Outgoing Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Pierre Uys has again overturned the decision of his officials and given the green light to the massive Lagoonbay development on the Garden Route.

The development includes more than 1000 dwellings and two 18- hole golf courses.

Uys‘s approval of Lagoonbay, the latest in a spate of approvals he has rushed through in his last days as MEC, has been described as “shocking decision- making”.

Andy Gubb, of the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA, said on Wednesday Uys appeared to be ignoring residents, his officials and government departments like CapeNature, Sanparks and the SA National Botanical Institute.

“We‘ve got an outgoing MEC who believes he has to clear his desk of all controversial developments by giving them the okay.

"Why does he approve a whole lot of things his own department says are unwise?”

Gert van der Veer, of the Foundation for Outeniqualand, said the organisation would “evaluate” Uys‘s decision. He did not rule out a judicial review.

Source: The Herald