The Proposed Expansion of Cultivated Areas on Farm De Wilgen (10/91) and Proposed Lining of The De Wilgen Bo Dam, Near Robertson

THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF CULTIVATED AREAS ON FARM DE WILGEN (10/91) AND PROPOSED LINING OF THE DE WILGEN BO DAM, NEAR ROBERTSON, WESTERN CAPE: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS: NOTIFICATION OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR COMMENT

SCOPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS:
DEA&DP Ref No.: 16/3/3/2/B1/14/1081/24

Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 22101406AM1010E

De Wilgen Boere (Pty) Ltd (hereafter referred to as “the Applicant”) wishes to expand their agricultural enterprise by developing up to approximately 73,85 ha of new vineyards (the Preferred Alternative entails 41.19 ha of expansion) on Portion 10 of Farm De Wilgen No. 91, located approximately 15 km south west of Robertson, within the Langeberg Local Municipality in the Western Cape Province. The development site (10/91) is 494.64 ha in size.

The proposed project includes the clearance of indigenous vegetation on Portion 10 of Farm De Wilgen No. 91, for the purpose of planting new wine grapes, as well as the lining of the existing De Wilgen Bô Dam. The existing De Wilgen Bô Dam leaks extensively and can currently not be utilised to its full storage capacity, it is therefore proposed to undertake some remedial works on the existing dam as well as to line the dam, in order to provide sufficient (and water efficient) irrigation water storage on the site. The existing dam has a registered storage capacity of 562 200m 3 , however the proposed remedial works will result in a dam with a smaller footprint and a reduced storage capacity of 500 000m 3 . If completed, the dam would continue to store water for irrigation purposes.

The existing water use that qualifies as an Existing Lawful Water Use under Section 33 of the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) is the enlistment allocation confirmed by the Central Breede Water User Association (WUA), which equates to 1 123 475 m³/a, as detailed in Table 2.2 of this report, and confirmed in writing by the Breede Olifants Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA). The confirmation from BOCMA is attached as Annexure N1b of the EIA Report. This allocation is fully utilised for existing crop plantings on Portion 10 of Farm De Wilgen No. 91. In order to support the proposed expansion of 41.19 ha of wine grapes, an additional volume of 210 944 m³/a of irrigation water is required.

Accordingly, De Wilgen Boere (Pty) Ltd has initiated a Water Use Licence Application (WULA) for an additional 210 944 m³/a from the Greater Brandvlei Dam Government Water Scheme. On 17 February 2025, BOCMA issued a pre-approval letter confirming that the application may proceed. This letter is attached as Annexure N2 of the EIA Report. A pre-application meeting between HDL Consulting and BOCMA was held on 27 March 2025 to progress the application, with the meeting minutes included as Annexure N3 of the EIA Report. The status of the application on the e-WULA system, as at 10 April 2025, is attached as Annexure O of the EIA Report.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants have been appointed to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment process (i.e. Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting process) for the proposed project in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998, as amended) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (2014), as amended.

The draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been made available to the public for review for a 30-day comment period and is downloadable via the link below. Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 13 June 2025, to submit their written comments on the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report to Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants.

All comments received from registered I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report CRR (3), and will be included in the Final EIA Report which will be submitted to DEA&DP for decision making.

On submission of the EIA Report, the DEA&DP must, within 107 days of receipt of the Final EIA Report, either grant environmental authorisation in respect of all or part of the activities applied for, or refuse environmental authorisation. All registered I&APs shall be notified of decision.

Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report, please provide your comments in writing to Melanie Van Niekerk of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (Email: dewilgen.ppp@hollandandassociates.net or post: PostNet Suite X108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 13 June 2025.