Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

(1)(a)  The Gouritz Catchment Management Agency was disestablished by the National Department of Water and Sanitation in 2014 and subsequently, the broader Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency was established in 2014 (Government Notice 412, 23 May 2014). The Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency has developed a Catchment Management Strategy, through a stakeholder participation process, for the rivers in the Breede-Gouritz Water Management Area. The Gouritz River is one of these rivers. The draft Catchment Management Strategy was open for comments from 01 December 2017 and closed on 02 March 2018. All comments will be taken into consideration in the finalization of the Catchment Management Strategy.

The first draft Gouritz Estuary Management Plan (EMP) (for the estuarine section of the Gouritz river) was developed in association with all available stakeholders including the Gouritzmond Conservation Trust (see Appendix for the list of stakeholders) through the Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E.) Programme. This initial draft was completed in 2009, but was not formally approved.

Despite the EMP being in draft format, the plan listed a number of management actions which were addressed over the years between 2009 and 2018. Even though the plan had not been approved by the Minister, these actions were within the mandate of existing Departments.  The implementation of these actions was coordinated by the Gouritz Estuary Management Forum, of which the Gouritz Conservation Trust were members. Members of the Trust played an active role in the forum and assisted with stakeholder communication amongst other things.

 

Subsequent to the EMP drafted by the C.A.P.E. Programme, the WCG Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), the lead agent for coastal and estuarine management in the Western Cape, have embarked on the Estuary Management Framework and Implementation Strategy project which is updating the draft EMPs in the Western Cape, to align them with the National Estuarine Management Protocol (NEMP), that was published in 2013. The NEMP specified the minimum requirements of an EMP. The Gouritz EMP is one of these plans that have been updated. The updating of this EMP has been shared with the members of the Gouritz Estuary Advisory forum and with the Hessequa Municipality.

(b)      The main role player for the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Strategy (CMS) is the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA). The list of all the participants in the CMS process can be found in the Appendix. The functions of the BGCMA include:

-         To investigate and advise interested persons on the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of the water resources in its water management area;

-         to develop a catchment management strategy;

-         co-ordinate the related activities of water users and of the water management institutions within its water management area; and

-         to promote the coordination of its implementation with the implementation of any applicable development plan established in terms of the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act no. 108 of 1997); and

-         promote community participation in the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of the water resources in its water management area.

          In terms of the Gouritz EMP, the stakeholders include the members of the EAF as well as respective Departments and Organs of state, including, Eden District Municipality, Hessequa Municipality, Mossel Bay Municipality, WCG Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, CapeNature, National Department of Environmental Affairs, National Department of Water and Sanitation, the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency, National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and WCG Department of Agriculture, amongst others.

The Responsible Management Authority, in terms of the National Estuarine Management Protocol, is the Eden District Municipality. They are required to submit the final EMP to DEA&DP for approval and then adopt EMP.  The finalization of the EMP is still underway, so the EMP is yet to be submitted for approval.

Another role player across the Gouritz region is the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve. The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) was designated by UNESCO on the 9th June 2015 as South Africa’s 7th biosphere reserve. The GCBR was established in terms of section 21 of the Companies Act (61 of 1973) as an association incorporated not for gain to manage the biosphere reserve in terms of the requirements of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme. Part of their priority actions include the restoration of degraded landscapes whilst creating employment.

(2)      The Gouritsmond Conservation Trust has been included in the Estuary Management/Advisory Forum (EAF) stakeholders list. Please note appendix for list of stakeholders and mailing lists. The EAF is a platform where stakeholders can provide input into the management of the estuarine area. 

        The BGCMA are also members of the Gouritz Estuary Advisory Forum, and have been participating in these meetings. Specific Catchment Management actions or matters can and have been raised with the BGCMA officials at these meetings. In addition, the Eden District Municipal Coastal Committee is another avenue in which matters of estuarine management can be tabled for discussion.

(3)      Legislation that is in place to assist the conservation of estuaries and wetlands   include:

• NEMA – National Environmental Management Act
• NEM: BA – National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act
• NEM: PAA – National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act
• NEM: ICMA – National Environmental Management Integrated Coastal Management Act
• Western Cape Nature Conservation Ordinance
• National Water Act
• Marine Living Resources Act
• Municipal by-laws
• The Management Guidelines for the Gouritsmond Municipal Commonage (Veld and Wildlife Management Guidelines) – prepared by Ken Coetzee in July 2008 is also applicable.