PROPOSED UPGRADING OF A LOW-LEVEL BRIDGE OVER THE OLIFANTS RIVER AND ASSOCIATED ACCESS ROAD, NEAR CITRUSDAL, WESTERN CAPE: NOTIFICATION OF SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT: 

BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS

(DEA&DP Ref No: 16/3/3/1/F2/3/2036/19)

Mouton Citrus (Pty) Ltd (hereafter referred to as ‘the Applicant’) proposes to upgrade an existing low-level bridge that crosses the Olifants River, and associated access road, approximately 12km north of Citrusdal and 160m east of the N7 national highway, in the Western Cape Province. The existing low-level bridge currently overtops for large parts of the winter rainfall season. The proposed upgrading of the bridge includes the following: (i) upgrading of the existing bridge structure, (ii) upgrading the N7 intersection/ turn-off to the bridge (i.e. widening the N7 at the intersection, for the construction of a tapered lane); and (iii) upgrading the existing access road from the N7 to the bridge, and east of the bridge, to the Applicant’s packhouse on Farm No 439.  The proposed upgrades to the access road and bridge structure are primarily for the Applicant’s private use (however the Applicant’s employees in their private capacity and neighbours would also likely use the bridge).

In terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014), as amended, 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 GN No. R.983, as amended (Listing Notice 1), and GN No. R985, as amended (Listing Notice 3), namely:

  • GN R.983, as amended (Listing Notice 1) activities triggered by the proposed development: 19, 27, 48 & 56
  • GN R.985, as amended (Listing Notice 3) activities triggered by the proposed development: 18

Accordingly, the proposed activities will require environmental 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. R982, as amended.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed by Mouton Citrus (Pty) Ltd to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed project (in this case, a Basic Assessment process) in accordance with the NEMA EIA Regulations (2014), as amended.

The draft Basic Assessment Report has been made available to Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) for review for a 30 day comment period, and is downloadable via the link below. I&APs have 30 days, i.e. 25 June 2019 – 25 July 2019 to submit comments on the proposed project and draft Basic Assessment Report.Any comments received from I&APs will be collated and responded to in a Comments and Response Report CRR(2), and will be 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 draft Basic Assessment Report, please provide your comments in writing to Nicole Holland of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email, fax or post (Fax: 086 762 6126, email: nicole@hollandandassociates.netor post: PO Box 31108, Tokai, 7966), on or before 25 July 2019.