THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF POPLAR GROVE DAMS AND THE CULTIVATION OF VIRGIN SOIL ON PORTIONS 7, 9 AND 10 OF FARM NO. 105 AND PORTION 10 OF FARM 106, NEAR VILLIERSDORP, WESTERN CAPE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTING PROCESS: NOTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION
(DEA&DP Ref No: 16/3/1/2/E2/27/2136/14)

The Applicant (Chiltern Farms (Pty) Ltd) proposes the development of a new off-channel dam on Portion 7 of Farm 105 (Poplar Grove Farm) with associated infrastructure and expansion of agricultural lands on Portions 7, 9 and 10 of Farm 105 as well as on Portion 10 of the Farm 106 (Gelukstroom Farm). An enlargement of an existing off-channel dam, Middle Dam, on Poplar Grove Farm is also proposed.

The proposed scheme is required for the following reasons:
• The proposed Poplar Grove Dam will provide balancing storage of existing lawful water use. No additional water will be taken to fill this dam.
• The expansion of the Middle Dam will provide additional storage capacity to serve the irrigation needs of the orchards on the farms. A General Authorisation will need to be issued by DWS for this activity.
• The stored water will provide for the irrigation of new blueberry and apple orchards to be planted.
• The new Poplar Grove Dam will achieve energy savings as the water will be fed from a higher altitude to orchards under irrigation thus saving the pumping costs.

Interested and/or Affected Parties are hereby notified that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has issued an Environmental Authorisation in terms of the NEMA EIA Amendment Regulations (2010) and 2014 EIA Regulations, as amended, for the proposed project. DEA&DP has granted environmental authorisation to the Applicant (i.e. Chiltern Farms (Pty) Ltd) to undertake the following activities listed in terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations (2010): Activities 11, 18 & 40 of GN No. 544, Activity 19 of GN No. 19 and Activities 2, 4, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 & 24 of GN No. 546. Furthermore, the following listed activities in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014, as amended, have been authorised for the project: Activities 19, 27 & 48 of GN R. 327, Activity 16 of GN R. 325 and Activities 4 & 12 of GN R. 324. The Environmental Authorisation, which was dated 2 May 2017 and issued by DEA&DP on 2 May 2017, 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.