S24G process for Portion 4 & 9 of the Farm Redford 232
Eco Route Environmental Consultancy have been appointed as independent environmental practitioners by the proponent, Brenda Niehaus, to ensure rectification of unlawful commencement of Listed Activities in terms of Section 24G of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998) for the ‘unlawful indigenous vegetation clearance, expansion and clearance of sediment and littoral vegetation from in-stream dams on Portions 66 and 9 of the farm no.232 Redford, Bitou Municipality, Western Cape.
The landowner commenced with the clearance of sediment and littoral vegetation from all four existing dams, including the enlargement of dams 1,2 & 4. In addition, the applicant has planted 4.2ha of Almond trees. A further 10 ha of almond trees may be planted in the future.
THE RECTIFICATION OF UNLAWFUL COMMENCEMENT OF LISTED ACTIVITIES IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1998 (ACT 107OF 1998) (“NEMA”): INDIGENOUS VEGETATION CLEARANCE, EXPANSION AND CLEARANCE OF SEDIMENT AND LITTORAL VEGETATION FROM IN-STREAM DAMS ON PORTIONS 66 AND 9 OF THE FARM NO.232 REDFORD, BITOU MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN CAPE.
The below are a few site photographs of the current condition of Portions 66 & 9 of the farm Redford no.232
This report is to inform the Environmental Assessment Practitioner EAP undertaking the environmental impact (botanical and terrestrial sensitivity) assessment in terms of identified activities of the unlawful clearance of vegetation and expansion of instream water storage dams within Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos habitat and riparian zone of watercourses; and identify risks, suggest mitigation and make recommendations for implementation of a rehabilitation plan.
The sensitivity of the study area of Redhaus Farm being Farm Redford No. 232 Portions 9 and 66 formally referenced as Portion 4 and sub portion A of Portion 1/232 which have now been consolidated into Portion 66/232) at the Crags (see Figs. 1 2) is described in context of existing land use and suitability of cultivation and expansion of in stream water storage dams.
Historically Redhaus Farm has been developed for small scale agriculture for many decades.
Confluent Environmental (Pty) Ltd were appointed by the owner of portions 4 & 9 / 232 Redford Farm to conduct an aquatic impact assessment for a Section 24g and Water Use License Application (WULA). The landowner purchased Portion 9 in 2017 and Portion 4 in 2020. More recently, the farm was expanded through purchase of a section of Portion 1 / 232 which was sub-divided and consolidated with Portion 4.
The collective farm portions are known as Redhaus Farm. Agricultural fields have been planted with Almond orchards or cover crops. Two watercourses traverse Redhaus Farm and each watercourse has been dammed at two locations
Four dams have been constructed on two non-perennial watercourses (two dams on each watercourse) that flow through Portions 4 and 9 of the Farm Redford 232. The dams store surface runoff for the purposes of ultimately irrigating 20 hectares of almonds.
The watercourses that these dams are located in ultimately discharge into the Whiskey Creek River, which is an important tributary of the Keurbooms River. As part of the Water Use License Application, the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA) requested that a hydrological assessment be undertaken to:
1. Determine estimated surface water flows into the dams,
2. Estimate the water requirements for irrigating 20 hectares of almond trees under drip irrigation;
3. Determine the appropriate total storage requirement for irrigating 20 hectares of almonds for the four dams; and
4. Assess the impact of storage and abstraction from the dams on downstream water resources.
Four dams have been constructed on two non-perennial watercourses (two dams on each watercourse) that flow through Portions 4 and 9 of the Farm Redford 232. The dams store surface runoff for the purposes of ultimately irrigating 20 hectares of almonds. The watercourses that these dams are located in ultimately discharge into the Whiskey Creek River, which is an important tributary of the Keurbooms River. As part of the Water Use License Application, the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA) requested that a hydrological assessment be undertaken to:
1. Determine estimated surface water flows into the dams,
2. Estimate the water requirements for irrigating 20 hectares of almond trees under drip irrigation;
3. Determine the appropriate total storage requirement for irrigating 20 hectares of almonds for the four dams; and
4. Assess the impact of storage and abstraction from the dams on downstream water resources.
The Public Participation will be undertaken between 09/06/2022 to 11/07/2022. Refer to all applicable documents below.
Water uses took place following the clearing of sediment and littoral vegetation from four instream dams on Redhaus Farm. The clearing process resulted in enlargement of three of the dams. No environmental authorisations were obtained for enlargement of the dams or the completed maintenance work in terms of the National Environmental Management Act or the National Water Act.
This application also relates to the taking of water from a new borehole. The applicant is now applying for the authorisation of water uses in terms of Section 21 of the NWA as follows:
Section 21 (a); Taking water from a water resource
Section 21 (b); Storing water,
Section 21(c); Impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse and
Section 21 (i); Altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse
In accordance with the Integrated Environmental Management Guidelines published by the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEAT) in 1992, the purpose of an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) is “to describe how negative environmental impacts will be managed, rehabilitated or monitored and how positive impacts will be maximised”.
A NID was submitted to the HWC in April 2022. See below response from HWC.