Knysna's municipal council approved plans to build a controversial multi-million-rand hotel on the Brenton-On-Sea hotel site.

The go-ahead comes without any environmental impact assessment being carried out, a move which has come under fire from environmentalists in the area.

The original Brenton Hotel burnt to the ground three years ago when a fire started in the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon. In October last year, the land was sold to developers Ocean Estates International.

An application to develop the land was turned down earlier this year because of issues surrounding services capacity, environmental impacts and aesthetics. The municipality has also received objections from environmental organisations and members of the public.

However, the latest application, which developers claim is more environmentally friendly, was approved yesterday at the final council meeting for 2006 after a presentation by the developer and architect and a brief meeting of council members.

Knysna chief town planner Ed Hill said because the application to develop had been made in 2005 before legislation which governs EIA practices was put into place, it had not been necessary to have one done.

"The area falls under the Outeniqua sensitive coastal area regulations which don't require the same extent of EIA," said Hill.

However, Western Heads Conservancy chairman Susan Campbell said she believed environmental regulations would have to be complied with regardless of whether the application was brought under old or new environmental legislation.

"Under the old regulations, the upgrading of a resort was a listed activity and under the new regulations the proposed activities within 100m of the high water mark require compliance with environmental regulations. My concern is that they are not sticking to the development footprint of the old hotel. We believe it should not be exceeded. From an environmental point of view, we have great reservations regarding the excavation of sensitive coastal dunes."

Speaking to council on Thursday, development architect Francois Pienaar said: "We are dealing here with a site which has a long history and a great environmental sensitivity. It is a prime site and part of the Outeniqua sensitive coastal area. This new design for the hotel is a green building."

Pienaar said the roof of the hotel would be landscaped with the natural fynbos which grows in the area. The hotel would also collect rainwater.

The development would create around 400 jobs, Pienaar said.

Hill said Thursday?s decision would be circulated amongst those who had objected to the hotel.

?They can submit their appeal to the premier, but if the appeal is dismissed then the developers can submit building plans for approval.?

Pienaar said it was hoped construction would start within the next four months.

"Hopefully we will have a hotel up and running by 2008," he said.

Ocean Estates International is a multinational company which deals in property in Spain, France Turkey and South Africa.

The company deals mainly in luxury apartments and villas. Among its major South African developments are Ocean Quay in Harbour Island near False Bay and Ocean Reef Zinkwazi in KwaZulu Natal.

Eastern Prvince Herald