The Proposed Installation Of Flood And Erosion Intervention Structures In The Blaauklippen River, De Zalze Estate, On Erven 24, 25, Re/40, 46, 47 And 578, Stellenbosch, Western Cape Province

THE PROPOSED INSTALLATION OF FLOOD AND EROSION INTERVENTION STRUCTURES IN THE BLAAUKLIPPEN RIVER, DE ZALZE ESTATE, ON ERVEN 24, 25, RE/40, 46, 47 AND 578, STELLENBOSCH, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR COMMENT

BASIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTING PROCESS: 

DEA&DP Ref No.: 16/3/3/6/7/1/B4/45/1669/24 

The De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate Special Management Area Trust (hereafter referred to as ‘the applicant’) proposes the installation of eight flood and erosion intervention structures within a 3.42 km stretch of the Blaauklippen River within the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate in Stellenbosch. The proposed interventions would consist of hard engineering interventions such as gabion walls with an approximate total footprint of 371 m², as well as soft engineering interventions such as revegetation. The intent is to repair and rehabilitate damaged riverbank sections as a result of the 2023/2024 high rainfall events, as well as to prevent any further damage during future rainfall events. A river Maintenance Management Plan (MMP) will accompany the Draft BAR and form part of the application for environmental authorization.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants (Pty) Ltd has been appointed by the Applicant to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed project (in this case, a Basic Assessment Reporting (BAR) process) in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998) EIA Regulations (2014), as amended. 

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. Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 24 March 2025, to register as I&APs and raise any initial issues or concerns related to the proposed project and the aforementioned documents. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report (CRR1) and included in the Final Basic Assessment Report, which will be submitted to the 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 Jake Cloete of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (Email: dezalze.ppp@hollandandassociates.net or post: PostNet Suite X108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 24 March 2025. 

An electronic copy of the Draft BAR as well as its appendices can be downloaded via the Dropbox link and/or OneDrive link below: