Approval for building of treatment works on Paarl Mountain
2005-09-01
THE Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning has issued a Record of Decision granting authorisation, with conditions, for the Drakenstein Municipality to undertake the construction of water treatment works on Paarl Mountain.
The site for the plant with a capacity of 8 megalitres per day will be at Pienaarskamp (near Mill Water gardens), with the drying beds at the disused Blake Street Reservoir Site.
Water from the Nantes and Bethel Dams on Paarl Mountain supplies 8% of the total water requirements of the town of Paarl and does not comply with SABS specifications.
The treatment works will integrate with the existing gravity-fed reticulation and storage system on the mountain.
The infrastructure of the building will be five to six metres high with a physical “footprint” of about 650 m² within a fenced site covering about 2 200 m².
Drakenstein Municipality may consider upgrading the capacity of the proposed WTW to 15 megalitres in the longterm.
Fears have been expressed about the visual impact of the building, particularly after dark due to lighting, on Paarl Mountain, which is a proclaimed nature reserve and a Provincial Heritage Site.
Members of the public have the right to appeal against the decision to the Provincial Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning until 28 September.
Appeals must set out all the facts as well as the grounds for appeal and must be accompanied by all relevant documents or certified copies thereof including a signed and certified copy of the appeal questionnaire.
The appeal questionnaire is available from the Minister’s office at tel 483-3915 (email je devill@pgwc.gov.za) or from the CapeNature Office in Paarl at 872-1535.
Completed questionnaires may be faxed to CapeNature at 872-5785, for the attention of Dian Dreyer, from where they will be sent to the Minister.
For queries contact Dr Andrew Spinks at Ninham Shand, tel 481-2400 or enviro@shands. co.za.
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