PROPOSED RAISING OF RUIMSIG DAM (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FRANSBERG DAM) AND AGRICULTURAL EXPANSION ON REMAINDER OF PORTION 56 AND PORTION 93 (A PORTION OF PORTION 56) OF THE FARM DE LA HAYE NO. 92 NEAR DE DOORNS, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS: NOTIFICATION OF OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT (DEA&DP Ref No: 16/3/3/1/B2/3/1028/17)
The Applicant (Mr Stephaan Jordaan) proposes to raise the existing Ruimsig Dam (formerly known as Fransberg Dam), as well as expand agricultural land on the Remainder of Portion 56 and Portion 93 (a portion of Portion 56) of the Farm De la Haye No. 92. The Ruimsig Dam has an existing wall height of 9m and storage capacity of 88 000m3. The project entails raising the dam wall by 2.4m, which would result in a total storage capacity of approximately 160 000m3. Furthermore, the proposal includes the clearance of approximately 4.03ha of indigenous vegetation (virgin soils) for agricultural expansion.
In terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014), as amended, enacted in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998, as amended), the proposed project triggers a number of listed activities identified inGovernment Notices R.983 and R.985, as amended, namely:
GN R.983 (as amended) activities triggered by the proposed development: 19, 27, 48, and 50
GN R.985 (as amended) activities triggered by the proposed development: 12 and 16.
Accordingly, the proposed activities require authorisation from the competent environmental authority, viz. the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) via the Basic Assessment Process outlined in GN No. R.982, as amended.
Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed to undertake the requisite Basic Assessment process for the project, in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998), as amended, EIA Regulations (2014).
The draft Basic Assessment Report has been made available to the public for review for a 30 day comment period, and is downloadable via the link below. Registered Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. from 6 September – October 2017, to submit written comments on the proposed project and the findings of the Basic Assessment Report. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report (CRR(2)) and included in the Final Basic Assessment Report that will be submitted to DEA&DP for decision making.
Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Basic Assessment Report, please provide your comments in writing to Mrs Nicole Holland of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email, fax or post (Fax: 086 762 6126, email: nicole@hollandandassociates.net or post: PO Box 31108, Tokai, 7966), on or before 9 October 2017.