The area that is being investigated for the TMG Aquifer Feasibility & Pilot Project lies between Tulbagh and Kleinmond, where the Table Mountain Group Aquifer occurs at depths between 200 m and 1 000 m. (Please note that the project has no bearing on Table Mountain or the mountains of the Cape Peninsula).

The project has reached the stage (March 2004) where a number of exploratory boreholes are to be sunk to determine if groundwater is present and, if so, of what quality. The exploratory drilling programme is to be confined to six target areas selected on the basis of rigorous hydrogeological screening. No groundwater would be abstracted for bulk supply or any other use during the exploratory drilling phase.

This groundwater exploration requires authorisation in terms of section 21 of the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989 and the "environmental impact assessment" regulations R.1182 and R1183 of 5 September 1997 as amended. Only surface (above ground) impacts will be considered during this application, as no water will be abstracted. The listed activities, which trigger the requirement for this EIA process, include the following:

• erection, construction or upgrading of.... roads and associated structures; and/or
• the change of land use from... agricultural or zoned undetermined use or an equivalent zoning to any other use; and/or
• the change of land use from... use for nature conservation or zoned open space to any other land use.

A first step in the authorisation process entails "scoping", i.e. identifying, by means of public and other consultation, impacts or issues that may require in-depth investigation so that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) can be furnished with sufficient information to make an informed decision about the environmental implications of the proposed activities.

Should you wish to use this opportunity to participate in this process please register your contact details on our database. This can be done by filling in the on-line form or contacting Karen Shippey via email karen.shippey@shand.co.za, Fax (021) 424 5588 Phone (021) 481 2400 or by post :

Att: Ms K.Shippey
TMG Aquifer Alliance
Public Participation
P.O. Box 1347
Cape Town 8000

Please notify us of any other individuals or organisations who you think may also want to be kept informed about this scoping process.