Heritage Cases

The company Sorgvry Landgoed BK is proposing to commence with the process of procuring portion 34 of the Farm Doorns No. 131 near the town of Ritchie in the Northern Cape Province (80 ha). The reason for the intended procurement is for establishing a single (1) 34 ha Maize and Lucern farming pivot on the farm of natural previously uncultivated land. The majority of the assessment area is situated on a historic centre pivot land footprint whilst only the north-eastern portion is situated on natural virgin soil. An irrigation pipeline required for the centre pivot land, will tie into the existing pump and piping network which is used for irrigation of other centre pivot lands in the area. The existing piping network extracts water from the Riet River which is situated approximately 1.2 km south of the assessment area. In order to achieve the above, two Layout Alternatives are proposed: Layout Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative) The preferred layout alternative includes the development of a single (1)) 34 ha Maize and Lucern Pivot. The majority of the pivot will be situated on a historic centre pivot land whilst only 7,57 ha of the newly proposed pivot (north-eastern portion) will be situated on natural virgin soil. Layout Alternative 2 Layout alternative 2 includes the development of a single (1) 34 ha Maize and Lucern Pivot. Although this newly proposed pivot will also be situated on a historic centre pivot land, a much larger portion of natural virgin soil (18,14 ha) will be disturbed, as compared to alternative 1. Doorns Alternative 2 Already established two track farm roads are already in place. In some cases, where tracks do not exist, some new two track farm road might be established. An irrigation pipeline required for the centre pivot land, will tie into the existing pump and piping network which is used for irrigation of other centre pivot lands in the area. The existing piping network extracts water from the Riet River which is situated approximately 1.2 km south of the assessment area. The project will entail two major aspects namely: • Cultivation of a 34 ha Maize and Lucern Pivot. • Establishment of an irrigation pipeline. 5.2.1 Cultivation of a 34 ha Maize and Lucern Pivot. A single (1) 34 ha pivot will be established on the proposed project. The majority of the assessment area is situated on a historic centre pivot land footprint while only the north-eastern portion is situated on natural virgin soil. The cultivation and planting process will work as follows: • The area will be cleared with the use of a Bulldozer and deep-ripped with the dozer tines to breakup and aerate the soils. • Surface rocks will be manually removed from the area. • Soil preparation will then be conducted by cultivation with the use of a chisel plough. • Amelioration recommendations will be obtained from a soil scientist through chemical and organic soil analyses in order to ensure the appropriate nutrients/minerals, as required for the pivot, are incorporated into the growth medium (soil) prior to planting. • A pivot irrigation system will be constructed and implemented over the entire proposed pivot area. • Irrigation water will be abstracted from the Riet River once the Water Use Licence Application has been lodged and environmental authorisation has been obtained. o Information obtained from the applicant states that 275 000 m3 of water will be required for per year for the cultivation of either Maize or Lucern. • Planting of Maize and Lucerne will be conducted mechanically. 5.2.2 Establishment of an irrigation pipeline An irrigation pipeline required for the centre pivot land, will tie into the existing pump and piping network which is used for irrigation of other centre pivot lands in the area. Some of the already established piping infrastructure will be moved to the create the new pipeline which will transport water from the extraction point in the Riet river to the newly proposed development area. 5.2.3 Project Description Summary The development will constitute a total footprint area of approximately 34 ha as indicated on the locality map. The majority of the assessment area is situated on a historic centre pivot land footprint whilst only the north-eastern portion is situated on natural virgin soil. An irrigation pipeline will tie into the existing pump and piping network. If the operational phase is ever concluded in the future, the area will be suitable rehabilitated in order to return the project area to a self-sustainable ecological state. 5.3 PROJECT SERVICES 5.3.1 Electricity Supply • The water extraction pump required during the operational phase at the Riet River extraction point is the only aspect requiring electricity. The electricity for the pump will be obtained from an Eskom power point (100kva transformer). The extraction pump for the proposed development is already in place. This was done for previous developments. The applicant now will only tie into the existing line. Thus, no new extractions pump will be installed. 5.3.2 Sewage Management • Sufficient portable chemical toilets will be supplied on site for the manual labourers during the construction phase. These toilets will be cleaned and waste removed by an appropriate contractor on a regular basis as and when required. • Sufficient portable chemical toilets will also be supplied on site for the manual labourers during the short annual harvesting periods. These toilets will be cleaned and waste removed by an appropriate contractor on a regular basis as and when required. 5.3.3 Solid Waste Management • Solid general waste generated on site will be removed by the applicant to the local municipal landfill site on a regular basis as and when required. • It is envisaged that no significant hazardous waste will be generated on site during the construction or operational phases of the project. If any significant hazardous waste is however generated and suitable, registered waste contactor will be contracted to adequately remove and dispose of it. 5.3.4 Water Supply As discussed under section 5.2 above, water will be extracted from the Riet River for irrigation purposes. once the Water Use Licence Application has been lodged and environmental authorisation has been obtained. This application is taking place in the Northern Cape province.