PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF KLIPBOSLAAGTE DAM B AND AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION ON KLIPBOSLAAGTE FARM, ROBERTSON, WESTERN CAPE: NOTIFICATION OF SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FORM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT AND INTEGRATED WATER USE LICENSE APPLICATION

DEA&DP Ref No.: 16/3/3/1/B1/14/1044/20

Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 18091201SB0917E

The Applicant, Smutsbrothers Agri (Pty) Ltd proposes to increase water storage for irrigation purposes on the farm. It is proposed that two existing farm dams are combined to an enlarged Klipboslaagte Dam B of 1 000 000 m3 storage capacity. The dam is proposed to be filled using the existing water rights. The existing abstraction works on the Breede River and pump station footprint would remain as is and additional pumps would be installed within the existing pump station footprint for the proposed additional river abstraction. In addition, the applicant proposes to expand irrigation areas on the farm, on land that has been cultivated within the last ten years, by 54 ha. The cultivation of these areas would be for the commercial production of irrigated perennial crops, e.g. citrus, tomatoes, butternut and stone fruit and grapes.

The proposed project, includes the following:

  • Enlargement of Klipboslaagte Dam B (to a 1 000 000 m3 storage capacity with a 22 m high embankment);
  • Construction of a new 400 mm diameter bulk pipeline (approximately 5 km in length) adjacent to the existing pipeline to pump water from the Breede River to the proposed Klipboslaagte Dam;
  • Extension of an existing 315 mm dia pipeline (approximately 0.5 km) to proposed Klipboslaagte Dam; and
  • Expansion of agricultural irrigation areas (on existing agricultural 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 Smutsbrothers Agri (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. Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 23 November 2020 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 Response Report CRR(2) and included in the Final Basic Assessment Report, which will be submitted for decision making.

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 Ross Holland of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email, fax or post (Fax: 086 653 1765, email: ross@hollandandassociates.net or post: PO Box 31108, Tokai, 7966), on or before 23 November 2020.