Proposed Construction Of Elgin Country Estate Residential Development, Grabouw
Elgin Country Estate is proposing to develop a residential estate on the remainder of Farm 296 and Portion 11 of Farm 287, Grabouw The proposed site is located approximately 2km north west of the town of Grabouw in the Western Cape. The proposed site was previously used for farming of apple orchards. Due to the level theft experienced, the farming operation was considered to be financially unviable and alternative development contemplated. Please note that the initial Basic Assessment process commenced in June 2007. The Draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) was lodged for a 30 day public comment period from 11 August to 10 September 2008. Thereafter, the project was temporarily suspended and was re-initiated in early 2010. During this period, the opportunity to link into Municipal services was revisited and some elements of the development proposal were revised. As such, the re-initiated environmental authorisation process has been required to update and revise the project information and impact assessment provided.
The proposed project entails the development of a residential estate with a total development area of approximately 16 hectares, of land currently zoned Agricultural. The proposed project would include the construction of the following components:
· 53 units of group housing at 15 units/ hectare, with an average erf size of 407 m2;
· 62 units of single residential houses on 62 erven, at 5 units/ha and an average erf size of 1 160 m2;
· Offices on a stand of approximately 3 755 m2;
· Private open space of 3.5 hectares;
· Roads of 1.54 hectares, consisting of an access road and internal road network (refer to Site Plan attached as Appendix B);
· A detention pond of about 1.1 hectares in the north-eastern corner of the development. The proposed pond will have a total capacity of 5 000 m3 and a depth of 1 m. A 525 mm diameter pipeline will be constructed to release water into the Klipdrif River;
· The proposed site currently falls within the 1: 100 year flood line. Subsequently, widening[1] of the Klipdrif River along the south eastern boundary of the Farm 296 from approximately 8 m to 18 m on the left bank to ensure that the proposed site falls outside of the 1: 100 year flood line and infill along the north eastern corner of the proposed site is proposed. The Klipdrif River, along the eastern boundary of Farm 296 and the southern boundary of Farm 287/11, will be widened along the embankment adjacent to the development site for a distance of approximately 300 m;
· Establishment of an on-site worm farm/composting facility for the disposal of organic waste to produce liquid and solid fertiliser that would be used within the proposed development;
· Security gate and refuse storage area; and
· Associated stormwater and sewerage infrastructure and engineering services.
Due to insufficient treatment capacity at the Theewaterskloof Municipal Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), it was suggested at the commencement of the Basic Assessment process (2007) that an on-site WWTW, with a total treatment capacity of 30 000 m3/ per annum, would be established to service the proposed development. In addition, due to a limited assured supply of water in the municipal area, the development was expected to abstract groundwater from new boreholes to meet the requirements of the proposed development. However, based on recent discussions (May 2010) with the Theewaterskloof Municipality, it appears that the upgrading the municipal WWTW and water infrastructure to increase the assured supply of water to the municipal area could be undertaken within a timeframe which would allow this development to utilise municipal infrastructure. Consequently, the Basic Assessment process has considered and assessed two alternatives with regard to water and sewerage services, which are as follows:
· Alternative 1 (on-site services), which includes an on-site Wastewater Treatment Works with a capacity of 30 000 m3/ annum, the drilling of on-site boreholes and associated storage reservoir.
· Alternative 2 (off-site services), which include the construction of a water and sewer pipeline to connect into municipal services on Arbor Drive and/ or Industria Road.
[1] The widening of the Klipdrif River is considered to be a Water Use in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act (No 36 of 1998). However, the Water Use License process will commence upon completion of the Basic Assessment process.
Current Project Phase
The Draft BAR has been made available to the public for a 40 day comment period. Copies of the report have been lodged at Grabouw Public Library and on the Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd website (www.aurecongroup.com) (select South Africa, Public Participation link). As an I&AP, you are invited to review and comment on the Revised Draft BAR. Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Revised Draft BAR or simply want to register as I&AP, please provide your comments in writing to Aurecon by email, fax or post, on or before Wednesday, 1 September 2010.
All comments received and issues raised will be included to the Comments and Response Report, and where appropriate will be used to update the Final BAR, which will be submitted to the decision-making authority, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for their consideration and decision. Copies of I&AP comments and responses to the comments received will be sent to those who submitted comment. All registered I&APs will be notified when the Final BAR is available for comment.
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