The Rectification Of The Commencement Of Works Within A Watercourse, In Respect Of The Repair Of A Dam Wall, On Portion 8 Of Farm No. 842, Malmesbury, Western Cape Province: Nema S24G Rectification Process

THE RECTIFICATION OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORKS WITHIN A WATERCOURSE, IN RESPECT OF THE REPAIR OF A DAM WALL, ON PORTION 8 OF FARM NO. 842, MALMESBURY, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE: NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FORM IN TERMS OF SECTION 24G OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (NEMA) (107 OF 1998) AND NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DOCUMENT FOR COMMENT

S24G ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

DEA&DP Ref No.: 14/2/4/1/F5/16/0005/25

On 25 June 2023, the Welgelegen Dam failed after water levels rose above the crest of the dam wall, leading to the complete failure of the wall. The Welgelegen Dam, an in-stream structure originally constructed in 1984, is registered with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) under registration number 12/2/G202/65. In March 2024, Lammershoek Farms and Winery (Pty) Ltd (hereafter referred to as ‘the Applicant’), completed the repair of the Welgelegen dam wall and downstream access bridge on Portion 8 of Farm No. 842. The repaired Welgelegen dam has an earth embankment wall height of 7.8 m (measured from the outside toe of the wall), a capacity of 150 000 m³ and a footprint of approximately 3 ha at the full supply level. The repaired downstream access bridge has a repaired footprint of approximately 60 m². The activities undertaken to repair the dam wall and downstream access bridge were commenced with and completed without obtaining an Environmental Authorisation. The dam has an emergency spillway that has been constructed on the western side of the dam wall. The spillway has yet to be completed and for the time being, has been lined with plastic sheeting and sandbags. It is proposed to complete the spillway, in the event that Environmental Authorisation is granted.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed by Lammershoek Farms & Winery (Pty) Ltd to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment process for the project (in this case a Section 24G process) in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998), as amended, EIA Regulations (2014).

The Pre-Application S24G Application Form has been made available to the public for review for a 30-day comment period from 27 May 2025 to 27 June 2025 and is downloadable via the link below. Potential Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 27 June 2025 to register as I&APs and raise any initial issues or concerns related to the project. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report CRR (1) and included in the updated S24G Application Form, which will be available for further public comment for a period of 30 days. A comprehensive Executive Summary is also provided as a separate link for download below.

Should you have any comments, issues, or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the S24G Application Form, please provide your comments in writing to Ms. Shannon Hyslop of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (email: lammershoek.ppp@hollandandassociates.net or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 27 June 2025.

An electronic copy of the Pre-Application S24G Application Form as well as its appendices can be downloaded via the OneDrive link below: