ACCESS ROAD FOR THE APPROVED WITBERG WIND FARM, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
EMPr AMENDMENT TO COMPLY WITH CONDITIONS 13 & 14 AND SUBMISSION OF THE FINAL LAYOUT TO COMPLY WITH CONDITION 12 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION
Red Rocket South Africa (Pty) Ltd is proposing a new access road as part of the authorised Witberg Wind Farm to be developed in the Western Cape. The proposed development will consist of the following:
- A new access road with a permanent width up to 6m and a length of approximately 9.5km within a road reserve of up to 18m to accommodate limited cuttings which are required due to the steep terrain and the required earthworks. A 50m corridor for this road is being considered in the Basic Assessment process.
- Widening and upgrade of the Constable farm road. A 15m corridor for this road is being considered in the Basic Assessment process.
- Upgrade of an existing district road (DR01469). A 15m corridor for this road is being considered in the Basic Assessment process.
- Construction of a construction camp of 8ha and a laydown area of 1ha respectively.
The project site is located within the Laingsburg Local Municipality which falls within the jurisdiction of the greater Central Karoo District Municipality in the Western Cape Province. The proposed access road is located within the footprint of the authorised Witberg Wind Farm and can be accessed via the N1 national road located north of the project site. The project is located on the following farm portions:
Access Road Corridor:
- Remaining Extent of Farm Elandskrag 269
- Portion 1 of Farm Elandskrag 269
Constable Farm Road Corridor:
- Portion 8 of Farm Constable 154
- Remaining Extent of Farm Constable 154
District Road Corridor:
- Remaining Extent of Farm Kragas Drift 159
- Portion 2 of Farm Kragas Drift 159
- Portion 1 of Farm Annex Kraga 158
- Remaining Extent of De Hoop Farm 156
- Remaining Extent of Farm Constable 154
Red Rocket received Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the development of a new access road and infrastructure associated with the approved Witberg Wind Farm near Matjiesfontein in the Western Cape Province (DFFE Reference no.: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2677) on15 March 2023. The Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) and layout were not approved as part of the EA.
AMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME AND FINAL LAYOUT
Conditions 13 & 14 of the EA dated 15 March 2023 (DFFE Ref. No.: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2677) state that the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) submitted as part of the Basic Assessment Report (BAR) is not approved and must be updated in accordance with the provisions of the environmental authorisation and made available for comments by registered Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs). The holder of the environmental authorisation must consider such comments before finalising the EMPr and submitting to the DFFE for approval. Similarly, Condition 12 of the EA requires that the site layout map be updated in accordance with the conditions of the environmental authorisation and be made available for comments by registered I&APs, and the holder of this environmental authorisation must consider such comments. Once amended, the Final development layout map must be submitted to the Department for written approval prior to commencement of the activity.
In response to the conditions 12, 13 and 14 of the EA dated 15 March 2023, the following has been undertaken:
- Amendment of the Environmental Management Programme
The Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) submitted as part of the BAR has been finalised in accordance with the requirements of Conditions 12, 13 and 14 of the EA dated 15 March 2023 (DFFE Ref. No.: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2677).
- Finalisation of Layout
In accordance with Condition 12 of the EA dated 15 March 2023 (DFFE Ref. No.: 14/12/16/3/3/1/2677), Red Rocket South Africa (Pty) Ltd has finalised a site layout map, and a final site layout map superimposed on the environmental sensitivity map has been compiled, both of which have been included as Figure 2.2 and Figure 2.3 in the amended EMPr.
AVAILABILITY OF AMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME AND FINAL LAYOUT FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT
The final Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) and a final layout are available for review and comment from Wednesday, 10 May 2023 until Friday, 09 June 2023. The due date for written comment is Friday, 09 June 2023. All comments received on the final EMPr and the final layout will be considered in the Comments and Responses Report (C&RR) which will be submitted to the DFFE, along with the revised EMPr and final layout for approval.
As a registered I&AP, our team welcomes your participation and looks forward to your involvement throughout this process.