A fire-fighting base in KwaZulu-Natal's Midlands, which helped curb the devastating fires of 2007, might have to close if Eskom's plan for a power line through Karkloof Valley goes ahead.
Opponents have asked Eskom to abandon the plan to route one of Africa's biggest power lines through there.
They predict a heavy blow to the provincial economy if it proceeds.
The valley near Howick, part of the Midlands Meander tourist attraction, is a prime timber-growing, dairy farming and horse breeding region and it is also home to several endangered bird species.
MBB Services International, a consulting engineers and environmental management company commissioned by the Lion's River Fire Protection Association (LRFPA), has presented a report to the Department of Environmental Affairs predicting dire consequences of the project.
As a result, experts have called for the Eskom proposal to be put on hold "in the national interest" until further studies can be carried out.
The proposal is part of Eskom's multibillion-rand National Electricity Strengthening Programme to ensure the country's power supply.
It is envisaged that a power line will run from the new Venus-Sigma 765kV substation near Estcourt to a new substation near Cato Ridge or Albert Falls. Four possible routes have been proposed, three north of Albert Falls and one to the south. It is the southern route - dubbed the "Blue Route" because of its colour on Eskom maps - that has had fierce opposition.
A vocal lobby, the No Eskom Blue Route Action Committee (Nebrac), as well as the Midlands Meander Association, forestry companies Sappi and Mondi, and various conservancies in the Midlands have all opposed the development.
Environmental consultant Johan van der Walt, who works for Acer, which was appointed by Eskom to draw up the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, said that no decision had been made on which of the four routes was being favoured.
Comment
However, it it vital for KwaZulu-Natal to have such power lines as it would ensure there was enough electricity in the province.
Van der Walt said the EIA would be available for public comment early in November.
The KZN Fire Prevention Association base at Shafton, just outside Howick and Firestop, the biggest aerial firefighting force in the southern hemisphere, based at Shafton airfield would have to close should the power line route run through the Karfloof Valley.
For five months of the year a fire-bomber force of 12 aircraft and massive Russian Mil8 helicopters are on two-minute scramble to protect the multibillion rand forestry industry.
According to correspondence accompanying the MBB report, "the siting of Firestop is uniquely fit for purpose, it being well nigh impossible to replicate its unique combination of geographical and site advantages".
A measure of the effectiveness of Firestop is that despite KwaZulu-Natal having the greatest area of timber in the country, in the 2007 runaway fires - declared a national emergency by the government - losses were only 15 000 of the 84 000ha lost nationally and fires were extinguished in three days locally, compared with three weeks nationally. Nevertheless, according to John Campbell, chairman of the LRFPA which is based at Firestop, the damage to KwaZulu-Natal's forestry was in excess of R1 billion.
"Without this facility, the losses could have been much worse," said Campbell.
"The power lines would run right in front of our airstrip, which means that the facility would have to shut down completely," Campbell said.
The runway drops off into the valley in both directions, which Campbell explained was vital because the planes, which carry two tons extra weight because of the water on board, did not have the speed at take off to lift into the air.
Instead, they often dip down into the valley to build up that speed. The Shafton base makes this possible, and could not easily be replicated at another location, he said.
The Department of Environmental Affairs has refused at this stage to remove the Blue Route as an option. It instead suggested Eskom be approached by the LRFPA and asked to reconsider the inclusion of the Blue Route in the light of the scientific study. This was done by the association but Eskom has refused to reconsider.
Species
Local diary farmer and conservationist Charlie Mac-Gillivray said: "The Karkloof Valley is home to many of the red-listed (highly endangered species) birds, including the wattled crane, blue crane and crowned crane. The very presence of this power line would impact these species, especially as the power lines will run right through their flight paths," MacGillivray said.
Leander Jarvel, Sappi regional manager for KZN, is quoted as saying: "The Eskom Blue Route's commercial and environmental impact will be extremely costly to the timber industry.
"With the national shortage of timber, it will have a long term economic impact on our and other timber businesses. Sappi strongly recommends that another route for this transmission line be considered."
Mondi Shanduka's Doug Burden made similar statements in the rebuttal document, saying the company was "opposed to consideration of the Blue Route as an option".
Van der Walt told the Tribune yesterday that all these concerns were being looked at.
"Their concerns are being considered as part of the specialist study, in the same way that the concerns of stakeholders in the other (three) corridors are being considered. We are not ignoring these concerns," he said.