Proposed Claassen Boerdery, Skoongesig Dam, near Malmesbury, Western Cape

THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF SKOONGESIG DAM ON FARM DIEPKLOOF NO.599, MALMESBURY: BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORTING PROCESS: NOTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION

(DEA&DP Ref No: 16/3/1/1/F5/16/3066/14)

The Applicant (Claassen Boerdery) proposes the expansion of an existing in-channel dam known as the Skoongesig Dam. The Dam is located on the Farm Diepkloof 599, approximately 12 km north of Malmesbury and lies approximately 1 km west of the N7 highway between Malmesbury and Moorreesburg in the Western Cape Province. A number of small dams with a total storage capacity of 168 000 m3 are located on the property (including Farms Diepkloof 599 and neighbouring Farm Klipfontyn 598). The proponent wishes to replace these dams with a single dam by enlarging the basin of one of the existing dams located on the Krom Tributary and then decommissioning the remaining nine other storage dams. The proposed new dam will have a wall height of 8m, with a water surface area of approximately 9ha at Full Supply Level (FSL). Environmental flow requirements will be maintained through releasing water from an outlet pipe scour valve to be positioned directly downstream of the embankment on which a flow meter will be installed to monitor monthly releases from the dam. All material for the new dam will be sourced from with within the proposed enlarged dam basin.

Interested and/or Affected Parties are hereby notified that DEA&DP has issued an Environmental Authorisation in terms of the NEMA EIA Amendment Regulations (2010) and 2014 EIA Regulations for the proposed project. DEA&DP has granted environmental authorisation to the Applicant (i.e. Claassen Boerdery) to undertake the following activities listed in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2010): Activities 11, 18 & 40 of GN No. 544 and Activities 12, 17 & 24 of GN No. 546. Furthermore, the following listed activities in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014, have been authorised for the project: Activities 19, 27, 31, 48 & 49 of GN R. 983 and Activities 12, 14, 16 & 23 of GN R. 985. The Environmental Authorisation, which was dated 26 February 2016 and issued by DEA&DP on 26 February 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

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.