PROPOSED BOEKENHOUTSKLOOF AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION ON PORTION 105 OF FARM 587, HEMEL EN AARDE VALLEY, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION THE AND AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT AND INTEGRATED WATER USE LICENCE APPLICATION

BASIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS: DEA&DP Ref No.: 16/3/3/6/7/1/E2/27/1232/20

Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 20072908SB0803E

Boekenhoutskloof Winery (hereafter referred to as “the Applicant”) proposes the expansion of agricultural areas on Portion 105 of Farm 587 (C01300000000058700105), Hemel en Aarde Valley, Overstrand Municipality, Western Cape Province. The development site (105/587) is 37.79 ha in size.

The proposed project consists of the agricultural expansion of approximately 13.5 ha of new vineyards including access farm roads. A screening study was conducted by the freshwater, botanical and heritage specialists in 2019 to inform the project design. Approximately 5.5 ha of vineyards and a store were constructed in 2020 on the site in an area confirmed by the specialists as transformed (previously cultivated within 10 years) and outside of aquatic buffers, that did not require environmental authorisation.

The majority of the proposed development footprint is in areas of degraded and highly degraded indigenous vegetation listed as Critically Endangered (low botanical sensitivity). 1.5 ha of semi-intact (medium botanical sensitivity) indigenous vegetation would be lost if the proposed development is authorised. The proposed design avoids aquatic buffers which will be improved and rehabilitated and incorporates areas of medium and high botanical sensitivity as fynbos features that will be retained and appropriately managed.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed by Boekenhoutskloof Winery (Pty) Ltd to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment process for the proposed project (in this case, a Basic Assessment Reporting (BAR) process) in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998), as amended, EIA Regulations (2014).

The Draft Basic Assessment Report has been made available to the public for review for a 30-day comment period, and is downloadable via the link below. Registered Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. 3 June 2021 – 5 July 2021 to submit comments related to the proposed project and Draft Basic Assessment Report. Any comments received from I&APs will be collated and responded to in a Comments and Response Report CRR(2), and will be included in the final BAR that will be submitted to DEA&DP for decision making

Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Draft Basic Assessment Report, please provide your comments in writing to Anja Albertyn of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email, fax or post (Fax: 086 653 1765, email: anja@hollandandassociates.net or post: PO Box 31108, Tokai, 7966), on or before x June 2021.