The proposed nuclear power station at Thyspunt will be surrounded by a nature reserve of about 2000 ha giving Kouga residents and tourists access to a pristine area once enjoyed only by a handful of privileged land owners.

Huge areas of fynbos, thicket, dunes and wetlands were overgrown by rooikrans and was totally unaccessable.  Now, with the dedication of Eskom’s Environmental Officer Henni de Beer these areas are being restored to its former glory by clearing the rooikrans and other alien species.  Red data species are getting a second chance to survive, birds are coming back to their original habitat and future plans include the possible reintroduction of other wild life such as eland, that have occurred in the area many years ago.

Henni at his office on the Thyspunt site.

“Eskom had to buy huge pieces of land in order to fulfill the requirements for Nuclear Sites as prescribed by law and the National Nuclear Regulator.  The proposed site is surrounded with wetlands and the unique dune system, which will be protected for future generations,” Henni said.  “A further advantage is that the plant will, other than at Koeberg, be built further from the shore line, leaving Thysbaai and a 200 to 250m corridor between the high water mark and the fence as unspoilt as it was.  This will form part of the protected area and will be more accessible to visitors than it was till now.”

Henni’s main job since March 2009 is to restore the biodiversity of the area by implementing an alien vegetation clearing program, rehabilitate damaged areas for instance where erosion occurred through bad land management practices as well as assisting researchers and consultants with their studies and tests and to manage all contractors and their activities on site.  This is to make sure what they do has the minimum impact on the land.  “We have drilling going on at the moment, and as you can see, these people can only work in the small demarcated area.  Where we can we rescue and move indigenous plants to the resident nursery.“

St Francis Sport's Richard Arderne and Eric Stewart checking out the 2011 mtb challenge route over Eskom property.

For the next year an archeologist and his team will live on the site, exploring the proposed footprint area for archeological evidence.   “The majority of the present known archeological sites fall outside the planned footprint area and will remain unharmed and untouched and available for future interested studies if permitted by SAHRA.”

No other buildings other than the nuclear plant, administration buildings, stores and some infrastructure may be build on the aquired land, and most of this will be in the footprint area apart from roads and power lines.  “Ultimately the reserve will be about 2000ha and the footprint only between 200 and 250ha.  We shall utilize the existing houses on the site for offices and other purposes like storage space.  In other words, the extra land can not be developed in another golf estate, eco farm or seaside resort, but will be protected as is.”

The future Thyspunt Nature Reserve will consist of a safe area with cycling routes, hiking trails, bird viewpoints and picnic spots.  Henni and Eskom are already open to organisations like St Francis Sport to utilise the area for adventure events, such as the annual St Francis Bay MTB Challenge.

“To sit in an office with a 180◦ view over the ocean is a huge privilege, and we want to share this with the residents of the area.  We have assisted the race director, Eric Stewart, to design the 70km distance of this year’s challenge over our land, with the most amazing views over the reserve.  I wish I had more time to get fit!”

(Article approved and published with the permission of Eskom)