Residents of the Eastern Cape coastal hamlet of Oyster Bay are up in arms about an application to mine a portion of a pristine beach in front of the town.
Situated between Cape St Francis and Tsitsikamma, the town is a favourite for seaside holidays and recreational shore fishing.
Schoenmakers Mining, a holding company of Gqeberha-based Glendore Sand and Stone, plans to mine sand on a 5ha site — an operation that would span nearly half of the 7km stretch of beach.
The company says the mining will help the handful of houses on the edge of the beach which are affected by windblown sand.
However, residents say it is an excuse for a commercial venture that will destroy the town’s character.
Resident Willemien Pienaar, who is co-ordinating a petition against the mining application, said the project would have a devastating effect.
“Schoenmakerskop Mining is applying for a permit to establish a 5ha open cast sand mine on the primary dune protecting the town, affecting about 50% of the beach.
“Coastal sand mining is well known for its severe environmental effects.
“The UN Environmental Programme, in a 2022 report, called for a halt to sand extraction on beaches and active sand systems.
“The proposed mine will have a severe effect on Oyster Bay residents, the quality of the coastal aquifer, nature and tourism.
“There are several nature trails and hikes exploring the area, as well as two lodges and other tourist accommodation.”
She said the waters off Oyster Bay were also an important breeding site for chokka, supporting the cuttlefish fishing industry, a major employer in the area.
“There is rock just under the sand where they want to mine, and we are concerned that if they blast, the tremors may go out into the ocean and affect the chokka breeding grounds.
“We’re hoping as many people as possible can help us block this mining application by signing the petition.”
The petition already has more than 1,300 signatures.
Herman Stoffberg, who has lived in Oyster Bay for 28 years, said residents were incensed by the project.
“We heard about it three weeks ago.
“They put it on a notice board in the dunes, and I believe it was in the [community newspaper], but out here we don’t always get the papers.
“There was no public meeting. It is like they are trying to slip it through under the radar.
“Since then, we have been trying to register as interested and affected parties but they don’t acknowledge our emails.”
He said while there was a sand migration problem affecting a few houses adjacent to the beach, mining was not the way to address the issue.
“There is already one person we know of who was thinking of buying here and is now thinking twice about it because of this mining application.
“So for anyone here wanting to sell a house, or to rent a property to holidaymakers, as many of us do, a mine in Oyster Bay is very bad news.”
Stoffberg said most residents were drawn to Oyster Bay because of the peace and quiet, and plentiful open space for walking and enjoying nature.
“The noise of the mining machinery will be a constant factor and you won’t be able to walk on that part of the beach at all.
“They estimate 20 to 40 truckloads a day. How will our infrastructure be able to bear that pressure, and who will pay for its upkeep?”
He said residents were sceptical about the claim that the mine would be good for the town.
“The social fabric of our community will be put at risk.”
Another resident, Christa van Wyk, said she was concerned about the project premise that it would help the town overcome its sand migration problem.
“It seems they are using that as an excuse, because they have not presented any scientific basis for that.
“Meanwhile, the mine will likely cause huge damage to this community and the environment.
“The constant truck traffic and the effect on animals like otters that live and frequent the beach is concerning.”
According to the draft basic assessment report on the project compiled by Algoa Consulting Mining Engineers (Acme) on behalf of Schoenmakers Mining, the mine will operate for a maximum of five years and “no socioeconomic impact assessment was deemed necessary due to the limited time period and small scale of the operation”.
The report says by extracting sand from the site, “the mine will offer a sustainable solution that prevents the sand from re-accumulating on the street and residential areas, ensuring long-term relief for the local community for at least 50 years”.
The Herald called the telephone number for Schoenmakers Mining noted in the draft report, and was asked to email questions to Glendore.
No response had been received by the time of publication, but Acme responded promptly to questions sent to them.
Acme manager Rudi Gerber said the mining application hinged on authorisation by the Eastern Cape department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism.
He said authorisation “to remove the sand blown into the houses at Oyster Bay” was issued to the Kouga municipality in 2015.
“Until now, the municipality has pushed the windblown sand back towards the ocean, but that plateau is growing higher in altitude than some of the houses, aggravating the problem.
“The mining permit area was selected where it could add most value with the least environmental impacts.
“The beach in that area is littered with glass and other illegally dumped building rubble, which will be removed.
“The Kouga municipality is the landowner and immediate neighbour to the area where the mining permit is.”
Kouga Local Municipality spokesperson Monique Basson said Schoenmakers Mining had not approached the municipality with a proposal to mine at Oyster Bay Beach.
“This is not a municipal tender nor a project facilitated by the municipality in any way.
“We understand and acknowledge the concerns raised by residents regarding the potential environmental, social and economic impact of the proposed operation.
“The mineral rights of the land fall under the jurisdiction of the department of mineral resources, energy and petroleum, which is responsible for considering any mining applications, including public participation and environmental processes.
“Any objections or concerns should be directed to them.”
Asked about the concerns of residents, the department of mineral resources said the Schoenmakers Mining Oyster Bay Beach application had been submitted in December.
“As part of the application process, the applicant must submit a basic assessment report.
“Also as part of the process, the applicant is required to ensure public notices and participation.
“The adequacy of that public participation will be assessed when the applicant submits the report.
“The application is in its early stages and it will depend on the assessments made by officials whether the applicant meets the requirements or not.”
Forestry, fisheries and the environment spokesperson Peter Mbelengwa said they had been advised by the mineral resources department that the application process related to the Oyster Bay mining application was still under way.
“The applicant has requested an extension to undertake specialist studies as additional aspects were raised during public participation.
“The process to obtain an environmental authorisation will ensure that all relevant information is placed before the decisionmaker at [mineral resources] for an informed decision to be made on whether to grant such authorisation.
“Once a decision is made by [mineral resources], should the residents wish to do so, they will have a right to appeal against the decision to [environmental affairs],” Mbelengwa said.
According to Acme, the draft basic assessment was sent out to registered interested and affected parties on March 15 for comment with a 30-day deadline, taking into account public holidays.
The Herald
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