Update
GOURITSMOND NEWS - Aqunion insists there are no wetlands on the land where they plan to build an abalone farm.
The company, that plans to develop an abalone farm on Farm 453 in the Riversdale district at Gouritsmond, commented as follows on an article in South Cape Forum 'Vleiland op terrein kan fabriek kelder' (21 February 2019):
"The allegations made by the Gourits Umbrella Body (GUB) that 'wetlands' will stop the development of the abalone farm by Aqunion Pty Ltd, is unfounded," states Aqunion in a report sent to the newspaper.
"It's unclear how GUB delineated these 'wetlands' and on what grounds can it be stopped. The Basic Assessment (BA) process that was followed in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema), resulted in a positive decision by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA & DP).
"Appeals were received against the decision and one of the angles pursued by GUB in their appeal is to make speculative statements that the wetlands in the area were ignored. This is completely untrue and if they have read the Basic Assessment Report (BAR) wetlands clearly formed part of the studies conducted and applications lodged."
According to Aqunion, the procedure (with regards to wetland constraints) that was followed during the BAR process related to the identification of wetlands. "Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and site analysis by specialist consultants were used to determine if any wetlands exist on site or within 500m from the development area.
"The National Water Act (NWA) requires that, if development is located within 500m from a wetland, the risk of development to the wetland be assessed. None were detected on the Abalone site itself, but wetlands exist east of the site within 500m from the development footprint.
"To the west, on the Gourikwa Reserve, further wetland exist but it is more than 500m away from the development. Therefore the eastern wetland was the subject of further analysis.
The GIS identified the eastern wetland on the neighbouring site as artificial due to the fact that is was dammed after 2012 when that site was developed.
Damming wetlands result in cutting off most downstream flows."
According to Aqunion, the GUB is probably referring to 'perched water tables on-site that were excavated over the years of farming, when it was a common practice to expose the shallow water table in order for livestock to drink or to collect from for irrigation. These excavations are still visible on the site and are most probably the 'wetland'pointed out by GUB' (comment shortened).
Read a previous article here: Aqunion insists there are no wetlands.
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