PROPOSED RAISING OF OSPLAAS DAM ON PORTION 6 OF FARM BUFFELSRUG NO. 611, REMAINDER OF FARM NO. 611, REMAINDER OF ERF NO.  2 AND REMAINDER OF FARM NO. 181, HEX VALLEY, WESTERN CAPE: NOTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION

(DEA&DP Ref No: 16/3/1/1/B2/3/1133/14)

The Hex Valley Water User Association (HVWUA) propose to raise the Osplaas Dam, located approximately 7km north east of De Doorns. The present gross storage capacity of the dam is 2.7 million m3 and the dam is filled from various sources by means of pumping, as the runoff from the catchment of the dam is minimal. The height of the existing dam wall is 35m. The HVWUA proposes to raise the dam (i.e. the spillway and embankment) by 5m, which would result in an approximately 8.2ha increase in the water surface area of the dam, and would increase the storage capacity from 2.7 million m3 to 4.2 million m3.  The proposed raising of the dam will also include an extension of the embankment on the left flank, to prevent the raised dam from impacting on a nearby railway line, as well as maintenance and upgrade of infrastructure at the Grootkloof Weir.

In terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2010) enacted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA), as amended, the proposed project triggers a number of listed activities identified in Government Notices (GN) R544 and R546 of the 2010 EIA Regulations, as well as GN 983 and 985 of the 2014 EIA Regulations. Accordingly, the proposed activities required authorisation from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) via the Basic Assessment process outlined in GN No. 543.

Interested and/or Affected Parties are hereby notified that DEA&DP has issued an Environmental Authorisation in terms of NEMA, the EIA Amendment Regulations (2010) and 2014 EIA Regulations for the proposed project. DEA&DP has granted environmental authorisation to the Applicant (i.e. the HVWUA to undertake the following activities listed in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2010): Activities 11, 18, 37, 39, 40, 41 & 55 of GN R544 and Activities 12, 13, 14, 16 & 24 of GN R546. Furthermore, the following listed activities in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014 have been authorised: 12, 19, 27, 45, 48, 49, 50 & 66 of GN R983 and Activities 12, 14 & 23 of GN R985. The Environmental Authorisation, which was dated 20 May 2016 and issued by DEA&DP on 20 May 2016, is downloadable via the link below.

We would like to draw your attention to your right to appeal against the decision to the Minister in terms of Chapter 7 of the EIA Amendment Regulations (2010).  Any person who wishes to appeal must lodge a Notice of Intention to Appeal with the Minister within 20 calendar days of the date of DEA&DP’s decision.  The Appeal must be submitted within 30 days of the lodging of the Notice of Intention to Appeal.  All Notice of Intention to Appeal and Appeal Forms must be submitted by means of one of the following methods:

By post:      Western Cape Ministry of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Private Bag X9186, Cape Town, 8000

By facsimile: (021) 483-4174; or

By hand:     Attention: Mr Jaap de Villiers; Room 809, 8th Floor Utilitas Building, 1 Dorp Street), Cape Town, 8001

An electronic copy (Microsoft Word format) of the appeal, responding statement and any supporting documents must also be submitted to the Appeal Authority to the address listed above and/ or via e-mail to Jaap.DeVilliers@westerncape.gov.za.A prescribed Notice of Intention to Appeal Form and Appeal Form, as well as assistance regarding the appeal process, is obtainable from the office of the Minister at: Tel. (021) 483 3721, email Jaap.deVilliers@westerncape.gov.za or URL http://www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp.