PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE ON FARM RE/591 KWEEK KRAAL, FARM 439 KLEIN BRAKFONTEIN, FARM 685 AND FARM 1/591 KWEEK KRAAL, NEAR CITRUSDAL, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE PRE-APPLICATION SCOPING REPORT 

SCOPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS: 

DEA&DP Pre-application Ref No.: 16/3/3/6/7/2/F2/3/2062/24

Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: HWC23021513CM0215

Mouton Citrus (Pty) Ltd (herein referred to as the “Applicant”) proposes to expand their agricultural enterprise by developing up to approximately 53.5 ha of new orchards on the Remainder of Farm 591, Kweek Kraal, as well as to construct water supply pipelines crossing Farm 439 Klein Brakfontein, Farm 685, Farm RE/591 Kweek Kraal and Farm 1/591 Kweek Kraal. Three access stream crossings are proposed to be constructed across a drainage line separating the agricultural areas, Internal access roads between the orchards would also be constructed. The properties are located on either side of the N7 in the vicinity of Citrusdal, Western Cape Province.

The proposed project would be located on Portion 1 and Remainder of Farm No. 591 Kweek Kraal, Farm 685, and Farm 439 Klein Brakfontein, situated approximately 15 km north of Citrusdal, within the Cederberg Local Municipality, Western Cape Province of South Africa.

In terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014), as amended, enacted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended, the proposed project triggers a number of listed activities identified in Government Notices (GN) R983, R984 and R985, as amended).  Accordingly, the proposed activities require Environmental Authorisation from the competent environmental authority, viz. the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) via the Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting process outlined in GN No. R982, as amended.  

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed to undertake the requisite Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process and to submit an application in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014) (as amended). Notice is hereby given in terms of Regulation 4(2) of GN R.982 (as amended), published in terms of the NEMA, of the intended submission of an application for environmental authorisation in respect of the aforementioned listed activities. Notice is also hereby given of the commencement of the pre-application public participation process in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014) (as amended).

Notice is given of the intended submission of an application for Environmental Authorisation in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014), as amended, in respect of the proposed project. Notice is also hereby given of the commencement of the pre-application public participation process in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014), as amended.

The Pre-Application Scoping Report and Executive Summary has been made available to the public for review for a 30-day comment period, i.e. from 8 August 2024 to 9 September 2024, and are downloadable via the links below. Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 9 September 2024, to register as I&APs and to submit comments to Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants related to the proposed project and the aforementioned documents. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report (CRR1) and included in the Draft Scoping Report, which will be circulated in Phase 2 of the Scoping & Environmental Impact Reporting process.

Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Pre-Application Scoping Report, please provide your comments in writing to Ms Shannon Hyslop of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (email: kweekkraal.ppp@hollandandassociates.net; or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 9 September 2024.