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

PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF DIE DENNE DAM AND ASSOCIATED PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE ON PORTION 8 OF FARM NO. 387, NEAR SARON, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE PRE-APPLICATION BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT AND INTEGRATED WATER USE LICENCE APPLICATION

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

The Applicant, Events Cooling Systems (Pty) Ltd, proposes the enlargement of the existing Die Denne Dams and associated pipeline infrastructure on Portion 8 of Farm No. 387. The farm is located 3.5km north of Saron, within the Drakenstein Local Municipality, in the Western Cape Province.

The Applicant proposes to enlarge the storage capacity of the dam from 45 000 m³ to 600 000 m³ to allow for utilization of their existing water enlistment under the 24 Riviere Irrigation Board. The proposed enlarged dam would have a 9.7 m wall height and a 12.5 ha footprint. The use of three borrow areas (with a combined area of 2 ha) located 1 km north-east of the dam, on previously cultivated land, would be required. The relocation and diversion of two irrigation channels would be required, and a 900 mm diameter culvert would be installed beneath a road on the property. With the increase of irrigation supply, the Applicant would be able to cultivate and irrigate 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.

Notice is further given of an Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) 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 will be applied for: 21(b) storing 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.

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

The Pre-Application Basic Assessment Report is now available to the public for review for a 60-day comment period from 7 November 2024 – 29 January 2025, and is downloadable via the links below. A comprehensive Executive Summary is also provided as a separate link for download below.

Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 60 days, i.e., until 29 January 2025, to register as I&APs and raise any initial issues or concerns related to the proposed project and the findings of the Pre-Application Basic Assessment Report. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report 1 (CRR1) and included in the Draft Basic Assessment Report that will be circulated in the next phase of the Environmental Authorisation process.

Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Pre-Application 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 or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 29 January 2025.