Plan for Hartebeesport Dam
26 November 2007
More than sixty (60) stakeholders participated in the second Technical Task
Team workshop held by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) on 23
November 2007 at Amazingwe Lodge, Broederstroom to develop the Resource
Management Plan (RMP) for Hartbeespoort Dam. The RMP is one of a number of
projects undertaken as part of the remediation programme of Hartbeespoort
Dam.
Cilliers Blaauw from DWAF who is responsible for the co-ordination of the
development of the RMP, said the location and proximity of Hartbeespoort Dam
makes it one of the most popular dams for recreation. He said "he stakeholders
of the dam have to ensure its equitable use and the sustainability of the dam,
therefore the participation of interested and affected parties in the
development of this plan is of utmost importance." Although the DWAF will guide
the development of the plan, the stakeholders have to identify their
requirements and set their own objectives where after it will be measured
against compliance with legislation. Blaauw added that this means that the
stakeholders will have to negotiate their own solutions. Although the DWAF is
responsible for the water resource, the dam has to be managed through a joint
initiative by those who own it, use it and who are its beneficiaries. Therefore
it is important that partnerships are established.
Four main sectors are responsible for the development of the RMP and
stakeholders participated according to the respective sector they represent,
namely industry (users of the dam), landowners, resource managers and
government. The different groups identified their respective objectives, ranked
them and intense discussions took place in this regard. Some of the objectives
that were raised include access to and access control at the dam for both
public and private use, the appropriate numbers to use the dam surface,
regulation of the number of boats on the dam, the safety of boats and water
sport, safety and security around the dam, zoning of the dam in terms of its
different uses, compliance with industrial norms and standards, establishing
conservation areas, allocation of suitable alternative land in the area for low
cost housing and establishing an approved process for future development in the
area.
The next workshop will take place mid-January 2008 when the different
concepts will be refined and detailed mapping of access points, recreation
activities, safety standards etc will be done. It is expected that the first
draft for public review will be completed by the end of January 2008.
Section 2 of the National Water Act (No 36 of 1998) informs the development
of the RMP and it specifies that past imbalances must be addressed. The RMP
must set out the strategies, objectives, plans, guidelines and institutional
arrangements relating to the protection, use, development, conservation,
management and control of the dam within the framework of existing relevant
government policy. The RMP will have to be aligned with the region's
conservation plans, culminating in an integrated plan that will address
biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage conservation, eco-tourism
development and benefit flow management. Through the implementation of the RMP
the use of the dam will be regulated.
The RMP forms part of the Hartbeespoort Dam Remediation Programme, known as
Harties, Metsi a me (my water), that has been initiated by the department in
conjunction with the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
Environment (NWDACE) to improve the quality of water in the Hartbeespoort
Dam.
The remediation programme calls for the investigation of different aspects
to improve water quality at the dam. Various activities have been identified
which might include but are not limited to controlling and removing algae on
the dam, pre-impoundment and treatment options upstream of the dam basin, long
term monitoring of the water quality, sediment removal and the reduction of the
inflow of phosphates and nitrogen. The fish population is also being
considered, restoring the shoreline vegetation as well as rehabilitating the
wetlands.
Anyone who has an interest in Hartbeespoort Dam and who wants to be involved
in this process should please contact:
Rachelle Seymore
Tel: 011 254 4901
E-mail: rachelles@zitholele.co.za
Wilheminah Mosupye
E-mail: mosupyew@zitholele.co.za
Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
26 November 2007
