IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) and the UDMEMF (Umkhanyakude District Municipality Environmental Management Framework)

The many Projects that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) are busy with within the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) are very exciting and will lead to better enjoyment of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park by many. We appreciate these projects as they supply a constant employment stream for many of the Elephant Coast businesses and residents.

Problem is that these many projects are not integrated into the 5 local municipalities IDP's (Integrated Development Plans) and thus not properly reflected in the UDM IDP (Umkhanyakude District Municipality Integrated Development Plan) or EMF Environmental Management Framework)

Who to blame for this is a tough question, but it needs to be answered, and the responsible person needs to be taken to task and face a public disciplinary hearing. The person responsible for this terrible state of affairs that has caused many thousands within the Elephant Coast tourism region to loose their jobs, and many developers to have their developments torn down causing further economic losses needs to be removed from office.

The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) manage the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) on behalf of the world population, and are responsible to ensure that the world  public has access to relevant information about the IWP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) and how the IWP is being managed.

The UDM (Umkhanyakude district Municipality) is currently busy with an EMF (Environmental Management Framework) planning exercise, but this EMF (Environmental Management Framework) somehow excludes the IWPA's  (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority's) projects. Unfortunately the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) falls entirely within the UDM (Umkhanyakude district Municipalty) and the 5 local municipalities of

1. Umhlabuyalingana
2. Big 5 False Bay
3. Jozini
4. Hlabisa
5. Mtubatuba     linked info courtesy of www.mtuba4u.co.za   

Now the fact that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has not played their part in the 5 local municipalities IDP PRF (Integrated Development Plan Public Representatives Forum)  and failed to have their (IWPA - iSimangaliso  Wetland Park Authority) zoning maps and development projects included makes it very difficult for developers to know where they may develop, and what type of developments are suitable for which areas. this has lead to many developers losing their entire investments and a case in point is this one.

Once again who is responsible and who should be fired?

I am personally of the opinion that there are two (2) candidates 1) is the CEO of the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) and 2) The minister of Environmental Affairs  who was mandated to Appoint the CEO of the IWPA by the WHCA (World Heritage Convention Act) 

The UDM EMF (Umkhanyakude District Municipality Environmental Management Framework) will give us the tools to high light these issues and push for some action to be taken.

The EIA for the Sodwana bay Redevelopment project will give us another tool to tackle this issue, and if we are successful in bringing both actions to the attention of the public at the same time we may achieve a little more success.

what is the IWPA IMP PPP

Questions asked in parliament about the IWPA IMP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Integrated Management Plan) 

The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has not done their job as is mandated by

• the WHCA (world Heritage Convention Act)
• the 4x4 ban
• the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)
• the MSA (Municipal Systems Act)

Register as an Interested party for the PPP Public Participation Process here

the IWPA IMP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Integrated Management Plan) has not been integrated into / with  the 5 local municipalities with in the Umkhanyakude district Muncipality

• Jozini 
• Halbisa
• Umhlabuyalingana
• Big 5 False bay
• Mtubatuba
• 
  Register as an Interested party for the PPP Public Participation Process here
   

This is causing big problems for developers and the general tourism industry out side of the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) ij contravention to the WHCA (World heritage Convention Act)

This is all done so as to facilitate the mining of the area in the not so distant future. The current mining operation just South of Mapelane (Cape St. Lucia Light House) is  encroaching on the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) at a great rate of knots, and where will the mining operation go to next?

There is far too much invested in this open cast dune mining and associated factory to just pack up and leave. so what will happen next. This needs to be discussed in the IWPA IMP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Integrated Management Plan)and IWPA EMP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Environmental Management Plan) at the PPM )Public Participation Meetings) as is mandated in the various acts, laws and associated legislation.

Register as an Interested party for the PPP Public Participation Process here

Progress update - IWPA legal compliance ICMA

These matters are drawn out affairs where the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) and its allies are doing what ever they can to delay matters and frustrate the public into apathy. Their political games are quite effective and the public have indeed become totally apathetic and now no longer believe that they can do anything to improve the situation on the ground where poverty is so rife

The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) have as of the date of this writing not discussed the Economic Impact of the 4X4 BAN (ROD A25 / 7 / 8 / 3 /2 / 4 ) on the economy of the Elephant Coast nor has this been included in the IWPA submissions to the Mtubatuba Local Municipality's IDP (Integrated Development Plan)

My personal correspondence with Mr Gareth Morgan from the DA (Democratic Alliance) has evolved around the issues of the noncompliance of the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) with the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act) and  related legislation including but not limited to

a) the NEMA (National Environmental Management Act)
b) the MSA (Municipal Systems Act)
c) the 4x4 ban (ROD A25 / 7 / 8 / 3 /2 / 4 )

Gareth has given us some advice on who to approach, but the question is how?  Our previous approaches have all failed due to the angle of approach, and the political interest it attracted from the tree huggers and bunny lovers who generate an awful lot of emotional clutter that clouds the mind and prevents rational thoughts from being processed in any meaningful manner.

The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) have used this to their advantage, and have side stepped their mandated commitments with out any public objections . The IWPA (iSimanagliso Wetland Park Authority) have not held PPP (public Participation Process / procedure) meetings during the development stages of their mandated  IMP (Integrated Management Plan) or EMP (Environmental Management Plans) Neither the IWPA IMP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Integrated Management Plan) nor the IWPA EMP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Environmental Management Plan) have been integrated into the Mtubatuba Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan (LMIDP). The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) ZONING maps have never been discussed at the Mtubatuba LMIDP PRF (local municipality Integrated Development Plan Public Representatives Forum) and these zoning issues are not available to the public, causing developers many nightmares and great difficulties.

The incident reported here could have been avoided completely had the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) come clean and included their mandated IMP (Integrated Management Plan) and EMP (Environmental Management Plan) in the local municipalities IDP's (Integrated Development Plans).

Help us to ensure these matters are rectified, Register as an IAP (Interested and Affected Party) in the PPP (Public Participation Process) http://forafrica.co.za/forms/?p=128

iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority side step ICMA

The IWPA iSimangaliso wetland Park Authority are busy doing many things within the Elephant Coast Tourism region, some good, some not so good, and some blatantly bad for the local residents, many without following the proper procedures as defined in the acts, laws and regulations that govern their mandate as custodians of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage site.

The MSA (Municipal Systems Act) mandates all government departments and all   state appointed parties to participate in the local municipalities Integrated Development Plans where ever they are. The ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)  mandates all parties involved in coastal management to have ICMP (Integrated Coastal Management Plans) which are supposed to be Integrated with the Local Municipalities IDP (Integrated Development Plan)

The 4x4 BAN ( 4x4 BAN) also mandates the IWPA (iSimangaliso wetland park Authority to create and implement an EMP (Environmental Management Plan) with zones and zoning for various uses. These zones are supposed to be reflected in the local municipalities zoning maps as per directives in the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act) 

The whole  chapter 5 of the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)  is problematic as far as  the management issues relating to beach driving and lost tourism associated with the absence of recreational beach users is concerned, and the fact that no (ZERO) public participation meetings relating to the tourism impact of this legislation have been held, and the relating economic studies have not been undertaken, or if they have they are extremely flawed or falsified as the collapse of the domestic tourism market has never been discussed at any of the Mtubatuba IDP (Integrated Development Plan) meetings , because the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has not produced or discussed any of these issues at any of the Mtubatuba Integrated Development Plan Public Representative forum meetings, which can be verified by reading the minutes of the meetings held over the last 8 years. I know this because I tried to raise these issues at the Mtubatuba IDP PRF (Integrated Development Plan Public Representative Forum) meetings, and the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) never produced requested documents and tried their utmost to disrupt the free-flow of information.

Chapter 6 part 4 of the ICMA (Integrated Coastal management Act) is of concern to us as the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) is clearly sidestepping clauses 51 and 52 of the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)
 
Chapter 6 part 5 clause 53 of the ICMA is of prime interest to us as the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has failed miserably to implement this in any shape manner or form, and some disciplinary action needs to be taken against them at parliamentary level

Register as a concerned citizen or an interested and affected party at the September 30  Public participation process meeting to be held in St. Lucia where these items will be raised.

Public Participation meeting planned for 30 september 2012

Elephant Coast beaches

There is a planned meeting for the PPP (Public participation Process) relating to the  IWPA  (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) IMP (Integrated Management Plan)  of the 30th September 2012.

see this page, and decide if you would like to place your voice on record as supporting the public participation process that has been mandated by a variety of laws and legislation, which the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) must comply with. while on the page also let us know what you think by taking part in the poll.

Consider registering as an Interested and affected party   with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Integrated Management Plan to receive up dates and be invited to future meetings where the affairs of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site, and the Elephant Coast beaches which are all inside the park, will be discussed.Register here

The IWPA has been mandated to produce an EMP (Environmental Management plan with an annual updated by the 4x4 ban  as per 

• section A parts 3 and 6
• section B parts 3 and 6
• section C part 6
• Register here 

Open letter to Zululand observer sent 25 July 20122

Open letter to the Zululand observer sent 25/6/2012 From Frank Gainsford from: <admin@info4u.co.za	Wed, Jul 25, 2012 at 1:37 PM
To: zulobs@zululandobserver.co.za
Cc:  Gareth Morgan <morgan@net.da.org.za>, info <info@isimangaliso.com>, inquiries <inquiries@un.org>,
For Attention zulobs@zululandobserver.co.za FYI all other recipients Hi First before I say any thing let me say Many thanx for a great paper that covers Zululand. The 4x4 ban issue and the economic losses associated with the absence of the recreational beach users on the Elephant Coast beaches is not a new subject, and this has been discussed many times over in a host of different environments, from pubs and church yards to parliament and political forums as well as many place in between. Problem is there is no official engagement by  the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) in the local municipalities IDP (Integrated Development Plan) where these issues should be debated, and acted upon. The IWPA (iSimangaliso wetland Park Authority) has not produced their IMP (Integrated Management plan) nor their EMP (Environmental Management plan)  AS IS MANDATED BY MANY DIFFERENT LAWS AND A HOST OF DIFFERENT LEGISLATION. If they have done so they have not followed the required legal process, as laid out in the legislation which mandates them to produce these plans, and these plans should be investigated in this light, as they would be illegally produced in terms of the legislation and laws that mandate the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) to create and implement these said plans. see here http://forafrica.co.za/forms/?p=128 A group of concerned citizens has setup a pre-registration process to ensure that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) do indeed hold the necessary PPP (Public participation Process) meetings for their mandated IMP PPP (Integrated Management Plan) (Public Participation Process) in terms of the many laws, including but not limited to the MSA (Municipal Systems Act)  which demands that their IMP (Integrated Development Plan) be integrated into the local municipalities IDP (Integrated Development Plan) and that all the ZONING done by the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) be reflected in the local municipalities LUMS (Land Use Management System) as well as the local municipalities maps which is enforced by the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act) where it is made abundantly clear that these local municipality zoning maps are the only valid zoning maps for all parties in the republic, including the ministers amendments, which also need to be approved by the local municipalities IDP PRF (Integrated Development Plan Public Representatives forum)  after meaningful public consultation. Your input in the past has been very beneficial and of great value to the public. Please help us by informing the public about these issues. read here http://iwpappp.blogspot.com/ and here http://forafrica.co.za/forms/?p=128 The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) have been getting away with these transgressions for many years, and this has cost the Elephant Coast residents MILLIONS of RANDS in lost tourism, which the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) needs to be held accountable for, in terms of the updated NEMA (National Environmental Management Act) and its subservient law, the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act) Once again many thanx for a great local paper that is read and trusted by many, so please return this trust the people have given you as a news paper, and advise them of how they are being illegally  ignored and side lined by the IWPA . Regards Frank Frank Gainsford 072505 5111 admin@info4u.co.za PS could you recommend a lawyer who would help us in our efforts to force the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) to comply with all legislation  demanding that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) implement an IMP (integrated Management Plan) and EMP (Environmental Management Plan) -- Simple Cloud Computing for you - SCC4U www.info4u.co.za admin@info4u.co.za 072 - 505 - 5111