Heritage Cases

The Applicant, Heavitree (Pty) Ltd, wish to apply for Environmental Authorisation and a Water Use License Application (WULA) for the proposed establishment of a 1.87 million m³ dam, and cultivation of approximately 135 ha of land, located on Rem of Express No. 15029, Rem of Heavitree No. 15976, Farm Portion No. 18322, and Farm Portion GS No. 17935, within the Inkosi Langalibalele Local and uThukela District Municipality, Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal. The dam is proposed to be established at GPS coordinates 28°55'56.49" S and 29°48'02.90" E, and located on Farm Portion No. 18322, and Farm Portion GS No. 17935 (Refer to Figure 3). It is proposed to be located on the Drakespruit and comprise the following specifications: • Storage capacity – 1.87 million m³; • Surface area – 40 ha; • Wall height – 18 m; • Wall length – 478 m; and • Water depth – 15 m. With the water from the proposed dam, the Applicant will be able to irrigate approximately 285 ha of land. Of this 285 ha, approximately 150 ha is currently cultivated and has been cultivated prior to 1998 (green outline on Figure 1 and 2). Thus, the remaining areas which total approximately 135 ha, and which have not previously been cultivated, or not cultivated within the past 10 years (i.e. indigenous vegetation), are proposed to be cultivated to enable the establishment of pivots (green shading on Figure 1 and 2). Water from the dam is proposed to be pumped via pipelines to the surrounding lands for irrigation purposes. The lengths and diameters of the pipelines will be confirmed during the process.