VERGENOEGD ESTATE
Portion 12 of Farm Vergenoegd No. 653, Remainder of Farm Vergenoegd No. 653 and Remainder of Farm Vergenoegd No. 547, Stellenbosch
The historic wine farm Vergenoegd has been a landmark in the Helderberg region since 1696. The farm is located on the eastern boundary of Baden Powell Drive (R310) and straddles the N2 Highway.
Portion 12 of Farm Vergenoegd No. 653, Remainder of Farm Vergenoegd No. 653 and the Remainder of Farm Vergenoegd No. 547, Stellenbosch are zoned as Agriculture Zone I.
The project proposal comprises:
• a residential development consisting of three nodal villages of about 1100 erven
• an industrial park of between 12 ha and 15 ha
• The development of tourism and hospitality facilities within the Homestead precinct including the phase 1 consent application
• agricultural land use and conservation including a new winery.
The proposed Vergenoegd Estate is a core project which will serve as a primary economic driver of the Vergenoegd Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI). The purpose of the SDI is to unlock the potential of the proposed new projects in the Vergenoegd area in order to generate meaningful benefits for both socio-economic development and environmental rehabilitation in partnership with the relevant authorities and other stakeholders. The project should be considered in this context.
The development will require authorization in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2006 promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), as amended. The site falls outside of the boundaries of the current urban edge demarcation and thus an amendment of the urban edge will be required. A rezoning in terms of the Land Use Planning Ordinance, 15 of 1985 is also required.
DJ Environmental Consultants has been appointed by Vergenoegd Development Initiative (Pty) Ltd & ASISA Agri Tourism (Pty) Ltd. as the independent environmental consultants to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process required in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2006.
Dennis Moss Partnership has been appointed to coordinate the project and make the necessary statutory applications in terms of the Land Use Planning Ordinance 15 of 1985.
a) Farmstead Precinct: The main tourism node is proposed to consist of a 80-room boutique hotel, conference and events facility, casual restaurant, wine whisky and brandy bar, and a small specialty retail centre. Use will be made of the existing farm buildings and structures by converting it to accommodate some of the intended uses, while the remaining uses will be developed on a new footprint appropriately located within the agricultural landscape.
a) Tourism-related and residential units: Three nodal villages is proposed which will comprise of approximately 1100 tourism-related and residential units, appropriately situated within suitable locations in the natural and agricultural landscape.
c) Light Industrial Node: It is proposed that this node will be located south of the N2 just above the sewerage works comprising of a number of units available for community initiatives and SMMEs.
d) Agricultural Land use including a new winery. At present the farm is growing vines on about 70 ha of land, a substantial portion of which is uneconomical. Therefore this will be reduced to about 55 ha.
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
The most important Acts, Policies and Guidelines relevant to this development are listed below.
ü National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998
ü Land Use Planning Ordinance 15 of 1985
ü The Western Cape Provincial Spatial Development Framework (WCPSDF)
From a planning perspective the following documents need to be examined:
· The Helderberg District Plan
· The Urban Structure plan
· The Urban Edge policy guidelines
· The CBD Biodiversity network
DJEC would value your input in the EIA process. There are a number of ways in which you will be able to participate in, and comment on, the project throughout the process.
At this stage if you or your organisation would like to be involved in the EIA process and receive further information, or know of any individual or organisation who would like to participate in the EIA processes, please submit your contact details for registration on our database, on or by 22 January 2008.
Additionally if you have any preliminary comments or questions regarding the project following the review of this document, please submit your comments, in writing, to Tali Bruk of DJEC (contact details below).
Please note that you must declare any business, financial, personal or other interest in the approval or refusal of the proposal as well as your preferred means of communication.
DJ ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Tali Bruk
Postnet Suite 66,
Private Bag X15
Somerset West
7130
Tel: (021) 851 0900,
Fax: (021) 851 0933
Email: tali@djec.co.za
