LEG2601 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 2 2026 - DUE 24 August 2026

Green Horizon Developments (Pty) Ltd plans to build a large shopping centre and fuel station near a wetland area outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province. The proposed development will include parking areas, new access roads and a waste disposal site. The company appoints Ms Dube as the environmental assessment practitioner (EAP) to manage the application process. Local community members complain that the development may pollute the wetland and destroy natural habitats. Ms Dube prepares reports for the development but fails to include objections raised by interested and affected parties. After receiving the reports, the competent authority grants the application for environmental authorisation. Green Horizon Developments (Pty) Ltd intends to construct a shopping centre, fuel station, parking areas, access roads and a waste disposal site near a wetland. Discuss whether these proposed activities are likely to require environmental authorisation and explain the purpose of conducting an environmental impact assessment before construction begins. After environmental authorisation was granted, community members remained dissatisfied with the decision. Explain the administrative and judicial remedies available to interested and affected parties who wish to challenge an environmental authorisation, including internal appeal, requests for reasons and judicial review. Green Horizon Developments (Pty) Ltd plans to build a large shopping centre and fuel station near a wetland area outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province. The proposed development will include parking areas, new access roads and a waste disposal site. The company appoints Ms Dube as the environmental assessment practitioner (EAP) to manage the application process. Local community members complain that the development may pollute the wetland and destroy natural habitats. Ms Dube prepares reports for the development but fails to include objections raised by interested and affected parties. After receiving the reports, the competent authority grants the application for environmental authorisation. The competent authority granted environmental authorisation after receiving the reports prepared by Ms Dube. Critically discuss the factors that the competent authority should consider before approving a development that may affect a wetland, including environmental, social, economic and cumulative impacts. Ms Dube failed to include objections raised by interested and affected parties. This is contrary to the principle of just administrative action. Examine the effect that the lack of public participation has on the application submitted to the competent authority. What steps can the local community members, as aggrieved parties, take to challenge the decision. Local community members are concerned that the development may pollute the wetland and destroy natural habitats. Discuss how the principles of sustainable development, pollution prevention and protection of biodiversity should guide the competent authority when deciding whether to grant environmental authorisation. Ms Dube was appointed as the environmental assessment practitioner responsible for preparing the environmental reports and managing the application process. Examine the legal duties of an environmental assessment practitioner and discuss the importance of independence, objectivity and full disclosure during an environmental authorisation application. Green Horizon Developments (Pty) Ltd plans to build a large shopping centre and fuel station near a wetland area outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province. The proposed development will include parking areas, new access roads and a waste disposal site. The company appoints Ms Dube as the environmental assessment practitioner (EAP) to manage the application process. Local community members complain that the development may pollute the wetland and destroy natural habitats. Ms Dube prepares reports for the development but fails to include objections raised by interested and affected parties. After receiving the reports, the competent authority grants the application for environmental authorisation. Green Horizon Developments (Pty) Ltd intends to construct a shopping centre, fuel station, parking areas, access roads and a waste disposal site near a wetland. Discuss whether these proposed activities are likely to require environmental authorisation and explain the purpose of conducting an environmental impact assessment before construction begins. After environmental authorisation was granted, community members remained dissatisfied with the decision. Explain the administrative and judicial remedies available to interested and affected parties who wish to challenge an environmental authorisation, including internal appeal, requests for reasons and judicial review. Green Horizon Developments (Pty) Ltd plans to build a large shopping centre and fuel station near a wetland area outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province. The proposed development will include parking areas, new access roads and a waste disposal site. The company appoints Ms Dube as the environmental assessment practitioner (EAP) to manage the application process. Local community members complain that the development may pollute the wetland and destroy natural habitats. Ms Dube prepares reports for the development but fails to include objections raised by interested and affected parties. After receiving the reports, the competent authority grants the application for environmental authorisation. The competent authority granted environmental authorisation after receiving the reports prepared by Ms Dube. Critically discuss the factors that the competent authority should consider before approving a development that may affect a wetland, including environmental, social, economic and cumulative impacts. Ms Dube failed to include objections raised by interested and affected parties. This is contrary to the principle of just administrative action. Examine the effect that the lack of public participation has on the application submitted to the competent authority. What steps can the local community members, as aggrieved parties, take to challenge the decision. Local community members are concerned that the development may pollute the wetland and destroy natural habitats. Discuss how the principles of sustainable development, pollution prevention and protection of biodiversity should guide the competent authority when deciding whether to grant environmental authorisation. Ms Dube was appointed as the environmental assessment practitioner responsible for preparing the environmental reports and managing the application process. Examine the legal duties of an environmental assessment practitioner and discuss the importance of independence, objectivity and full disclosure during an environmental authorisation application.