executive summary: basic assessment …...2018/11/22 · srk consulting: charlesville affordable...
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT
CHARLESVILLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE Project Number: 535518
1 INTRODUCTION
The Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements (WCPDHS) proposes to develop a medium density (143.2 units/ha), affordable, sectional title housing development (the project) on Erf 109533 in Charlesville, Cape Town (the site).
Human Settlement Holistic Services (Pty) Ltd (HSHS) have been appointed by the WCPDHS as the client representative for this project.
SRK Consulting (South Africa) Pty Ltd (SRK) has been appointed by HSHS to undertake the Basic Assessment (BA) process required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA). The BA process was undertaken in accordance with Section 23 of the EIA Regulations, 2014 (GN R982, as amended by GN R326).
2 GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK
Sections 24 and 44 of NEMA make provision for the promulgation of regulations that identify activities which may not commence without an EA issued by the competent authority, in this case, the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP). The EIA Regulations, 2014, promulgated in terms of NEMA, govern the process, methodologies and requirements for the undertaking of EIAs in support of EA applications. The EIA Regulations are accompanied by Listing Notices (LN) 1-3 that list activities that require EA.
The EIA Regulations, 2014 lays out two alternative authorisation processes. Depending on the type of activity that is proposed, either a BA process or a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process is required to obtain EA. LN 1 lists activities that require a BA process, while LN 2 lists activities that require S&EIR. LN 3 lists activities in certain sensitive geographic areas that require a BA.
SRK has determined that the proposed project triggers activities listed in terms of LN 1 and LN 3 of the EIA Regulations, 2014, requiring a BA.
See page 4 for details on how you
can participate in the process.
Figure 1: Locality Plan
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Table 1: Listed activities triggered by the project
No Description
LN 1 (requiring BA)
27 The clearance of an area of 1 hectare (ha) or more, but less than 20 ha of indigenous vegetation
LN 3 (requiring BA)
12 The clearance of an area of 300 square metres or more of indigenous vegetation, in: i. Western Cape
(i) Within any Critically Endangered ecosystem listed in terms of section 52 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act
A Water Use Authorisation in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA) will be required from the Department of Water and Sanitation. Water use activities applicable to the project are listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Activities requiring a Water Use Licence
No Description
c Impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse.
i Altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse.
3 ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS
The EIA Regulations, 2014 define the detailed approach to the BA process (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: BA Process
The objectives of the BA process are to:
• Identify relevant authorities and key stakeholders to
engage in the stakeholder engagement process;
• Disclose information to authorities and stakeholders and
provide them with an opportunity to raise issues or
concerns;
• Identify potential issues and environmental impacts;
• Assess the significance of the potential environmental
impacts identified;
• Describe and investigate alternatives that have been and
/ or could be considered; and
• Provide feasible mitigation measures to address any
significant impacts identified.
These objectives are achieved through technical evaluation of the proposed activity, the stakeholder engagement
process and submission of the relevant documentation to DEA&DP.
4 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE AND ENVIRONMENT
Charlesville is a suburb of Cape Town, located approximately 3km north-west of Cape Town International Airport. The medium to high density residential suburb is located within close proximity of a shopping mall, schools, major roads and a railway line.
The site is currently vacant with informal footpaths criss-crossing the plot. Valhalla Drive, Michael Hambrick Street and John Jansen road constitute western, southern and eastern boundaries of the site. To the north of the site there is a vacant plot.
The botanical and freshwater impact assessments conclude that the site is degraded from an ecological perspective (Figure 3). However, the following ecological features were identified:
• a seasonal wetland located on the vacant plot north of the site. The 32m wetland buffer extends into the north of the site boundary, however does not extend into the development footprint; and
• a population (~20 plants) of a floral Species of Conservation Concern (SCC), Gnidia spicata (Vulnerable) in the north west corner of the site.
Figure 3: Current vegetation on the site - highly degraded
and predominantly exotic grasses and weeds
Though the surrounding area represents a township established on the Cape Flats as a result of the apartheid laws, the site does not contribute significantly in this regard. As such, this project is not expected to impact on any heritage resources.
5 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
An affordable medium density sectional title housing development is proposed for Erf 109533, Charlesville, Cape Town. The site is 24 998 m2 in extent. The proposed development footprint is ~89% of the site.
The development will have up to 358 housing units in apartment blocks and semi-detached/detached double storey units. Internal roads, parking, stormwater abatement facility and two mixed use erven for Corner Shop/Laundromat (Business), Place of Instruction, Place of Assembly and/or Utility Service, Authority Use are included
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in the development. There is no electrical supply servicing the site, as such it is proposed at a small substation looped into the existing David Atkins Street – Sonny Leon Road 11 kV feeder will be situated on the site.
The semi-detached/detached units will have individual access off John Jansen Road and Michael Hembrick Street. The main access to the rest of the development will be off John Jansen Road.
The following road upgrades at the Robert Sobukwe Road / Valhalla Drive intersection are proposed to accommodate future traffic growth:
• Provision of a 220m southbound Right-turn lane on the north approach;
• Extension of 70m shared through / Left-turn lane to 100m and extend the 30m Right-turn lane to 60m on the south approach;
• Provision a 350m through lane on the west approach;
• Extension the 60m Right-turn lane to 80m on the east approach; and
• Provision a 250m exit lane on the east approach.
The Valhalla / Charles Calvert Road / Downing Street intersection requires a 22 metre (inscribed diameter) traffic roundabout with 10 metre circulatory lane to accommodate future traffic growth.
6 ALTERNATIVES
Appendix 3 Section 3 (h)(i) of the EIA Regulations, 2014, requires that all BA processes must identify and describe feasible and reasonable alternatives. An alternative layout
was initially proposed and incorporated the freshwater specialist’s recommendation to exclude development from the 32m wetland buffer. The initial layout did not consider stormwater retention infrastructure. As such, the initial layout was amended to include an area for the stormwater retention infrastructure to be constructed in the north western corner of the site.
The No-Go alternative will involve the continuation of the status quo, i.e. development of 358 number of units will not take place in an area that requires and can accommodate affordable housing and the land will remain vacant.
7 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS
Potential impacts associated with the projects were assessed according to SRK’s standard Impact Assessment methodology. For all potentially significant impacts, the significance of the anticipated impact was rated without and with recommended mitigation measures. These impacts are presented in Table 3, which summarises:
• The impacts assessed in the BA Report; and
• Their significance without and with mitigation.
Table 3: Impacts significance ratings legend Rating +ve -ve
Insignificant I I
Very Low VL VL
Low L L
Medium M M
High H H
Very High VH VH
Figure 2: Site Development Plan
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Table 4: Summary of Impacts
8 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This BA Report has identified and assessed the potential
impacts associated with the proposed residential
development at the site. The site is considered to be
degraded from an ecological perspective with the impacts
of the development on biodiversity and freshwater
features being very low negative to insignificant with
mitigation measures being implemented. The impact that
the development traffic will have on the existing and
projected traffic congestion and delays will be very low
negative. The project development footprint has been
restricted to previously disturbed areas to allow for an
adequate wetland buffer.
This project is aiming to provide affordable housing which
is well-suited for the site and would be assisting achieve a
National objective of addressing housing shortages.
Key recommendations, which are considered essential,
are:
• Implement the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) to guide construction and operations activities and to provide a framework for the ongoing assessment of environmental performance;
• Appoint an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) to oversee the implementation of the EMPr;
• Conserve the Gnidia spicata on the site;
• Prevent pedestrian and vehicular access to the northern neighbouring land from the site; and
• Implement good housekeeping measures during
construction in accordance with the EMPr.
9 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Stakeholder engagement is a key component of the BA
process and is being undertaken in accordance with the
requirements of the EIA Regulations, 2014. The
stakeholder engagement activities are summarised in
Table 3.
Relevant local, provincial and national authorities,
conservation bodies, local forums and surrounding
landowners and occupants have been notified of the BA
process and the release of the BA Report for comment.
The public comment period is currently underway and will
be completed on 22 July 2020, following which the BAR
will be submitted to DEA&DP including the comments
received for their consideration. If substantial changes are
made to the BAR in response to comments received, the
BAR will be released for a second public comment period
prior to submission to DEA&DP.
Table 3: Stakeholder Engagement during Scoping
HOW YOU CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE EIA PROCESS
This BAR is not a final report and can be amended based
on comments received from stakeholders. Stakeholders
are therefore urged to participate:
Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) are invited to
comment, and/or to register on the project database. IAPs
should refer to the project number, and must provide their
comments together with their name, contact details
(preferred method of notification, e.g. email), and an
indication of any direct business, financial, personal or
other interest which they have in the application, to the
contact person below, by 22 July 2020.
Only registered IAPs will be notified of future
opportunities to provide comments.
Relevant Organs of State have been automatically
registered as stakeholders. According to the EIA
Regulations, 2014 all other persons must request in
writing to be placed on the register, submit written
comments or attend meetings in order to be registered as
stakeholders and be included in future communication for
the project.
Impact Significance rating
Without With
CONSTRUCTION PHASE IMPACTS
Nuisance during construction VL VL
Economic benefits VL VL Loss of indigenous vegetation and habitat L VL Deterioration of aquatic ecosystems VL I
OPERATIONS PHASE IMPACTS Deterioration of aquatic ecosystems VL VL Provision of housing M M Increased delays to the road users VL VL
Activity Date
Submission of Application form to DEA&DP
12 June 2020
Release BA Report to the Public 18 June 2020
Comment period 18 June - 22 July 2020
REGISTER OR PROVIDE YOUR OPINION TO:
Kelly Armstrong, SRK Consulting
Postnet Suite #206, Private Bag X18, Rondebosch, 7701
Tel: + 27 21 659 3083; Fax: +27 21 685 7105
Email: [email protected]
REVIEW THE REPORT
Copies of the complete report are available for
public review at SRK’s website: www.srk.co.za – click
on the ‘Library’ and then ‘Public Documents’ links.