Clanwilliam dam wall raising to be completed by 2023

21st August 2019 By: Natasha Odendaal - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Work on the Clanwilliam dam wall-raising project is progressing, with indications that the long-awaited project will be completed by March 2023.

The R3.5-billion project will see the capacity of the Clanwilliam dam roughly double after the existing wall is raised by 13 m.

“Practically, it means an entirely new wall is being built up against the existing one, just 13 m higher. The original wall was built in 1935 and also requires maintenance work to sustain its integrity. This project will address those concerns too,” says Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Minister Anton Bredell.

The national Department of Water and Sanitation has progressed the first phase of the project with the relocation of the N7 highway in the region of the dam.

The doubling of the capacity of the dam will benefit and support the critical agricultural sector, said Western Cape Agriculture Minister Dr Ivan Meyer.

“This will allow for more irrigation in the region, estimated to be in the region of an additional 5 500 ha. This could see up to 3 800 additional permanent jobs in the region, thereby, helping to grow the Western Cape’s economy,” he explained.

Bredell pointed out that, with the dam 100% full post the rainfall season, the sluices have been opened, showing that the added capacity “will not go to waste”.