Proposed Raising Of Jan Rabie Dam On Farm Voorspoed No. 92 And Farm Die Ghwarries No. 93, Near Robertson

PROPOSED RAISING OF JAN RABIE DAM ON FARM VOORSPOED NO. 92 AND FARM DIE GHWARRIES NO. 93, NEAR ROBERTSON, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FORM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE PRE-APPLICATION BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT AND INTEGRATED WATER USE LICENCE APPLICATION

BASIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTING PROCESS: DEA&DP Ref No.: 16/3/3/6/7/1/B1/14/1291/21

Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 17020201AS0203M

Habata Boerdery (Pty) Ltd, trading as Habata Agri, represented by Jan Rabie (hereafter referred to as “the Applicant”), proposes the raising of Jan Rabie Dam on Farm Voorspoed No. 92 and Farm Die Ghwarries No. 93, located approximately 14 km south west of Robertson, within the Langeberg Local Municipality in the Western Cape Province.

The proposed project consists of enlarging the Jan Rabie Dam from its current storage capacity of 586 000 m3 (with a wall height of 20.1 m) to 1 600 000 m3 (with a wall height of 25.8 m) by raising the full supply level by approximately 5.7 m and raising the embankment crest by approximately 4.7 m. A new upstream berm 1 with a wall height of 8.7 m will be constructed to prevent the inundation of the Eskom servitude area, as well as a new upstream berm 2 with a wall height of 7.8 m to prevent the flooding of existing orchards. The existing access road will be relocated to above the Full Supply Level (FSL) on the left abutment and a 160 mm diameter bypass pipeline with a length of 0.7 km will be installed to drain the water upstream of the proposed berm 1 to keep the Eskom servitude a free draining area.

The main purpose of the project is to increase assurance of supply of irrigation water to ensure sustainable farming amidst the uncertainties surrounding the recent drought in the Western Cape and possible impacts of climate change. Consistent irrigation will improve the farm’s feasibility by allowing for the production of high value crops, including citrus, table grapes, wine grapes and deciduous fruits.

The Applicant wishes to apply for an additional 853 300 m3/a of storage capacity within the Jan Rabie Dam. This additional storage capacity will be filled by taking surplus winter water from the Breede River (1 000 000 m3/a) and from groundwater (585 281 m3/a) pumped from production boreholes on the properties via an existing pipeline network. The total groundwater component is 848 081 m3/a, including the existing registered 262 800 m3/a. A Water Use Licence Application (WULA) for the proposed water uses will be undertaken for DWS approval.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants (Pty) Ltd has been appointed by Habata Boerdery (Pty) Ltd to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 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) EIA Regulations (2014), as amended. DJ Hagen & Associates (Pty) Ltd. is the consulting engineer for the proposed project. GEOSS South Africa (Pty) Ltd. has been appointed to undertake the WULA.

The Pre-Application Basic Assessment Report has been made available to the public for review for a 60-day comment period and is downloadable via the link below. Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 60 days, i.e. until 31 January 2022 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(1) and included in the draft Basic Assessment Report, which 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 Melanie Van Niekerk of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email, fax or post (Fax: 086 653 1765, email: mvanniekerk@hollandandassociates.net or post: PO Box 31108, Tokai, 7966), on or before 31 January 2022.