PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF RIVIERPLAAS AND SUURLEMOEN DAMS AND ASSOCIATED PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE ON FARM NO. 602 AND PORTION 43 OF FARM KLEIN VALLEY NO. 481, NEAR CITRUSDAL, 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/F2/3/2133/21
Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 19120609SB1212E
The Applicant, M & M Trust, proposes the enlargement of the existing Rivierplaas and Suurlemoen Dams and associated pipeline infrastructure on Farm No. 602 and Portion 43 of Farm Klein Valley No. 481. The respective farms are farmed as a single farming unit and are located approximately 3.3km and 9.5km south of Citrusdal, in the Western Cape.
The proposed enlarged Rivierplaas Dam would have a storage capacity of 505 000m3 and an estimated wall height of 8.5m. The proposed enlarged Suurlemoen Dam would have a storage capacity of 470 000m3 and an estimated wall height of 11m. The proposed enlarged dams would be filled by pumping enlistment water from the Olifants River using existing infrastructure with the exception of a proposed 315mm diameter pipeline (approximately 0.2km long) to connect the existing pipeline infrastructure to the proposed enlarged Suurlemoen Dam. A proposed sand and general fill borrow area of approximately 1ha, that would be required for the enlargement of Rivierplaas Dam, has been identified to the north-west of Rivierplaas Dam.
The main purpose of the project is to increase the Applicant’s assurance of supply of irrigation water on the farms for existing cultivated areas. By storing a greater proportion of enlistment water, the Applicant is able to make more efficient use of their existing entitled water rights.
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 M & M Trust 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 has been made available to the public for review for a 60 day comment period from 14 July 2023 – 13 September 2023, and is downloadable via the links below. The 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 13 September 2023, 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 CRR(1) and included in the draft Basic Assessment Report that will be circulated in Phase 2 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 Melanie van Niekerk of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (email: rivierplaasandsuurlemoen.ppp@gmail.com or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 13 September 2023.