is proposed to restore and extend the historic farm buildings to accommodate the tourist complex comprising a guesthouse and restaurant.

Doug Jeffery is the environmental consultant undertaking the environmental assessment of the development by L Maingard.

THE results of the Michelangelo International Wine Awards will be announced on 21 August after a panel of international wine experts judged more than a thousand South African wines.

A wine tasting of these award winning wines will be presented in conjunction with the Cape Wine Academy to enable wine lovers to experience the wines which the international panel selected as South Africa's best.

The winning wines of the Michelangelo International Wine Awards will be available for tasting, as well as the winners of this year's Grand D'Or, gold and silver medals.

The Michelangelo International Wine Awards tasting will be presented in Cape Town on Friday 3 September (18:00 to 21:00) at the Conference room of the Breakwater Lodge, Portswood Road, V&A Waterfront.

The cost is R75 including a wine glass and unlimited tastings. Tickets are available at the door on the evening. For enquiries phone Lorraine Immelman-Steyn on 082-556-8679 or Michelle Grimbeeck on 887-9283.

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