Old News
A total of 1137
objections were recently recorded. Thank you for make your voice heard in saving
shark bay from development.

We will be issuing further updates as matters
progress.

This website is playing a major role in stopping the developer
Ricardo Scappelini from developing Shark Bay, yet he is pushing on, against the
wishes of SANParks, Langebaan Rate Payers Association, West Coast Biosphere and
many others.

The Shark Bay site is within an agricultural/nature zone and
is a BUFFER ZONE between the urban edge of Langebaan and the West Coast National
Park. The site is currently fenced off by barbed wire and it is time to step up
the campaign against this man and his desires to destroy the pure beauty of
Shark Bay.

For over 20 years Langebaan residents and visitors to
Langebaan have successfully stopped the development of this land and we need to
continue to do so.

Our esteemed panel of experts have provided a solid
Technical Argument against this Scoping Report and we are blessed to have so
many professionals offering their services FREE OF CHARGE to help protect this
little piece of Eden.

Thank you!

OBJECT
NOW!

Welcome to the site for objecting to the proposed development of Oesterwal 292 - known to many people as Shark Bay or Klein Oesterwal. Recently the original Section 28 Application under the name of "Bahia Sardinia" which was sent back to the developers and were instructed to re-apply under Section 24 of NEMA (National Environmental Management Act) under their new name "Shark Bay!" 

Located in Langebaan on the doorstep of the West Coast National Park, in South Africa, this beautiful part of the lagoon plays host to 1000's of visitors each year seeking peace and tranquility in safe, warm water or beautiful flower meadows.

The Shark Bay site has a deep ongoing history of court cases, objections, planning applications and environmental issues.

The aim of this website is to provide comprehensive and non political views about the proposed destruction of one of South Africa's prime environmental areas.

The Save Shark Bay website has since the original application stayed away from discussing the person behind the scheme but lately the owner, Riccardo Scappelini, has been voicing his opinions openly and we now see no reason but to refer to the individual and no longer the "company."

Langebaan is currently confronted with a development proposal from Riccardo's Dormell Properties 391 (Pty) Ltd operating as Shark Bay for the development of in excess of 100 elite residential housing erven in the buffer zone to the south of Stompneusrots between the town and the West Coast National Park and on the south eastern shore of Langebaan Lagoon - a Ramsar site of international conservation significance. This land is currently reflected in the proposed local 2007 Zoning Scheme as agricultural land and in the 2004 Spatial Development Framework still current as buffer conservation land category 2. Prior similar proposals in respect of the same land on the part of earlier developers have been opposed and interdicted by Order of Court.

The NEW proposal has already met with significant opposition from residents, the West Coast National Park, West Coast Biosphere, the Langebaan Rate Payers Association and the National Parks Trust. With approximately 50% of the available erven in Langebaan town vacant, and a large tract of vacant and disused agricultural land within the urban edge within the centre of Langebaan, the development would mean the expansion southward of the urban edge into a sensitive area when other less environmentally and aesthetically sensitive options exist, most notably to the north and east of the town should the need arise.

Objectors maintain that the development would constitute a clear instance of unwarranted urban sprawl, thus flying in the face of the intent and letter of the Provincial Spatial Development Framework whose imperative amongst others is toward in-fill development in the interests of the conservation of the biosphere and of containing the resource costs of providing infrastructure and other services.

As things stand at present it appears that the rapid development of erven in Greater Langebaan has led to a situation where the construction of housing on existing vacant erven could result in a doubling of the functional population of the town – and that without setting out a single new erf. This would have severe implications, not least for the water resources in the area that lies on a semi-desert coastline which already is particularly vulnerable to the stresses of climate change.

The land has in the past been identified for possible incorporation in the West Coast National Park, thereby containing the southern extremity of the town to the north of the Stompneusrots mini-escarpment. Objectors are adamant that the EIA process currently underway should clearly interrogate the need for the development at all relative to other softer options consistent with sound environmental and physical planning and provide a clear and convincing motivation for its incorporation into the built environment rather than into the National Park where it would be accessible to all, and particularly to future generations. Exotic development on the West Coast is eroding the once unique character of this area and the sense of place of the south-eastern shore of Langebaan Lagoon is now directly under threat. When will the destruction of our unique South African heritage stop?

Of great concern must be the fact that development proposals are currently being entertained and adjudicated piecemeal for the Greater Langebaan area outside of the context of an Environmental Management Plan such as provided for in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

Over the next few days, weeks & months, this site will become the site for all things to do with this objectionable application.

Please take time to 1) REGISTER and 2) OBJECT to this terrible abuse of our natural land.

If you have any questions, please make a posting in the FORUM and we will endeavour to answer them for you.

Regards
The SaveSharkBay.org team