Priority conservation area under threat! Help us stop clay mining and brick production in the Rooiberg Breede River Conservancy, just 2 hours from Cape Town.

The Rooiberg Breede River Conservancy is 13,549 hectares of diverse wild life, bird species and unique veld with stunning views of the Langeberg and Rooiberg mountains. The scenic beauty of the area is one of the key attractions for tourists visiting historical Robertson and it was identified as a top priority for conservation by the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme (SKEP), the WWF initiated Lesley Hill Succulent Karoo Trust and the National Protected Area Expansion Strategy.

But this critical biodiverse area is under threat and the authorities are allowing this to happen! Situated just 14 km outside Robertson and 700 meters north east of the R60 on the farm of Gannaboschvlakte 51 is a planned site for clay mining and brick production. Clay resources will be extracted from the property using open pit mining techniques and the brick making facility will be situated on the same premises.

The proposed method of brick production causes severe air and dust pollution and has been banned from certain countries since 2003. The intended brickmaking process will burn 6 tonnes of coal per hour, totalling 12,000 tonnes per year effecting not just the health of people, but also the quality of crops farmed in the area. The production of bricks will require 4,000 litres of water per hour in a time where our scarce water resources need to be considered with extreme caution.

And what will the impact be of dust and smog on guest accommodation, wedding venues and the surrounding farms that provide sustainable jobs for the area?

Help us to stop the devastating effects of clay mining and brick production in the Rooiberg Breede River Conservancy by signing this petition online or follow us on Facebook for more information: https://www.facebook.com/rooibergbreederiverconservancy/

You can also register as an interested and affected party by sending an e-mail to alex@umvoto.com. Mention your name, postal address and that you would like to register as Interested and Affected Party on the proposed Robertson Bakstene Brick Making Facility. Register your objection before 10 March 2017 and join the growing public outcry against these detrimental activities.

The Rooiberg Breede River Conservancy is registered with Cape Nature and covers the region from Goreeshoogte outside Robertson to the Nuy Valley including the Langeberg and Rooiberg Mountains, and the Breede River to the south.