The George Municipality on 16th May 2025 approved of the application to legalise the existing airfield and facilities that currently exist on the farm Woodville 172/17, limiting them to the existing extent and associated buildings or structures already constructed, ie runways of 850 metres and 425 metres, and 2 existing hangars. The municipality stated that the office, clubhouse and workshop must be accommodated within the extent of the existing hangars.  Skydiving and tourist charter flights will not be allowed.  No outside aircraft storage will be permitted, and no agricultural buildings will be used for aircraft storage purposes.  The original application to extend the current 850 metre runway by an additional 175 metres, to erect a further 5-6 hangars in addition to the existing 2 hangars, and to legalise the existing flight school was refused by the municipality.

Mr Leppan, the owner of the Leppan airfield, has now, through his appointed town planner, Marlize de Bruyn, submitted an appeal to the George Municipality, requesting that they now reverse their decision, and allow for the extension of the  850 metre long runway by a further 175 metres, which will result in it ending only 80 metres from an adjoining historic guesthouse.  She has also requested that the proposed 5 additional hangars and the extension of an existing hangar that the municipality has refused, be approved.  Marlize de Bruyn previously stated that “there are 9 fixed wing planes hangered at Leppan Airfield and on average they fly once a week”.  This equates to 4 to 5  aeroplanes per hangar, given there are two hangars. If the number of 6 hangars for which she is now applying, which the municipality have refused, is approved, the number of aircraft utilising the expanded aviation facilities at this airfield will potentially increase by approximately 24 or more aircraft, resulting in the number of flights taking off and landing increasing exponentially. 

As this airfield is approximately 740 metres from the Garden Route National Park’s nearest boundary, SANParks in January 2024 in their objection to the expansion of the airfield, is concerned that aircraft landing and taking off on the runways may not be able to attain the required altitude over such a short distance, and that airspace restrictions above the park may be compromised.  The safety of bird life in the vicinity could be detrimentally affected, and the local residents could be affected by the possible increase in noise if the number of aircraft using the airfield is allowed to increase accordingly.

We call upon the residents of this area and anyone else who may be affected by this application to object to any increase in the facilities at this airfield and who support the municipality’s decision to limit the airfield to the existing extent and associated buildings or structures already constructed.

The decision by the George Municipality is indicative of their increasing recognition of the need to protect the natural environment across the greater Wilderness area. This petition aims to protect the Wilderness National Park and the Wilderness Lakes area from possible  irreversible damage, ensuring it remains a pristine natural, rural environment, and a source of pride for the community and visitors. 

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Sign this petition to show your support for preserving our irreplaceable rural heritage.