Concerns about wind farm in Camdeboo

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The proposed installation of a wind farm in the Graaff-Reinet area has been greeted with mixed feelings - especially among land owners in the Camdeboo Conservancy. The recent public meeting hosted by Khulisana Investment Holdings (KIH), merely served to increase the reservations of conservationists and some landowners, as no details about the development were divulged.

KIH is conducting a site measurement campaign, and the erection of a meteorological mast, or met mast, at the end of last year on the eastern ridge of the Camdeboo Conservancy, did little to alleviate fears that this pristine, ecologically sensitive area may be host to wind turbines in the near future.

The 140m high met mast measures wind speed, direction, shear, turbulence and air density.

The Advertiser spoke to two land owners who say should the turbines be erected on the ridge where the mast is situated, the skyline will be marred, while the safety lights will be invasive at night.

No transparency

Dave Parker, co-owner of Camdeboo Safari Lodge, says the wind farm will be a complete "mess-up for us". "I bought my farm, Zondachsrivierhoek, for the aesthetics. Guests won't come if the area is sullied by these massive turbines and strong lights. The met mast is right above us on the ridge."

Parker says he supports wind energy 100%, but not at the cost of the environment in a beautiful conservancy. "It will destroy the area and the untouched mountain range."

He said the public meeting provided no information. "We are the affected people and nobody speaks to us."

Land owner Willem Wagener of Toorberg, agrees that the public meeting was anything but transparent. "We cannot make an informed decision if they don't share their plans. At the meeting we were told that the aim of the gathering was to quash false rumours, but the conveners only said they are investigating 20 possible sites. They also would not divulge the names of the landowners who have signed up that turbines be erected on their land, saying they had to protect their clients. From what? By withholding information, they are fueling rumour mongering. Give us details. We are all friends in the valley and would welcome an open discussion."

Wagener is involved in the Cape Vulture project. "The conservancy is a vulture safe zone and wind farms pose a threat to the Cape Vulture and other birds as they often collide with the turbine blades."

He made it clear that he isn't against wind farms. "I am all for renewable energy, but something as invasive as a wind farm must be positioned with the minimum disruption and impact on nature, wildlife and lifestyle."

Additional income

Wagener knows some of the farmers who have signed preliminary documents for the erection of turbines on their farms. Landowners are apparently paid a percentage of the energy generated on their land and in these hard times an additional income is welcomed.

One of these farmers, who asked not to be named, claimed to know little about the planned wind farm, but said the public meeting showed that the developers do engage with the affected community. "As long as the wind farm doesn't have a negative impact on the people, I am not against it."

At the meeting at the Graaff-Reinet show grounds last Friday 5 February, Sifiso Shongwe of KIH, highlighted the economic benefits, such as job creation. "A mandatory percentage of the revenue earned from such a project must be ploughed back into the host community," he said.

He said the high wind speeds achieved along the Great Escarpment that stretches though the Great Karoo, is conducive to the generation of wind energy.

Cape Vulture

Bronwyn Botha of SANParks, who works with 189 landowners in the area, said the protective environment is not against development, but is looking at where renewable energy will have the biggest benefit with the lowest cost to the environment. "Through honesty and transparency, you will find more cooperation from landowners."

In a statement, Danielle du Toit of the Endangered Wildlife Trust expressed the trust's concern.

"Through the establishment of the Karoo Vulture Safe Zone that spans 23 000 km² between Cradock and Beaufort West, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, in partnership with over 400 farmers, is actively working to encourage Cape Vultures back to the Great Karoo - a landscape where the species once thrived. Although still in its early phase, we have already begun to see encouraging numbers of Cape Vultures frequenting the area since the project's inception in late 2019.

"With a core focus on removing the key threats to vultures from the landscape, we are increasingly concerned around the development of wind farms in the area, and the certain threat these pose to this globally endangered, collision prone species."

Du Toit said the trust believes in renewable, green energy as a solution to our environmental crisis and increasing demand for energy, but urged developers to ensure that wind farms are built to be completely raptor safe.

"That is, that wind farms are not high raptor collision risk areas, turbines are placed in low collision risk sites and that all the tools available to reduce risk to vultures, and other large birds, are applied before construction. We will strongly oppose developments that are in high-risk areas, and pose a cumulative threat to vultures within our current Karoo Vulture Safe Zone."

The Rupert Wildlife Trust would only say that it supports the Vulture Safe Zone. Loaded words from a heavyweight interested party, as the met mast is within the safe zone.

EIA to follow

Shongwe stressed that the meeting was just an informal information session with potential stakeholders and that a formal meeting will be scheduled to address concerns.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and public participation process will take place as part of the next phase of the project. For more information about the proposed wind project, contact Sifiso Shongwe at admin@khulisana.com.

Landowners from the Camdeboo Conservancy before the start of the meeting at the Graaff-Reinet Showgrounds. Someone remarked that the venue is in shark contrast to the multi-million rand project under discussion.