Senior Reporter

ENVIRONMENTAL Affairs and Tourism Minister Valli Moosa has received more than 100 appeals on the proposed construction of the N2 Wild Coast toll road.

The environmental and tourism affairs department gave provisional approval to the toll road project in December , and affected parties had until the end of last month to submit appeals.

It is now up to the minister , as the appeals authority, either to amend or to set aside the record of decision. Moosa will not be working to any time constraints when considering the appeals.

The minister could not comment on the contents of the appeals until the appeals evaluation process had been completed, his spokeswoman, Phindile Makakwa, said yesterday.

The environmental affairs and tourism department approved the environmental impact assessment application after fierce lobbying from communities that wanted construction to go ahead because they felt it would promote economic development in the area.

Environmental groups have opposed the construction of the toll road because they want the proclamation of a national park in the Pondoland area.

They also argued that development would affect the coast's natural ecosystem.

The proposed road, which will provide a better and shorter national route, will run between Gonubie, near East London, and Isipingo, south of Durban, and extends over 550km.

The National Roads Agency said it planned to invite the private sector to finance, build and manage the road for 30 years.

In its record of decision last year, the department said there was a need to strike a balance between development and environmental protection.

Feb 10 2004 07:16:10:000AM Ernest Mabuza Business Day 1st Edition