By Nicolette Scrooby

Haga Haga residents on Saturday gave the thumbs up for a multi-million rand plan to start an abalone drying plant near the seaside hamlet.

The operation would be an extension of an existing abalone farm near Haga Haga.

Following a meeting with Wild Coast Abalone at the Haga Haga community hall, residents applauded the fact that income and about 100 new jobs would be generated.

The impact on the environment appeared to be minimal, although an environmental impact assessment was still to be done.

Wild Coast Abalone managing director Richard Clark said the existing farm, established in 1998 at Marshstrand, currently employed about 100 staff members.

They export fresh live abalone directly to Hong Kong.

Clark said the growth in the Chinese economy had fuelled the demand for abalone, which fetches high prices overseas.

Although Wild Coast Abalone do not provide tinned produce, one tin of about 213g can fetch about R250.

With the expansion, they plan to produce dried abalone for export. They anticipate this will see their output and staff complement being doubled.

?3;Currently we produce 150 tons a year, but we will double this to 300 tons,?3; Clark said.

The expansion plans include additional culturing ponds, an abalone processing plant and the construction of managerial dwelling units.

Among the residents at Saturday's meeting was homeowner Roger Ellis, who said: "The impact on the environment appears minimal. The benefits far exceed any negatives.

"We need to piggyback on this idea, which will bring in money and create jobs."

Ellis said the abalone farm was a much better investment than a housing development in the area.

Haga-Haga Conservancy chairman Roger Rensburg said: "In the long run, the abalone farming
facility should reduce the pressures on the natural sea life. We are not against the expansion of the farm, as long as it is controlled correctly so no problems arise."

Environmentalist Alan Carter was also positive. "There are some environmental impacts, but the benefits are real. A resource is being developed and jobs created," he said.

Haga Haga Ratepayers' Association member Charles Green had a list of issues to be addressed in the pending environmental impact assessment.

"People are concerned about noise and light pollution and how this will affect Marshstrand residents. We also want to know what the effect of discharge water will be on the coast," he said.

"There will be even more traffic on the roads and local government needs to be approached to upgrade the roads from gravel to tar.

"But we have a very good working relationship between residents and the Wild Coast Abalone management. "Their doors are always open to us and they are willing to listen," Green said.

Clark said the the environmental impact assessment should be complete in six months time.