The DA has called on Environmental Affairs Minister Valli Moosa to intervene personally in the furore surrounding the possible allocation of mining rights to an Australian company, allowing it to mine a pristine section of the Pondoland coast.

Speaking during the environmental affairs and tourism budget debate in the National Assembly yesterday, Democratic Alliance MP Errol Moorcroft said allowing mining of the area's dunes amounted to "environmental vandalism".

"I wish to make an urgent appeal to the minister to intervene personally in the battle that is currently being fought to save one of the world's loveliest stretches of coastline from destruction by mining for heavy minerals.

"The reason why this threat exists is because the department of minerals and energy has, in its wisdom, granted a permit to an Australian-based company to go prospecting among the dunes on this shoreline," he said.

Moorcroft's appeal to the minister follows a call he made last week for a halt to the prospecting, as well as a rethink on a proposed tollroad through the area, which green organisations say is being built to serve a future minesite.

The prospecting currently being carried out - by the Perth-based company Mineral Commodities - is understood to be taking place in and around the site of the proposed Pondoland National Park.

In a recent statement, the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (Wessa) said it had uncovered documents that suggested government's plans for the N2 toll road "could be linked to an Australian mining concession".

"According to the annual report of Mineral Commodities, a feasibility study... has been completed on the coastal dunes of the northern Wild Coast.

"The company intends to mine the dunes for ilminite and rutile, two common industrial minerals found in beach sand".

Ilminite and rutile both contain the metal titanium, which is used in the manufacture of strong, lightweight alloys, especially for aircraft parts.

Wessa said mining of the minerals would take place over a period of 17 years, and net the company tens of millions of dollars a year.

"The annual report makes reference to transport by road of the ore and slag to East London.

"Maps of the proposed route of the controversial N2 highway between Port Edward and East London shows that the intended route... will in effect serve the mining site.

"It therefore appears that, far from being a tourist road, the new toll road will be subsidised by the consumer to offer efficient transport to the Australian mining company," the statement said.

Moorcroft yesterday told the House he believed every conservation-minded South African would oppose the mining scheme, "and tell the Australians to go and bulldoze beaches in their own country".

"Why should our magnificent environmental heritage be sacrificed to put money in foreign bank accounts?" he asked.

In his reply, Moosa said he was opposed to mining of the Pondoland coast.

"It doesn't make sense... we will regret it in the long run if we mine those pristine dunes".

Eco-tourism was a far better and more sustainable option for the area.

Moosa said Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka had not spoken in favour of, or given the go-ahead for, mining on this section of coast.

"There is no government permission, as such. It is a discussion she and I have had in great detail, and one which will continue between us.

"I don't see any need at this stage to call on Parliament to intervene on my side," Moosa said.

Earlier, he revealed that the Eastern Cape legislature was not in favour of the establishment of the Pondoland National Park.

"We have not been able to find agreement with the Eastern Cape. The government there has, for some reason, not been in favour of establishing such a park," Moosa said. – Sapa.