Proposed Enlargement of a Dam on Portion 8 of Farm 387, Near Saron, Western Cape Province

PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF DIE DENNE DAM ON PORTION 8 OF FARM NO. 387, NEAR SARON, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR COMMENT

BASIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTING PROCESS:
DEA&DP Ref No.: 16/3/3/6/7/1/B3/32/1507/24
Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: HWC24081514SB0815

Events Cooling Systems (Pty) Ltd (herein referred to as the “applicant”) proposes to enlarge an existing enclosed dam (known as ‘Die Denne Dam’) located on Portion 8 of Farm 387, 3.5km north of Saron, within the Drakenstein Local Municipality, in the Western Cape Province.

The existing storage capacity of Die Denne Dam is 45 318 m³. Initially, the applicant proposed to enlarge this dam to a storage volume of 600 000 m³. On 4 February 2025, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) issued the Water Use License (WUL) (License Number 01/G10J/BCI/15885) for a Section 21 (b) storage volume of 435 820 m³ (and not the initially preferred alternative Option 4 of 600 000 m³). As such, the new preferred alternative for the proposed dam is Option 5, with a storage capacity of 435 820 m³ with an 8.8 m wall height, 6.9 ha water surface area at Full Supply Level (FSL) and a total footprint of 9.9 ha which is documented and assessed in this Draft Basic Assessment Report.

The proposed works would require the use of three borrow areas, with a combined area of approximately 2 ha, located about 1 km north-east of the dam on previously cultivated land. The project would also involve the relocation and diversion of two irrigation channels, as well as the installation of a 900 mm diameter culvert beneath an internal road on the property. In addition, a 315mm pipeline would be constructed to connect to the existing irrigation network. With the increased irrigation supply, the Applicant would be able to cultivate and irrigate approximately 26 ha of previously cultivated land.

The main purpose of the project is to allow for utilization of the Applicant’s existing water enlistment under the 24 Riviere Irrigation Board. With the increase of irrigation supply, the applicant would be able to cultivate and irrigate 26 ha of previously cultivated land.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed by the Applicant to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 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) EIA Regulations (2014), as amended.

The Draft Basic Assessment Report is now available to the public to review for a 30-day comment period and is downloadable via the link below. Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e., until 24 November 2025 to register as I&APs and raise any initial issues or concerns related to the proposed project and the aforementioned documents. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Responses Report 2 (CRR2) and included in the Final Basic Assessment Report, which will be submitted to the 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 Ms Shannon Hyslop of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (Email: diedennedam.ppp@hollandandassociates.net net or post: PostNet Suite X108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 24 November 2025.

An electronic copy of the Draft BAR, as well as its appendices can be downloaded via the OneDrive link below: