The four-year delay of the proposed Wild Coast N2 has deprived the Pondoland communities of about R2-billion in spin-offs, the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) said this week.

"The delays have cost R450-million (in losses to the economy). Today, R2-billion would have been accrued by the communities," Sanral regional manager Wayne Petersen said.

The rejection of the original 2004 scoping report played a major role in the delay of the project.

Petersen said the report had been rejected by the department of environmental affairs and tourism as it had questioned the neutrality of some of its authors.

The department had received the final scoping report about the project last week.

It was initially submitted to the department in February, but Petersen said there had been documents outstanding.

The department was now studying all the documents submitted and would make a decision on whether the project ought to go ahead or not.

"It's a lengthy process," Petersen said.

He added that the report would be published for objections afterwards.

"There is a 30-day appeal period, and I am almost certain that there will be appeals," Peterson said. If there were any objections, Environmental Affairs Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk would have to consider them all and make the final decision.

But Petersen said he was worried that more delays could occur as a result of the process because Van Schalkwyk was not bound by any law to respond within a certain period.

He said the agency was ready to begin working.

Sanral marketing and communications manager Wendy Watson said the proposed road would provide access to other economic opportunities, tourism and permanent jobs in the poverty-stricken area. "The people will also learn new skills."

By shortening the route between Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, the national route would also be served. The transport of goods in these areas would also be cheaper.

Petersen said environmental issues had been covered extensively in an environmental report. A number of serious issues had been raised.

"The plans are quite extensive, but our commitment is to ensure that they are carried out if the scoping report is approved," he said.

But environmental pressure groups and critics of the development have said the report must give serious consideration to alternative routes which might have a lesser impact on the environment.