Invitation for Public Comment: Draft Revised Breede River Estuarine Management Plan
INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
DRAFT REVISED BREEDE RIVER ESTUARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:
INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 2008 (ACT 24 OF 2008)
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape (DEA&DP), in terms of sections 8 and 10 of the National Estuarine Management Protocol published under Government Notice 533 in Government Gazette 44724 dated 18 June 2021 (the 2021 NEMP), read with section 53(1)(b) of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act 24 of 2008) (the Act), invites members of the public to submit written comments on the draft revised Breede River Estuarin Management Plan (Breede River EMP).
The draft revised Breede River EMP was published for comment under Provincial Notice 40/2024 in Provincial Gazette 8912 dated 26 April 2024.
The comments received from the public were considered, and the draft revised Breede River EMP was amended in respect of the proposed zonation plan.
The zonation plan guides sustainable utilisation of the Breede River estuary without degradation of the estuarine environment. It does this through the demarcation of geographical boundaries, conservation areas, buffer zones and recreational activity use zones. The recreational activity use zones have been amended based on comments received during the first commenting period and engagements with role players.
An additional commenting period has been granted to allow the public a further opportunity to submit comments on the draft revised Breede River EMP. These will be considered, in addition to the comments received during the first commenting period, and the draft revised Breede River EMP will be finalised and submitted to the Provincial Minister responsible for environmental affairs for approval in compliance with section 9.1(1)(a) of the 2021 NEMP.
DEA&DP has ensured that the draft revised Breede River EMP and the process by which it was reviewed are consistent with the 2021 NEMP as well as with the national coastal management programme, provincial coastal management programme and applicable municipal coastal management programmes, as required by section 34(1)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Act. The draft revised Breede River EMP has also been reviewed in compliance with the minimum requirements contemplated in section 6 of the 2021 NEMP.
The draft revised Breede River EMP may be viewed by clicking here.
Alternatively, details may be obtained electronically on request via email to DEADP.EMPComments@westerncape.gov.za.
Enquiries may be directed to Ms Caren George at 021 483 2724/3092 or to Mrs Carmen van Uys at 021 483 2811 on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00.
Written comments on the draft revised Breede River EMP may be submitted on or before 4 April 2025 by—
(a) posting the comments to: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Attention: Ms Caren George, Directorate: Biodiversity and Coastal Management, Private Bag X9086, Cape Town 8000;
(b) emailing the comments to: DEADP.EMPComments@westerncape.gov.za; or
(c) delivering the comments to: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Attention: Ms Caren George, 4th Floor, Leeusig Building, 1 Dorp Street, Cape Town.
Comments received after the deadline may be disregarded.
Notices can be viewed here