Proposed Enlargement Of Three Dams, Installation Of Pipelines, A Concrete Division Structure, And Associated Infrastructure, Porterville, Western Cape Province

PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT OF PAD, RIOOL AND BALANSEER DAMS, INSTALLATION OF IRRIGATION PIPELINES, UPGRADING OF EXISTING JAKKALSKLOOF WEIR, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A CONCRETE DIVISION STRUCTURE ON EIKENHOF FARM, PORTERVILLE, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE PRE-APPLICATION BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT AND WATER USE LICENSE APPLICATION

BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORTING PROCESS:

DEA&DP Pre-Application Ref No.: 16/3/3/6/7/1/F1/12/2169/23

Garden Gate (Pty) Ltd proposes to enlarge three existing dams – Pad Dam, Riool Dam, and Balanseer Dam, on Eikenhof farm. The proposed project includes up to 86 ha of irrigated agricultural land (located on existing cultivated areas), the enlargement of the existing Pad Dam to accommodate a storage capacity of 541 400 m³, the enlargement of the existing Riool Dam to accommodate a storage capacity of 81 000 m³, the expansion of the Balanseer Dam to have a full storage capacity of 100 000 m³ and new proposed pump stations with a physical footprint of 24 m² at each dam. The irrigation pipelines and associated infrastructure for the proposed project will include a 200 mm treated effluent pipeline (0.7 km) from the Porterville wastewater treatment facility to the existing Riool Dam, a new 315 mm pipeline (2.9 km) from Bergrivier Municipality Water Source to Pad Dam, a 315 mm irrigation pipeline between Riool and Balanseer Dam (1.5 km) as well as a 315 mm pipeline from Onder Dam to Pad Dam (0.6 km). There is the proposed upgrading of the Jakkalskloof Weir and a new 8 m² reinforced concrete division structure downstream of the Municipal Division Structure.

The proposed project would be located on Portions 3, 8,9, 12, and Remainder of Portion 13 of the Farm Willems Valley No. 207, with the addition of the following eight erven forming part of the site: 1179, 1471, RE/1703, RE/1169, 2444, 2443, 1360, 1359, near Porterville in the Western Cape.

In terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014), as amended, enacted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), as amended, the proposed project triggers a number of listed activities identified in Government Notices (GN) R.983 and R.984 of the 2014 EIA Regulations, as amended. Accordingly, the proposed activities require Environmental Authorisation from the competent environmental authority, viz. the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) via a Basic Assessment Reporting process outlined in GN No. R.982, as amended.

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

Notice is given of the intended submission of the application for Environmental Authorisation to DEA&DP, in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014), as amended, with respect to this proposed project. Furthermore, notice is hereby given of the commencement of the pre-application public participation process in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014), as amended.

Notice is further given of an Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA). The following water uses as defined in Section 21 of the NWA will be applied for: 21(a) Taking of water from a water resource; 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 to undertake the IWULA process.

The Pre-Application Basic Assessment Report is available to the public for review for a 60-day comment period and is downloadable via the link below. Registered Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 60 days, i.e. 16 April 2024 – 19 June 2024 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 (CRR1) and will be addressed and included in the Draft Basic Assessment Report which will be circulated for I&AP comment during Phase 2 of the public participation process. All registered I&APs will be notified of when the Draft Basic Assessment Report is available for review and comment.

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, via post or e-mail to Mr Jake Cloete of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants (Email: paddam.ppp@hollandandassociates.net, or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966) on or before 19 June 2024.