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Add to Favourites Email Enquiry

contact details

Name: Ms. Desiree du Preez

Business phone: +27 66 232 9264

Mobile: +27 66 232 9264

Email Enquiry: gardag21@gmail.com


VetCare Fun Run
We had a great event at the VetCare Fun Run on Saturday 03 September. The weather played its part and all the participants enjoyed the stunning sights and sounds on offer at our Garden Route Dam.
Some of the participants we spoke to decided to join us as members - mission successful!
We extend our thanks to WESSA, an affiliated environmental organisation, for their support and gazebo.

LEGAL REVIEW
Province has requested more time to get the complete record in order. The record consists of all the relevant documentarymaterial and it is voluminous - as you can imagine!

We were advised to grant them the short extension, and have done so.

MEUL RIVER CLEANUP
We hosted a successful event for World Cleanup Day on 16 September 2023. Members of GARDAG and members of the public joined together for a big effort and filled 30 black bags worth of pollutants!

Well done and thank you to all those that participated.

Our own scientists, Desiree and Sonia, are captured processing a blue drop and green drop water monitoring task carried out at the Gwaing Wastewater Treatment Works.
Thank you to OUTA and AfriForum who donated the test equipment.
  • Clean Ups
  • Educational Outreach
  • Clean Ups
  • Educational Outreach

contact details

Name: Ms. Desiree du Preez

Business phone: +27 66 232 9264

Mobile: +27 66 232 9264

Email Enquiry: gardag21@gmail.com


https://gardag.org.za

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IMPORTANT UPDATE: UPGRADE OF THE EXISTING EDEN SEWAGE PUMP STATION

DEADLINE 24 FEBRUARY 2025
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PART 4 AMENDMENT OF THE EMPr NO-GO MAP & START OF THE 30-DAY COMMENTING PERIOD –THE UPGRADE OF THE EXISTING EDEN SEWAGE PUMP STATION, ON ERVEN RE/5987, 6013 AND 6014, GEORGE, WESTERN CAPE
DOWNLOAD THE PDF
DEADP REF: 16/3/3/5/D2/17/0000/25

 Update on the Eden Pump Station
UPGRADE OF THE EXISTING EDEN SEWAGE PUMP STATION ON ERVEN RE/5987, 6013 AND 6014, GEORGE (REF: 16/3/3/5/D2/17/0000/25)
Desiree du Preez, chairperson of GARDAG has been in contact with Michael Bennet, Sharples Environmental Services to request more information regarding the proposed changes to the existing infrastructure at the Eden Sewage Pump Station in Dikkop street, Eden.
“We are happy to report that he willingly provided answers to our questions by explaining that the existing stormwater pipe needs to be lowered to accommodate the new sewer pipe,” said Desiree. 

Based on his communication with us, GARDAG took a look at the proposal and will be requesting that the plans are amended to protect the trees located in the vicinity and not widen the construction area next to the dam on the pump station side.

Pauline Lourens of Friends of the Kat River mentioned that this would be more conducive for the flow at the Kat River as well.

These are the issues that are often above the understanding of most residents so we are proud to be able to assess these types of proposals in conjunction with the authorities on behalf of the residents of George.
Remember our focus has always been on water quality and we conduct regular testing at the dam and at other important sites that supply water to the residents of George. Testing kits and analysis are costly and GARDAG is a non-profit organisation that relies on donations and volunteers.


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Sharples Environmental Services cc (SES) has been appointed by the George Municipality (“the Applicant”) to apply for a Part 4 amendment of the EMPr and to undertake the Public Participation Process as part of the application.
 
The applicant proposes to amend the No-Go Map (Figure 7) of the EMPr in order to allow for an existing stormwater pipe to be lowered to accommodate the levels required for a new pipe which will cross the existing pipe. Please refer to the attached Amended EMPr for the revised No-Go Map (Figure 7). The management objectives of the EMPr will therefore slightly change as the No-Go Map will change.
 
As a registered Interested and Affected Party you are hereby notified that the amended EMPr for the above-mentioned project is now available for review and comment, till 24 February 2025.
 
The Amended EMPr is attached to this email.
 
You are hereby invited to submit any comments (positive or negative) you may have on the Amended EMPr in writing to Michael Bennett using the contact details provided below. To submit comments, please send your full name, contact details, preferred method of contact, an indication of any direct business, financial, personal or other interest which you may have in the application, and any comments you would like taken into consideration.
 
PLEASE NOTE: In terms of the POPI Act of 2013, by registering as a I&AP and commenting, your name and comment will be made public.
 
Written comments must be received by Sharples Environmental Services on/before 24 February 2025. Don't hesitate to contact Michael Bennett at michael@sescc.net or 044 873 4923 if you require any further information, or have any questions relating to this project.
 

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GARDAG WATER MONITORING PROGRAMME

Good data is an invaluable resource in confirming the health of our water resources.

The Garden Route area is under increasing pressure from development and the blue and green drop water reports are biased to what the George Local Municipality must report as a minimum.

Other governmental agencies’ monitoring points are sparse and often monitor only background / ambient / unimpacted areas. The GARDAG monitoring programme aims to create a baseline of independent data to either confirm or challenge the available information, as well as add to the sustainable development of the area, to not reach a future the available water resources cannot support.

 

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GARDAG participates in National Citizen Science Project

The University of KwaZulu-Natal and GroundTruth are collaborating to undertake a project commissioned by the Water Research Commission with funding from UNICEF on The State of Citizen Science for Water Quality Monitoring in southern Africa.  

The University of KwaZulu-Natal and GroundTruth are collaborating to undertake a project commissioned by the Water Research Commission with funding from UNICEF on The State of Citizen Science for Water Quality Monitoring in southern Africa.

This project aims to generate data to inform SDG reporting, specifically targeting SDG 6.3.2, which deals with monitoring of water bodies with good ambient water quality, while a national State of Rivers Report from a citizen science perspective will be generated. The report will address another critical dimension in meeting SDG target 6.b: 'Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

According to GroundTruth, Stats SA in 2019 reported that "South Africa's reporting ability on this indicator has been reduced by the lack of data, limited monitoring because of lack of funding and resource mobilisation, and to a certain degree the inability to coordinate monitoring across various sectors, government departments and public sector institutions".

This lack of monitoring has impacted on the Blue and Green Drop standards, in which the requirement for monitoring has been removed. This is of great concern, as monitoring is key to understanding water quality. Gardag is participating in this project, by undertaking monitoring in the six major rivers of the George area: Gwaing, Skaapkop, Meul, Swart, Kaaimans and Touw.

The Gwaing and Kaaimans are important rivers for fish breeding. Despite the ecological importance of these rivers, the Western Cape Government reports in the Gwaing River Estuarine Management Plan (2019) that “There are no known ecological monitoring or research programmes (e.g. fish or birds, etc.) currently being undertaken for the Gwaing River estuary. Currently there is no compliance monitoring taking place on the Gwaing River estuary due the remoteness of the estuary.”

The national State of Rivers (SoR) Report will be written by the UKZN and GroundTruth, but an opportunity exists to write a local SoR. Gardag wants to invite citizens of George to participate in the project. Anybody – retired professionals, teachers, students, schools – anybody with an interest in the state of our rivers can participate. Activities would range from undertaking water samples to data logging and report writing.

Training is available.

Gardag is hosting a golf day on 15 August 2024 to raise funds toward purchasing monitoring kits. To participate in any of these activities, please contact us on admin@gardag.org.za. Our volunteers will be quick to respond.

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GARDAG INAUGURAL FUNDRAISING GOLF DAY AT THE GEORGE GOLF CLUB

Happy GARDAG Supporters joined us to tee off at our first annual fundraising golf day! The day dawned bright and clear, the sun rising to a cloudless sky, ensuring a great start to a day of fun and friendly competition on the greens as we raised much needed funds and awareness for the GARDAG, the Garden Route Dam Action Group.