Response to dam development appeals received from DEADP

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Appellants against the environmental authorisation (EA) granted for the proposed Garden Route Dam development, this week received a response from the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP).

In the statement, received on Monday 31 October, development management director Zaahir Toefy states that his directorate is satisfied with the proposed mitigation measures proposed by the applicant, George Municipality, to protect the city's main water resource against the impact of the proposed development.

The impact on the water quality in the dam is one of the main worries among residents.

One of the appellants, Dirk Roux, adjunct professor at Nelson Mandela University, says in his appeal that development of further urban infrastructure in close proximity to the dam is likely to contravene most of the wise management rules that should be applied to the entire drainage area of the Garden Route Dam.

This drainage area is "a prime example" of environmental infrastructure (EI) that supports future water security and should be the highest priority to local government.

One of the wise principles that would pertain to this EI would be to "prohibit any development that might modify natural infiltration and drainage of rainwater runoff, or might cause contamination of water in the dam".

Read Roux's full explanation of EI as well as various of the appeals and the complete responding statement below:

Conditions to mitigate runoff

Toefy says conditions in the EA are specifically aimed at mitigating the effect of stormwater runoff, as well as to create a protective buffer of 100m around all wetland areas during construction and operation to "prevent and mitigate" pollution of the water resource.

Sewage

With reference to the potential impact of sewage spills, he is satisfied that a bern/swale placed below the sewage pump station to catch accidental spill or overflow would prevent sewage from reaching the dam.

The sump of the pump station would receive the sewage flow and act as a storage vessel from where sewage is periodically pumped.

"The sump would comprise an active volume and a relatively small internal emergency storage volume depending on the size of the sump. The emergency storage capacity will further provide additional safety when the pumps fail, in that it provides time for the municipality's maintenance operatives to make the necessary repairs as well as catering for normal power outages.

"A minimum storage capacity that is equivalent to four to six hours' flow (George Municipality suggests eight hours flow) at the design flow rate would be provided."

Leopard

Regarding concerns over the leopard population in the area, Toefy says the loss of a part of the site will not have a significant detrimental impact as there are still areas of lower disturbance in the mountains and forests to the north and east to which the leopard can retreat.

Open areas and access

Toefy is further satisfied that public access will not be restricted, but specific measures would be put in place to control access to ensure safety for the broader public, which is also an issue raised by some appellants.

Other objections raised by the appellants are also addressed in the notice. Toefy comes to the conclusion that the EA is consistent with the various guidelines and relevant legislation and any potentially detrimental environmental impact resulting from the authorised listed activities "can be mitigated to acceptable levels".

"... due process has been followed to address the requirements of the Public Administration Justice Act, 2000 (Act no 3 of 2000) to achieve a decision that balances the environmental aspects, interests of the public and the interest of the applicant", says Toefy. Garden Route Dam Action Group chairperson Desireé du Preez says the appellants are expecting the minister's decision in January.

Appellants

The appellants are Louis Coetzee, Dr Bool Smuts (director and accounting officer of the Landmark Foundation Trust), Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag), Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) Eden Branch, Tracey Pharoah (communication representative: Eden Residents' Association), Nelson Mandela University and Katrivier Friends Group.

A rendition by Linc Architecture / Urban Design of the layout of the proposed development at the Garden Route Dam.