Proposed Expansion of Agricultural Areas, The Construction of An In-Stream Dam and an Off-Stream Balancing Dam, The Decommissioning of Five (5) Dams and Associated Infrastructure, Near Clanwilliam Western Cape Province

PROPOSED EXPANSION OF AGRICULTURAL AREAS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN IN-STREAM DAM AND AN OFF-STREAM BALANCING DAM, THE DECOMMISSIONING OF FIVE (5) DAMS AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE REMAINDER OF PORTION 9 OF FARM NO. 205, KRANSVLEI, NEAR CLANWILLIAM, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE PRE-APPLICATION SCOPING REPORT AND WATER USE LICENSE APPLICATION

SCOPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTING PROCESS:

DEA&DP Pre-Application Ref No.: 16/3/3/6/7/2/F2/4/2181/23

(Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 22011407AM0422E)

Kransvlei Farms (Pty) Ltd proposes the expansion of agricultural areas, the construction of an in-stream dam, the enlargement of an off-stream balancing dam, and the decommissioning of five dams, on the Remainder of Portion 9 of Farm 205. The proposed project components include up to 82 ha of additional agricultural areas, the construction of Daan Smit Dam with a storage capacity of 740 000 m³, a pump station, a PVC pipeline of approximately 2.5 km length from the proposed dam to the proposed agricultural areas, a PVC pipeline (0.9 km) from the proposed pump station to an existing reservoir, the extension of a powerline from the farmhouse to the proposed pump station, the enlargement of an existing reservoir to 10 000 m³ and the decommissioning of 5 existing dams on the Puts River. Daan Smit Dam would have a wall height of 24 m and a full supply level of 11 hectares. Both new pipelines are proposed to be 315 mm in diameter and the maximum wall height of the proposed reservoir enlargement would be increased to a height of 5.5 m.

The proposed project would be located on the Remainder of Portion 9 of the Farm Kransvlei No. 205, located approximately 8 km southwest of Clanwilliam, in the Cederberg Municipality, Western Cape Province.

In terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014), enacted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended, the proposed project triggers a number of listed activities identified in Government Notices (GN) R.983 and R.984, 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 the Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting process outlined in GN No. R.982, as amended.  

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants have been appointed by Kransvlei Farms (Pty) Ltd to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed project (in this case, a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process) in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998), as amended, 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, in respect of the 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 a Water Use License Application (WULA) 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 are being applied for: 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 by the Applicant to undertake the requisite WULA in terms of the NWA for the project. A copy of the WULA documentation is included in the Pre-Application Scoping Report for I&AP review and comment in terms of Section 41(4) of the NWA.

The Pre-Application Scoping Report (including a copy of the Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA)) has been made 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. 30 July 2024 – 30 September 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 CRR (1) and will be addressed and included in the Draft Scoping Report that will be circulated for I&AP comment in Phase 2 of the EIA process. All registered I&APs will be notified when the Draft Scoping Report (in Phase 2 of the Scoping & Environmental Impact Reporting process) is available for comment.

Should you have any comments, issues, or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Pre-Application Scoping Report, please provide your comments in writing, via post or e-mail to Ms Shannon Hyslop of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants (Tel: 082 827 2748, email: kransvlei.ppp@hollandandassociates.net, or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966) on or before 30 September 2024.