PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF THE NOORDHOEK DAMS & ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, RIVIERSONDEREND, WESTERN CAPE: NOTIFICATION OF SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION, AND AVAILABLITY OF THE DRAFT EIA REPORT FOR COMMENT
SCOPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS:
DEA&DP Ref No.: 16/3/3/2/E4/20/1051/23
Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 20040106SB0331E
The Japie Groenewald Trust, represented by Thinus van Wyk (hereafter referred to as ‘the applicant’) proposes to improve the water storage capacity on the farm Portion 4 of Farm no. 182, which would provide balancing storage and increased assurance of supply by providing carry-over water from wet to dry years and which would also enable the development of 109 ha of orchards on previously cultivated fields on the farm (known as ‘Noordhoek’).
The proposed project would be located on Portion 4 of the Farm Twistwyk No. 182, located approximately 6 km north-west of Riviersonderend, Theewaterskloof Local Municipality, Western Cape Province.
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 by the Japie Groenewald Trust to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed project (in this case, a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process) in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998), as amended, EIA Regulations (2014).
Notice is hereby given of the availability of the draft EIA Report for I&AP review and comment.
Notice is further given of a Water Use License Application (WULA) in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) (NWA). The following water uses as defined in Section 21 of the NWA are being applied for: 21(b) Storage of water, 21(c) Impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse and 21(i) Altering the beds, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse. HDL Consulting has been appointed by the Applicant to undertake the requisite WULA in terms of the NWA for the project. A copy of the WULA documentation is included in the draft Scoping Report for I&AP review and comment in terms of Section 41(4) of the NWA.
The draft EIA Report and Executive Summary has been made available to the public for review for a 30 day comment period, i.e. from 13 November 2023 – 13 December 2023, and are downloadable via the links below. Registered Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e., 13 November 2023 – 13 December 2023 to submit comments related to the proposed project and the aforementioned documents. Any comments received from I&APs will be collated and responded to in a Comments and Response Report CRR(3), and will be included in the Final EIA Report that will be submitted to DEA&DP at the end of the EIA Phase.
Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Draft EIA Report, please provide your comments in writing to Ms Melanie van Niekerk of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (email: noordhoek.ppp@gmail.com or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag, X12 Tokai, 7966), on or before 13 December 2023.