Uilkraals Situation Assessment - Anchor Environmental

In terms of ICMA, all land within one kilometre of the high water mark zoned for agricultural orundetermined use and not part of a lawfully established township at the time at which the Actcame into force, and all other land within 100 metres of the high‐water mark will beincorporated within a “coastal protection zone” (s.16). The purpose of coastal protection zoneis to protect ecological integrity, natural character and the economic, social and aesthetic valueof the land and sea below the high water mark and to maintain the natural functioning of thelittoral active zone (s.17). Authorisation for construction of any structures within this zonemay only be issued in terms of the NEMA EIA regulations provided the structure in question isinconsistent with the purpose for which the coastal protection zone was established, is likely tocause irreversible or long‐lasting adverse effects to any aspect of the coastal environment thatcannot satisfactorily be mitigated nor is likely to be significantly damaged or prejudiced bydynamic coastal processes. Provincial MEC’s are required to establish or coastal set‐back linesso to protect the coastal public property, private property and public safety; protect thecoastal protection zone; preserve the aesthetic values of the coastal zone; or for any otherpurpose consistent with the objectives of ICMA. The building, erection, alteration or extensionof structures will be prohibited seaward of the coastal set back line.All municipalities in the country are required to facilitate public access to the seashore throughthe designation of coastal access land.Certain sections of the coast may be designated as “special management areas” in terms ofthe Act for the purpose of conserving, protecting or enhancing coastal ecosystems andbiodiversity in the area and for facilitating the management of coastal resources by a localcommunity.The Act requires that all estuaries in the country be managed in a co‐ordinated and efficientmanner and in accordance with a national estuarine management protocol.Minister and provincial MECs are also empowered to remove any structure on or within thecoastal zone deemed to be having an adverse effect on the coastal environment by virtue of itsexistence or because it has been erected, constructed or upgraded in contravention of this Actor any other law.The national government (DEAT), all coastal provinces and coastal municipalities are also allrequired to prepare coastal management programmes for managing the coastal zone withintheir areas of jurisdiction. These coastal management programmes are required to set out avision, objectives, priorities and strategies for achieving objectives, norms and standard formanagement of the coastal zone, and a framework for co‐operative governance that identifiesthe responsibilities of different organs of state in respect of the management of the coast.Coastal management programmes are required to be consistent with other planningdocuments (e.g. IDP and SDF documents) and vice versa. Coastal municipalities are alsoempowered to pass bylaws in terms of the Act for the purpose of administrating and enforcingtheir coastal management programmes.Agricultural activities in and around the Uilkraals Estuary, include livestock grazing, fruitfarming, viticulture and wild flower farming and are all subject to the Conservation ofAgricultural Resources Act (1983) which gives the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry andFisheries the power to prescribe control measures to achieve the objectives of the Act (viz. themaintenance of the production potential of land, by the combating and prevention of erosionUilkraals Estuary Situation Assessment50Anchor Environmental