Public participation
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Proposed Milnerton Lagoon Dredging

Public Participation
  • Status: Draft Basic Assessment Report
  • Reference Number: 16/3/3/1/A1/18/3048/25
  • Authority: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
  • Date of notice: 2025-11-05
  • Closing date: 2025-12-05

PROPOSED DREDGING OF THE MILNERTON LAGOON IN THE DIEP RIVER ESTUARY, CAPE TOWN

The applicant, the City of Cape Town: Environmental Management Department Biodiversity Management Branch, is proposing to dredge the lower reaches of the Milnerton Lagoon. The main purpose of the dredging is to reshape the channel profile and enhance tidal exchange.

The proposed dredging of the lower section of the Milnerton Lagoon is proposed as an appropriate remediation activity aligned with existing approvals for the Diep River Estuary and is informed by the findings of the 2023 Remediation Plan (Rose et al., 2023).

SITE DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND

The Milnerton Lagoon is the well-known lower part of the Diep River Estuary where the Diep River enters the sea at Lagoon Beach in Cape Town, and extends from the Otto du Plessis road bridge over the estuary to the mouth between Woodbridge Island and Lagoon Beach. 

Water quality in the lagoon has declined significantly in recent years due to high levels of pollution and other anthropogenic impacts. The effects of poor water quality in the estuary include a sulphurous odour and discoloured water, due to high levels of suspended solids and extremely low oxygen levels.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

The City of Cape Town intends to dredge the lower section of the Milnerton Lagoon from just upstream of the Loxton Road bridge to the estuary mouth. The proposed dredging is intended to increase the exchange of saline and fresh water in the lower lagoon; and create raised intertidal mudflats exposed to air, increasing the sediment oxygen levels.

APPLICABLE LEGISLATION

Application is made for an environmental authorisation (Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Reference No.: 16/3/3/1/A1/18/3048/25) to undertake listed activities in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended, and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2014, as amended:

  • Listing Notice 1 (GNR 327 of 2017): Activity 15 and 19 A
  • Listing Notice 3 (GNR 324 of 2017): Activity 14

OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE

The 30-day commenting period for the draft Basic Assessment Report and its associated appendices is now CLOSED.

The comment period was initiated on Wednesday, 05 November 2025 and ended on Friday, 05 December 2025. Registered I&APs will be informed of the next steps.