UNLAWFUL CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION OF DAMS ON TWEE HEUWELS FARM, SLANGHOEK, RAWSONVILLE, WESTERN CAPE: S24G APPLICATION FORM AND NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DOCUMENT FOR COMMENT
NEMA SECTION 24G RECTIFICATION PROCESS:
DEA&DP Ref No.: 14/2/4/1/B2/21/0011/22
Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: 21042104AM0426E
The applicant, Mr Theuns G Le Roux initiated (and did not as yet complete) a project to increase the efficiency of water use via increasing the water storage capacity for irrigation on its farm properties. Whilst the activities themselves are permitted within the current land use rights of the individual properties involved (Agriculture 1 Zoning), some of the activities were commenced without an environmental authorisation and thus were in contravention of section 24F(1) of NEMA. The applicant intends to rectify these unlawful activities which occurred on three farm portions of Twee Heuwels Farm. The activities included (1) the enlargement of two dams, (2) the construction of one dam, (3) the incomplete enlargement of a further dam and (4) the clearing of vegetation and removal of sediment from watercourse areas. Between 2004 and 2010, two existing dams (Perdekamp Dam and Huis Dam) were enlarged, and a new dam (Gat Dam) was constructed on the farm. In July 2019, the enlargement of Rooiwal Dam commenced. In 2021, the applicant initiated the clearing of vegetation and removal of sediment from certain watercourse areas on the farm.
Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed by Mr T G Le Roux 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), as amended.
The S24G Application Form has been made available to the public for review for a 30 day comment period from 10 August 2023 – 11 September 2023, and is downloadable via the link below. Registered Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 11 September 2023, to submit comments related to the proposed project and the aforementioned documents. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report CRR(2) and included in the final S24G Application Form, following which the Application will be submitted to the DEA&DP.
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. Melanie van Niekerk, of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email, sms or post (email: tweeheuwels.ppp@gmail.com, sms: 074 759 6424, or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 11 September 2023.