PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES: ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING … · 2019-12-13 · Mafuta Environmental...

Mafuta Environmental Consultants CC

P.O Box 1339

Oshakati

Namibia Email: [email protected]

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MAFUTA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS

PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES:

ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED REZONING OF PORTIONS AND REMAINDERS OF ONGWEDIVA

TOWN AND TOWNLAND NO. 881 FROM 'UNDETERMINED' TO 'BUSINESS' INTO AN ERVEN OF ONGWEDIVA EXTENSION 13,

OSHANA REGION

Venue: Omuti-gwiigongi- Oshana Mall phase 2, extension 13, Ongwediva

Date: 02 December 2019

Time: 11:00. AM

Attendance: Please refer to the attached attendance register

1. INTRODUCTION AND PROCEEDINGS

Ms. Hangula welcomed and thanked all those that attended. The meeting was attended by site neigbouring property owners who are

still living in Ongwediva Extension 13.

Ms. Hangula circulated and briefly presented the meeting agenda to the attendees (those that could read and understood English).

For those that could not read nor understand English, she explained to them in the local language, being Oshiwambo. The meeting

was conducted in Oshiwambo since majority could conversate easily in Oshiwambo than English. Ms. Hangula hailed from the northern

part of Namibia where her home language is also Oshiwambo and this was an advantage for the meeting. She further explained the

purpose of the meeting, Environmental Assessment process and presented the description of proposed project.

The key aspects discussed during the introductory remarks were;

mailto:[email protected]


P.O Box 1339

Oshakati


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Meeting agenda

Meeting rules

Consultants role and responsibilities

Summarised project activities

Explained project progress

Explained project impacts

The meeting was aimed to be an interactive session between the Environmental Consultant and the community members. The

participants were given a chance to comment on the agenda and ask for clarification

2. Project overview

The consultant placed an informative poster on the Tree’s stunk where the meeting took place for the public to read and familiarize

themselves with the information presented to them with regards to the project. The presentation addressed the key addressed the

following:

Overview of the project program

Background of the project and the key implementers

Potential impacts and risk

3. Open Discussion

After presenting the environmental assessment process and project description, the consultant gave the floor to the meeting attendees

(property owners) to discuss what has been presented. The discussion included inputs, in a form of comments, concerns or suggestions.



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Oshakati


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The issues and comments raised by the meeting attendees were recorded in Table 1 below. Where it was possible responses to issues

raised were provided by the consultant in the meeting. Where it was not possible to provide answers in the meeting, the attendees

were assured that their concerns would be investigated further with the project Proponent or as relevant with the Ongwediva Town

Council so that it can be considered for incorporation into the environmental report and management plan.

Table 1: Issues and comments rose during the project public meeting on 02 December 2019

Speaker / Commenter Question/Comments/Suggestions Responses by Ms. Martha Hangula (Environmental Consultant)

Issues raised in the Public Meeting on the 2nd of December 2019

Ms. Elina Pohamba We appreciate the development indeed but it should

benefit the local people. We want employment opportunity,

we have spoken to the developer once for assist us in this

regards.

Secondly, Ongwediva Municipality hardly do consultation

with the surrounding residents, since the area was

proclaimed to Ongwediva Extension 13.

Public Consultation like this was supposed to be undertaken

when the development started not at this stage when

construction has started and we are expected to be present

always at this very important meeting.

Well noted.



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Oshakati


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Ms. Martha Paulus I am one the neighbours in this new proclaimed township, I

had been living here for my whole life, and I know what had

been here before the expansion of this development.

We have a problem with this development in terms of our

social safeguards, we are asking Ongwediva Town Council

to assist us to debush the whole Ongwediva Extension 13

and 17.

The influx of people (customers) coming for shopping

becomes a very disturbing situation such as;

Safety and Security

Waste pollution as you can see plastics all over the

place

Some customers are using the surrounding bushes

when nature calls.

Noise pollution throughout the day

Secondly, Ongwediva Town Council is taking long to

compensate the residents only two houses have been

compensated so far.

We want a consultation with Ongwediva Town Council; we

are pressed now by social issues in the area.

Thank you very much for your inputs and points. We are taking

notes of these and incorporate them in the environmental

assessment report and appropriate management

measures/actions will be included in the environmental

management plan.

We will also convey the suggestions on safety (debushing of the

site) to the Town Council for consideration.

We will also convey the message regarding consultation on

compensation.

The issue of noise, safety and security and waste pollution, every

development brings challenges like that an example of Oshakati,

Ongwediva and other towns.

Again from our observation on the ground is clear to me as well

that this place is place is no longer safe to live especially to the two

houses we are seeing in close proximity with the development.

We will recommend this as an urgent matter to the Ongwediva

Town Council and the developer to act fast to relocate the

surrounding residents.

However, we can clearly see the impact of noise and dust

pollution during this construction, We are sure that this will soon



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over it is a temporary issue. We will again recommend this to the

Developer to at least do dust suppression and work only normally

working days and hours.

Ms. Amalia Shilongo

Uusiku

We are expecting an influx of people moving around due to

this development and we need security. I hope that the

Developer will make provision for this.

The second issues I would like to raise is the pile of waste

dumped in my field pose a serious hazard to our health with

my children, plastics are from the pile are always flying all

over my house.

How can I be assisted with that?

When will this pile of waste be removed?

Thirdly, as you can see, I am now suffering because of water

run-off coming from the pavement of the Mall comes

directly into my house, I do not understand this, whether it is

done on purpose by channelling the runoff into my house or

not.

I am asking Ongwediva Town Council to come and observe

the situation; this place is no longer safe for our living.

Well noted. We have taken noted of your concerns and we will

include it in the report and management plan.

About the pile of waste we can clearly see that is not good at all.

We will recommend the removal of that waste as soon as possible.

For the sake of your safety, you need to relocate as we can see

various aspects of development affect you.

We are not sure if you have informed Ongwediva Town Council

about this before?



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We want Ongwediiva Town Council to relocate us as soon

as possible.

This area had been a grazing area for our animals and it has

turned into development, so our cultural value is affected

somehow.

The safety of my children’s movement is no longer there

Some customers are using my field yard as an entry into the

mall before the fence was put up, which is not safe

anymore.

Ongwediva Town Council does not do consultation with us

before we complain; they were supposed to come to the

meeting of today.

The dust remains a concern at this stage of construction,

and the vibration has causes some cracking to our buildings

as you can see, the road where truck are passing in

delivering building materials.

This construction also has pose dangers to my children

around, if we as parents are not watching their movement.



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I am urging those that are in the process of moving to do so,

because they will face challenges, the area is expected to

be busy.

Where are the people from Ongwediva Town Council, they

were supposed to attend this meeting?

Mr. Shuumbwa Paulus

Thanks for inviting us to this very important meeting.

We are not against with the development. However, we

wanted to have people from Ongwediva Town Council to

listen to us in some of this very important meeting.

Ongwediva Town Council hardly do consultation with us,

normally such consultation were supposed to be conducted

at before this development start.

In my position as village headman, recently the Developer

(Proponent) extended by erecting a fence until my

Mahangu field and no consultation was done from

Ongwediva Town Council to explain or a formal

communication that a certain portion of the land (my

Mahangu field) belongs to the Developer.

This assessment seek to identify significant impact such as social,

environmental related issues and ensure point raised will all be

included in the Management Plan for this project.

This assessment seeks to identify significant impact and make sure

they are all addressed and their mitigation measures included in

the management plan for this proposed project.

We informed of the assessment and invited the Ongwediva Town

Council to the meeting and we were also hoping they would be

here. However, we will share the meeting minuets and draft

scoping report with them so that they can clarify on some of the

issues raised in this meeting for their attention.

We will make sure to approach the Town Council for further clarities

about this development.

We would like to say that social safeguards of the people in every

development should be taken serious and addressed in well



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This has becomes a challenge for me to approach the

Developer to ask. Therefore, I would like Ongwediva Town

Council to come and do a consultation.

When will Ongwediva Town Council going to compensate

the affected property owners? It has been a while now.

We would like the Ongwediva Town Council to assist us in

debushing Extension 17 where most of the resident will

relocate.

The safety and security becomes are challenge to us now,

we have cases of thieves coming to hide in our houses

which is dangerous to us and our kids in the surrounding

area.

The pile of waste in Ms. Amalia Uusiku becomes a serious

problem. We now have waste all over the surrounding

coming from that pile; therefore we are asking the

Developer to remove them.

In terms of employment, from my understanding, the

Developer is someone who is very considerate, the problem

is the shop / business owners renting the Mall, and they

procedural manner to avoid future conflicts. We will recommend

environmental monitoring for this area to Ongwediva Town Council

and Ministry of Environment and Tourism.



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came with their people leaving our surrounding people out

when it comes to employment.

This development is just an addition to what is already there,

but proper consultation should be done whenever they are

extending the site (Mall).

The Mall becomes our earliest convenient this is one of our

advantages.

Sarafina Amutenya Ongwediva Extension 13 and 17 is becoming a dumpsite

site. It is littered all over.

We are asking for the Debushing of Extension 17 since our

safety is at risk now because of intruders into our houses

coming from the Mall.

When nature calls some customers, comes to the bush in our

Mahangu yards/fields to relieve themselves.

Ongwediva Town Council should always attend meetings

like this.

We would like the Ongwediva Town to bring at least a

powerline within Extension 17.

All points raise are noted and will be addressed in the

environmental assessment report.

The major problem we have noticed here is social and safety

impacts.



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Angelina Uusiku and

Palagia Uusiku

We our compensated but the period given to us to relocate

is short and what we are offered is even less compared to

what other towns compensate people.

Extension 17 where we are given land to build is not

serviced.

We are not considered for job opportunities also,

employment is given to people from far.

We suffered a lot during the construction period; there was

too much dust from the truck passing in front of our houses.

We would like the Ongwediva Town Council to debush

Extension 17 for our safety.

Ongwediva Town Council should always attend pubic

consultation meeting.

Safety movement of our children is no longer there

Well noted. We will address your concerns in the environmental

assessment report and management measures in the

management plan.

4. Conclusion

In order to ensure sustainable development of every project and integrity of Ongwediva Town Council, with due respect is always

important to consult the surrounding community in order to gather their views. An environmental management plan has to be compiled



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based on both the consultant's opinions, but most importantly based on the inputs and suggestions of the affected community. The rest

of the project impacts can then be mitigated through environmental management practices.

5. Meeting Closure

Ms Hangula thanked the meeting participants who attended the meeting, for showing interest in the project development and for

being conversant throughout.

The Interested and affected parties were informed that they have been afforded another ten (10) days to send further comments

relating to the project development via letter, email and other mean of communication.


PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES: ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING … · 2019-12-13 · Mafuta Environmental...

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Transcript of PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES: ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING … · 2019-12-13 · Mafuta Environmental...