By Mike Loewe Grahamstown Correspondent
TWO top government scientists have resigned to join the board of Grahamstown business, Coastal & Environmental Services (CES).
The company does environmental impact and management work throughout Africa.
CES managing director Dr Ted Avis said he was delighted to welcome Bill Rawlston, an engineer and water resource management specialist for 30 years, who recently resigned as director of policy and strategic planning at the department of water affairs and forestry.
“Bill helped develop the national Water Act and wrote the national water resource strategy for South Africa. He is a great asset for the Eastern Cape,” said Avis.
Marcel Kroese, a marine biologist, was the former director of monitoring and surveillance at the marine and coastal management division of the department of environmental affairs and tourism. Avis said: “Martin has just returned from the Solomon Islands where he was part of a nine-country collaboration on fish stock management in the Pacific Ocean.”
“This is positive for the Eastern Cape as it increases our skills base in the environmental field. These guys are at the top of their game and we can only benefit from that.
“We see their appointment as crucial in helping us cope with growing demand for our specialist services.”
He said CES employs 25 consultants, eight of whom have doctorates in biological sciences. Staff have amassed a total 70 degrees, he said.
“We have appointed Bill to assist in internal quality control and day-to-day management.”
“We are going through the roof with demand for our services. We‘ve done some great work and have a solid track record. Legislation has tightened up and society is becoming more environmentally aware.”
“We are also encountering a strong social awareness of environmental issues related to the development process. This is challenging and exciting.
“We are trying to ensure that developments are both sustainable and environmentally acceptable.
“We try to ensure that developments are appropriate by carefully considering their environmental impact.
We are helped by our world-class environmental legislation.”