World class wave at J-Bay under threat

Environment; The Greener Surfer Updates

The Greener Surfer says NO to Nuclear development near J-Bay.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 October, 2012 : - - A 400-megawatt nuclear power plant has been proposed for the coast of Thyspunt, located around 20km's from Jeffery’s Bay.

This is why we say NO :

• Eskom plans to pump an estimated 6.3 million cubic meters of sand offshore during the construction of the nuclear power plant. This will have a dynamic impact on squid and other sea life.

• Squid are very sensitive to any environmental changes. The lowered visibility and oxygen content of the water as a result of the dumping would significantly reduce their reproduction rates. Currently, about 30% of the squid catches occur within 16 nautical miles of Thyspunt so this will also have a big impact on the local fishermen.

• There is very strong reason to believe that the increased sand flow could change the world class right-hand break of J-Bay.( I bet I have your attention now ) It really is a reality that the incredible waves we are so blessed with in Jbay could be ruined because of man-made destruction.

• The power plant would also intake seawater off the coast of Thyspunt for cooling the condensers. The water would then be released back into the ocean at a warmer temperature. Pumping heated water back into the ocean will have an impact on the sea life and the quality of the water. Animals are designed to adapt, but only after a long period of time. Not explosive sudden change like this.

• Eskom consultants are wrong with their opinion that the prevailing wind at Oyster Bay is North Westerly, Anyone who has lived in this area and the St. Francis Bay and Jeffrey's Bay area will know that the predominant wind is actually South Westerly. Should a nuclear meltdown occur at Thyspunt a plume of radiation will cover St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay within minutes, giving residents almost no time to escape. Yet, Eskom brushes over this risk by maintaining that the predominant wind will blow radiation out to sea, posing little or no risk in the event of a melt down. Ridiculous.

• Just 2 days ago the temporary bridge leading into St. Francis was washed away AGAIN from the heavy rains. The road had been closed numerous times since 1996 due to floods yet Eskom consultants brush over the infrastructure problem. In fact, their experts claimed that the traffic flow is very rarely halted. Tell that to my friends stranded on either side of the washed away bridge.

• The Kouga area’s sewerage, water and electrical infrastructure is sketchy. There is no ways it will be able to handle the massive increase in migrant workers.

• Heavy traffic congestion will occur during the construction phase of 7-9 years when Eskom’s trucks transport heavy and gigantic pieces of equipment at a slow pace on the access roads to St Francis.

• A nuclear power plant is not a permanent or long term solution. It takes so many years to get built and can only be run for so many years before it must be shut down - all the while releasing hectic toxic fumes.

• This area cannot sustain such a development both from a social and biophysical viewpoint. Feasibility studies for the Thyspunt area were conducted in the early eighties and they are now way outdated and not in tune with the current situation.

• Nuclear stations release greenhouses gases into the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxides. Apart from greenhouse gases, exhaust gases from buildings containing radioactive processes are also released. In addition, in plants with boiling water reactors, the air ejector exhaust is radioactive as well.

• Increased amount of sulfur dioxide in the air which causes acid rain to form which then leads to contamination of water, reduction of productivity of the soil, and has several other negative effects on the region's vegetation and human health.

The final decision will be made early next year- it is not to late. With many protests and all the brilliant experts proving as to why this shouldn't happen, we can end this!

Why not invest in clean, alternative forms of energy instead??
Keep an eye out for the next post stating the options.

Check www.thegreemersurfer.com to follow the journey.

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Source: The Greener Surfer

Author: The Editors

Tags: j-Bay, NuclearPlant, 

Environment: Surfersvillage