Screening Report
ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING ASSESSMENT
NUWERUS & BOSDUIN TOWNSHIPS (ARANOS) NUWERUS PROPER & EXTENSION 1 BOSDUIN PROPER
FINAL SCOPING REPORT FOR REVIEW BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER
JULY 2019
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Aranos Town Council PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Title: FORMALISATION AND TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHMENT OF NUWERUS PROPER AND NUWERUS EXTENSION 1, AND BOSDUIN PROPER TOWNSHIPS(ARANOS)
Type of Project: ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING ASSESSMENT
Project Location: PORTIONS 6 & 26 OF THE FARM ARANOS TOWN AND TOWNLANDS NO. 167 & AND ERVEN 129, 130 AND 131; SONARA (ARANOS)
Competent Authorities: MINISTRY OF URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PRIVATE BAG 13289 WINDHOEK NAMIBIA
Approving Authority: DIRECTORATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM
PRIVATE BAG 13306
WINDHOEK
Proponent/Client: ARANOS TOWN COUNCIL PO BOX 517 ARANOS
Consultancy: URBAN GREEN CC PO BOX 11929, KLEIN WINDHOEK TEL.: +264-61-300 820 CELL: +264-81 129 5759 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.urbangreenafrica.net
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Brief Overview of the Study Area 1 1.2 Motivation to the Nuwerus & Bosduin Development 2 1.3 Terms of Reference 2 1.4 Study Assumptions & Limitations 2 1.5 Purpose of this Report 3 1.6 Structure of the Report 3
CHAPTER 2 – PROJECT TEAM AND EXPERTISE 5
2.1 Role Players 5 2.2 Expertise of the EAP 5
CHAPTER 3 – STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 6
3.1 Registration of Application for Environmental Clearance Certificate 6 3.1.1 Listed Activities 6 3.1.2 The Competent Authority 7 3.1.3 Application for Environmental Clearance Certificate 7 3.2 Scoping Assessment 7
CHAPTER 4 – LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 9
4.1 Cross-sectoral Legislation 9 4.2 Permits, Licence and Approvals Required 14 4.3 International Treaties and Conventions 15
CHAPTER 5 – THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 16
5.1 Build-up Environment 16 5.1.1 Locality 16 5.1.2 Township Character 16 5.1.3 Service Infrastructure 19 5.2 Socio-Economic Environment 20 5.3 Cultural, Archaeological & Heritage 20 5.4 Biophysical Environment 21 5.4.1 Climate 21 5.4.2 Geology and Soils 21 i
5.4.3 Geohydrology 21 5.4.4 Terrestrial Ecology 22 5.4.5 Landscape 22 5.4.6 Flood Lines 22 5.5 Biophysical Environment 22 5.5.1 Spatial Development Frameworks 22 5.5.2 Aranos Town Planning Scheme (2001) 22
CHAPTER 6 – DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT 23
6.1 Overview 23 6.2 Formalisation 23 6.3 Township Layout and Land Uses 23 6.4 Resource Demand and Municipal Services 25 6.4.1 Potable Water Supply and Infrastructure 25 6.4.2 Wastewater and Treatment 25 6.4.3 Electricity Supply and Infrastructure 25 6.4.4 Household Waste System 25 6.4.5 Access and Road Infrastructure 25 6.5 Construction and Operational Activities 26 6.5.1 Construction Activities 26 6.5.2 Operational Activities 27 6.6 Socio-economic Contribution 27
CHAPTER 7 – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS 28
7.1 Public Engagement 28 7.1.1 First Round of Consultation 28 7.1.2 Second Round of Consultation 32
CHAPTER 8 – ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES & IMPACTS 37
8.1 Methodology of Assessment 37 8.2 Potential Impacts Identified & Assessed 40 8.2.1 Construction-Related Impacts 40 8.2.2 Operation-Related Impacts 55 8.3 Decommissioning and Closure 64 8.4 Cumulative Impacts 64 8.5 No-go Option 65
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CHAPTER 9 – CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 66
9.1 Conclusions 66 9.2 Recommendations 67 9.3 Environmental Statement 67
REFERENCES 69
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 5.1 Locality Map Figure 6.1 Township Layout & Land Uses
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1 Structure of the Report Table 2.1 Role Players Table 2.2 Qualifications and Expertise of the Environmental Consultant Table 3.1 Listed Activities Applicable Table 4.1 Cross-sectoral legislation applicable to the EA process Table 4.2 Cross-sectoral legislation applicable to the Development Table 4.3 Permits, Licences and/or Approvals that may be Required Table 4.4 International Treaties and Conventions applicable to the development Table 7.1 Comments Received and feedback provided during the First Round of Public Communication Table 7.2 Comments Received and feedback provided during the Second Round of Public Communication Table 8.1 Impacts Assessment Criteria Table 8.2 Key issues and potential impacts expected during the Construction Phase Table 8.3 Erosion and sedimentation significance Table 8.4 Surface and ground water pollution significance Table 8.5 Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity significance Table 8.6 Visual aesthetics and sense of place significance Table 8.7 Income generation and skills transfer significance Table 8.8 Economic benefit to the construction industry significance Table 8.9 Dust and emissions significance Table 8.10 Noise and vibration significance Table 8.11 Traffic & safety significance Table 8.12 Health & safety & security significance Table 8.13 Heritage / archaeological resources significance Table 8.14 Natural resources significance iv
Table 8.15 Key potential impacts expected during the Operational Phase Significance Table 8.16 Erosion and sedimentation significance Table 8.17 Surface and ground water pollution significance Table 8.18 Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity significance Table 8.19 Visual aesthetics and sense of place significance Table 8.20 Economic benefit to the construction industry Table 8.21 Noises significance Table 8.22 Traffic & safety significance Table 8.23 Natural resources significance
APPENDICES
Appendix A: CV of the EAP Appendix B: Project Registration Documentation B1: Registration with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development B2: Registration with the Office of the Environmental Commissioner
Appendix C: Public Participation Process C1: List of Pre-identified I&AP and Authorities C2: Copy of Notification Email sent to Pre-identified I&AP and Authorities C3: Copy of Background Information Letter C4: Copy of Notification Letter hand delivered to Line Ministries and Parastatals C5: Copy of Proof of Hand Deliveries C6: Copies of Notices in Printed Media C7: Notices placed at the Town Council and Constituency Offices C8: Registered I&AP and Authorities C9: Copy of correspondence received and sent during 1st round of the PPP C10: Copy of notification email sent to registered I&APs and Authorities C11: Copy of proof of email deliveries C12: Notice placed at the Town Council and Constituency Offices C13: Copy of correspondence received and sent during 2nd round of the PPP
Appendix D: Construction Environmental Management Plan
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LIST OF ACRONYMS
BID Background Information Document ºC Celsius dB Decibel DEA Directorate of Environmental Affairs DR District Road DSR Draft Scoping Report DWAF Department of Water Affairs and Forestry EAP Environmental Assessment Practitioner ECC Environmental Clearance Certificate ECO Environmental Control Officer i.e. Example EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIAR Environmental Impact Assessment Report EMA Environmental Management Act EMP Environmental Management Plan ESP Environmental Structure Plan Etc. Etcetera FSR Final Scoping Report Ha Hectare I&AP Interested and Affected Party Km Kilometre Km/h Kilometres per hour kVA Kilowatts Ampère L Litre MAWF Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism MURD Ministry of Urban and Rural Development mg Milligram mm Millimetre No Number Ptn Portion
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PPP Public Participation Process Re/ Remainder RoW Right of Way SA South Africa SANS South African National Standards ToR Terms of Reference TDS Total Dissolved Solids
G LOSSARY OF TERMS
Alternatives - A possible course of action, in place of another, that would meet the same purpose and need but which would avoid or minimize negative impacts or enhance project benefits. These can include alternative locations/sites, routes, layouts, processes, designs, schedules and/or inputs. The “no-go” alternative constitutes the ‘without project’ option and provides a benchmark against which to evaluate changes; development should result in net benefit to society and should avoid undesirable negative impacts.
Assessment - The process of collecting, organising, analysing, interpreting and communicating information relevant to decision making.
Bulk Water Supply - The wholesale supply of water on a business-orientated basis, in large quantities, whether in treated or untreated form, for any utilisation purpose to a customer for own use or for subsequent supply by the customer to consumers.
Competent Authority - means a body or person empowered under the local authorities act or Environmental Management Act to enforce the rule of law.
Cumulative Impacts - In relation to an activity, means the impact of an activity that in itself may not be significant but may become significant when added to the existing and potential impacts eventuating from similar or diverse activities or undertakings in the area.
Endangered (IUCN) - A taxon is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Endangered (see Section V of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria1), and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Environment - As defined in the Environmental Assessment Policy and Environmental Management Act - “land, water and air; all organic and inorganic matter and living organisms as well as biological diversity; the interacting natural systems that include components referred to in sub-paragraphs, the human environment insofar as it represents archaeological, aesthetic, cultural, historic, economic, paleontological or social values”.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - Process of assessment of the effects of a development on the environment.
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Environmental Management Plan (EMP) - A working document on environmental and socioeconomic mitigation measures, which must be implemented by several responsible parties during all the phases of the proposed project.
Evaluation – means the process of ascertaining the relative importance or significance of information, the light of people’s values, preference and judgements in order to make a decision.
Hazard - Anything that has the potential to cause damage to life, property and/or the environment. The hazard of a particular material or installation is constant; that is, it would present the same hazard wherever it was present.
Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) - any person, group of persons or organisation interested in, or affected by an activity; and any organ of state that may have jurisdiction over any aspect of the activity.
Mitigate - The implementation of practical measures to reduce adverse impacts. Protected - Protected under Namibian legislation. Proponent - Any person who has submitted or intends to submit an application for an authorisation, as legislated by the Environmental Management Act no. 7 of 2007, to undertake an activity or activities identified as a listed activity or listed activities; or in any other notice published by the Minister or Ministry of Environment & Tourism.
Public - Citizens who have diverse cultural, educational, political and socio-economic characteristics. The public is not a homogeneous and unified group of people with a set of agreed common interests and aims. There is no single public. There are a number of publics, some of whom may emerge at any time during the process depending on their particular concerns and the issues involved.
IUCN Red List - The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is widely recognised as a comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.
Scoping Process - Process of identifying: issues that will be relevant for consideration of the application; the potential environmental impacts of the proposed activity; and alternatives to the proposed activity that are feasible and reasonable.
Significant Effect/Impact - Means an impact that by its magnitude, duration, or probability of occurrence may have a notable effect on one or more aspects of the environment.
Public consultation - The process of engagement between stakeholders (the proponent, authorities and I&APs) during the planning, assessment, implementation and/or management of proposals or activities. The level of stakeholder engagement varies depending on the nature of the proposal or activity as well as the level of commitment by stakeholders to the process. Stakeholder engagement can therefore be described by a spectrum or continuum of increasing levels of engagement in the decision-making process. The term is considered to be more appropriate than the term “public participation”. The term therefore includes the proponent, authorities (both the lead authority and other authorities) and all interested and affected parties (I&APs). The principle that environmental consultants and stakeholder engagement practitioners should be independent and unbiased excludes these groups from being considered stakeholders.
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Sustainable Development – Development that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs and aspirations.
Vulnerable - A taxon is vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable (see Section V of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria2), and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Water resource - A natural source or occurrence of water.
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
The Aranos Town Council (hereafter referred to as the Proponent) is of the intention to formalise the informal townships of Nuwerus (two townships) & Bosduin (one township) (hereafter referred to as the Development) to become formal townships of Aranos Town. Aranos Town is located to the east within the Hardap Region, located south of the Khomas Region.
The Development includes certain activities that are listed as ‘Listed Activities’ according to Government Notice No. 29 of 6 February 2012, which requires that an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) be obtained from the office of the Environmental Commissioner, thus requiring that an Environmental Assessment (EA) be conducted.
Urban Green cc was accordingly appointed by the Proponent to apply for the required Environmental Clearance Certificate and undertake a scoping assessment (hereafter referred to as the Study) as per the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (No. 30 of 2012) of the Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007).
This Environmental Scoping Report presents the Development and its surroundings; legislation applicable to the Study and the Development; the EA approach and methodology followed; public consultation conducted; the sensitivity of the receiving environment; nature and extent of potential impacts (environmental and social) and required mitigations; further studies required (if any) and a conclusion and recommendation based on the findings of this assessment.
This chapter of the Report provides a background and motivation to the Development, as per the information obtained from the Proponent; the study assumptions and limitations; a brief overview of the study area; the purpose and goals; and the structure of the Report.
1.1 BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY AREA The Nuwerus & Bosduin Informal Townships are located to the west of the larger Township, adjacent to the Sonara and Aranos Extension 6 Townships. The informal townships originates from the early 1990s, mainly as a result of a lack of formal erven within Aranos, especially to the western suburbs.
The Informal Townships expanded to a total number of 700 households, located on both Portion 6 and Portion 26 of the Farm Aranos Town and Townlands No. 167 (Nuwerus Proper & Nuwerus Extension 1), as well as Erven 129, 130 and 131, Sonara (Bosduin Proper).
The older parts of the Informal Townships followed a formal layout, but later on grew out of control to the current informal layout. The Informal Townships comprise a mixture of land-use types, predominantly of a residential nature.
Structures are predominantly of a temporary nature (i.e. corrugated iron and wooden structures) with a few brick structures.
Page 1 of 80 Some services in the form of electricity, water and roads exist, although not of acceptable standards. Sewer (i.e. central located pit latrines) exists, although no sewer exists for the larger part, which results in unhygienic conditions and poor living standards.
Details with regards to the Development is presented in Chapter 6.
1.2 MOTIVATION TO THE FORMALISATION AND TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NUWERUS & BOSDUIN INFORMAL AREAS The motivation or the need and desirability for this Development are exclusively based on the need to provide formal erven with proper municipal services, enabling land tenure and acceptable living standards, as per the goals of Vision 2030.
1.3 TERMS OF REFERENCE No formal Terms of Reference (ToR) were provided by the Proponent, but were rather inferred from the requirements of the applicable legislation, namely the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (Government Notice No. 30 of 2012), to enable an application for an Environmental Clearance Certificate with the Environmental Commissioner, as required by Section 27(3) of the Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007).
The purpose of this Study (i.e. content of this Report) is to apply for an ECC for the applicable listed activities, associated with the Development, as per the requirements of the Environmental Management Act (Act No 7 of 2007) only. All other permits or licenses (see section 4.2) required for the operation of the Nuwerus & Bosduin Townships still need to be applied for by the Proponent.
1.4 STUDY ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS The following assumptions and limitations applied to this Study:
• It is assumed that the information provided by the Proponent, appointed consultants and applicable authorities, is accurate;
• No alternative site or township layout for assessment was provided;
• Should an Interested and Affected Party or Authority not attend any of the public consultation meetings or provide his/her written comments to the EAP or contact the office of the EAP, it is assumed that the I&AP and/or Authority do not have any comment;
• It is assumed that there will be no significant changes to the Development (see Chapter 6) or effected environment (see Chapter 5), between the time of completing this assessment and implementation of the Development that could substantially influence findings, recommendations with respect to mitigation and management, etc.;
• The study involved the assessment of impacts on the current conservation value of the affected land and not on either the historic or potential future conservation value; and
Page 2 of 80 • The assessment is based on the prevailing environmental (social and biophysical) and legislative context at the time of conducting the assessment (November 2018 & January 2019).
1.5 PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT This final scoping report serves the purpose of providing the Environmental Commissioner with the information necessary to make an informed decision with respect to the awarding or refusing of the application for an ECC associated with the proposed project.
1.6 STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT
This report consists of nine chapters as outlined below.
Table 1.1 – Structure of the Report SECTION CONTENTS Introduction Provides a brief overview of the study area, background and motivation to the Chapter 1 Development; study terms of reference; the study assumptions and limitations; purpose and structure of the Report.
Project Team and Expertise Chapter 2 Provides an overview of the role-players applicable to the Development and the EAP undertaking the study.
Study Approach and Methodology Chapter 3 Provides information on registration of the EA, the applicable Competent Authority, and assessment process being followed.
Legal and Regulatory Review Chapter 4 Provides an overview of the key legislation of relevance to the environmental assessment process, as well as the Development.
The Affected Environment Describes the details pertaining to the site and urban characteristics of the surrounding Chapter 5 area, the existing biophysical, socio-economic and cultural-historic environment of the study area.
Description of the Development Provides a description of the statutory approvals obtained, the township layout and different Chapter 6 land uses; as well as the required resources and municipal services, and the socio- economic contribution.
Details of the Public Participation Process Chapter 7 Explains in detail the entire public consultation process followed as part of this study. Feedback received from registered Interested and Affected Parties are listed as well.
Assessment of Environmental Issues, Potential Impacts and Mitigations Describes and assesses the potential impacts of the proposed development. Mitigation Chapter 8 measures relevant to the planning; design, construction and operational phases of the development as appropriate and recommended.
Page 3 of 80 Conclusions and Recommendations Provides conclusions to the impact assessment and states the overall suitability of the Chapter 9 Development. Recommendations for implementation during the further planning, design, construction and operation of the development are also provided, as appropriate.
References Provides information on the information referenced in the document.
Page 4 of 80 CHAPTER 2 PROJECT TEAM AND EXPERTISE
2.1 ROLE PLAYERS The role players on this Project are set out in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 The role players
ORGANISATION PROJECT ROLE
Decision-making authority for environmental Department of Environmental Affairs authorisation
Aranos Town Council Proponent
Ministry of Urban and Rural Development Competent Authority at Central Government Level
Urban Green cc Independent Environmental Consultant
2.2 EXPERTISE OF THE EAP The qualifications and expertise of the environmental consultant, as required by section 8(a) of the EIA Regulations, are set out in Table 2.2 below. A detailed CV of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) is attached as Appendix A.
Table 2.2 – Qualifications and expertise of the environmental consultant
NAME Mr Brand van Zyl
Responsibility on the EAP; project management; public & stakeholder consultation; impact Project assessment and mitigation formulation; reporting and application for Environmental Clearance
Qualifications M. Degree in Environmental Management; M. Degree Town and Regional Planning; Bachelor of Arts Urban Geography
Professional Registration Namibian Council for Town and Regional Planners
Member of the Green Building Council of South Africa
Experience in years 14
Experience Brand van Zyl has been involved in various Environmental Impact Assessment studies throughout Namibia and of different kind.
Page 5 of 80 CHAPTER 3 STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
This environmental assessment process was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the EIA Regulations (GN. No. 30 of 2012), provided for by Section 56 of the Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007).
The Study’s approach and methods were guided by the Terms of Reference (see section 1.3 above) and the relevant legislation (see section 4.1 below).
3.1 REGISTRATION OF APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE
3.1.1 LISTED ACTIVITIES The first step followed, as part of this EA process was to identify the listed activities triggered by the Development, as stipulated in the ‘List of Activities that may not be undertaken without an Environmental Clearance Certificate’ (GN. No. 29 of 2012).
The activities for which an ECC is applied for is indicated in Table 3.1 below.
Table 3.1 - Listed activities as per Government Notice 29 of 2012 applicable Activity No. Activity Description
Energy Generation, Transmission and Storage Activities The construction of facilities for the transmission and supply of Activity 1(b) electricity
Waste Management, Treatment, Handling and Disposal Activities
Activity 2.3 Temporary storage and export of waste
Forestry Activities
Activity 4 Removal of protected species
Land Use and Development Activities
Activity 5.1(d) Use of zoned open space to any other land use
Activity 5.2 Establishment of Land Resettlement Scheme
Water Resource Developments
The abstraction for groundwater or surface water for industrial Activity 8.1 purposes
Activity 8.9 Construction and other activities within a catchment area
Infrastructure
Activity 10.1(a) The construction of water bulk supply pipelines
The construction of communication networks including towers and Activity 10.1(g) telecommunication lines and cables
Page 6 of 80 The route determination of roads and design of associated physical Activity 10.2(a) infrastructure where it is a public road
3.1.2 THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY The applicable Competent Authority for township establishments, i.e. this Development, is the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, in specific the Department Planning, as provided for by the Townships and Division of Land Ordinance, No. 18 of 1954.
3.1.3 APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (ECC) The application for the ECC was accordingly submitted with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, and a copy of this registration submitted with the office of the Environmental Commissioner on 25 October 2018 (Appendix B), as prescribed by Regulation 6 (Form 1 of Annexure 1) of the EIA Regulations (GN. No. 30 of 2012).
3.2 SCOPING ASSESSMENT The next step followed, as part of the assessment process, was the scoping assessment (content of this report), as per the requirement of Regulation 8 of the EIA Regulations (GN. No. 30 of 2012).
This scoping assessment set out to -
• Collect baseline information and professional/public opinion with regards to the Development and the receiving environment (i.e. social and biophysical environments);
• Determine the manner in which and to what extent the Development may affect the receiving environment, and vice versa;
• Highlight the potential significant effects that are likely to be of most importance, and to develop or recommend mitigation measures, and monitoring requirements;
• Establish the need and desirability of the Development; and
• Advise on any further studies to be conducted (if any) during the detailed investigation phase and provide appropriate Terms of Reference for the mentioned.
Issues and/or concerns raised to date relates to -
• Water wastage and unaccounted water losses, which is considered unsustainable. Communication from the side of NAMWATER on this particular matter is listed in Table 7.1 (Chapter 7 of this Report).
• Pollution of underground water sources from sewer waters. Communication from the side of NAMWATER on this particular matter is listed in Table 7.2 (Chapter 7 of this Report).
The way forward for the remainder of the Study is as follows -
• This Final Scoping Report (FSR) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been submitted with the applicable Competent Authority (Ministry of Urban and Rural
Page 7 of 80 Development) for review and comment to the office of the Environmental Commissioner (Directorate of Environmental Affairs);
• On receipt of comments from the Competent Authority, the Directorate of Environmental Affairs will evaluate the FSR and issue a decision;
• After the issuing of the Directorate’s decision, all registered I&APs and Authorities will be notified of the outcome of the application, as appropriate; and
• A statutory appeal period in terms of Part X, Section 50 of the EMA will follow the issuing of the decision (Clearance Certificate).
Page 8 of 80 CHAPTER 4 LEGAL AND REGULATORY REVIEW
There are a number of sectoral laws that fall under the general rubric of environmental laws. Sectoral laws are generally specific and apply to sectors such as forestry, water, urban developments and so forth. Any development would therefore have to comply with some or other legislative requirement/s before commencement.
This chapter of the scoping report presents: (i) national legislative requirements – i.e. the legal framework for environmental management in Namibia and national sectoral legislative requirements (including required approvals/permits) applicable to the activities of the Development; and (ii) relevant international legislation.
4.1 CROSS-SECTORAL LEGISLATION A number of Namibian legislation and policies have environmental considerations with respect to the Nuwerus & Bosduin Development.
The aforementioned instruments accounting for the legal framework for conducting an environmental assessment is listed in Table 4.1 below, while the sectoral legislation applicable to the Development is listed in Table 4.2, below.
Table 4.1 Cross-sectoral legislation applicable to the EA process
STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK
The Namibian Article 95 (1) states that “the State shall The development should Constitution (1990) actively promote and maintain the welfare of support the provisions of the the people by adopting, inter alia, policies Namibian Constitution aimed at… maintenance of ecosystems, essential ecological processes and biological diversity of Namibia and utilization of natural resources on a sustainable basis” Article 100 stipulates that all natural resources are vested in the state, unless otherwise legally owned. The use of such resources is only allowed within reasonable limits and beyond such limits, permission should be obtained from a competent authority responsible for the use and governance of the concerned natural resources.
Environmental Section 3(2) of the EMA provides a set of The development should Management Act (No principles that give effect to the provisions of adhere to the principles 7 of 2007) the Namibian Constitution for integrated provided in the EMA.
Page 9 of 80 STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
environmental management. An ECC should be obtained Section 27(3) stipulates that no party, whether for the Development. private or governmental, can conduct a listed The Proponent should renew activity without an ECC obtained from the the ECC (if granted) every Environmental Commissioner. three years. Section 40(1) stipulates that an ECC remains valid for a period not exceeding three years, subject to cancellation or suspension.
EIA Regulations Provides for the process to be followed in The EA process should be 2012 (GG No. 4878 undertaking an environmental assessment, undertaken as prescribed in GN No. 29 and 30) stipulating particular requirements with the EIA Regulations. regards to public consultation, the Transfer of the ECC should identification of impacts and establishing the be done as per the significance thereof, as well as the content of requirements, at the time an environmental scoping report. when so required. Of particular interest is the transfer of an ECC, which is regulated by section 20 of the EIA Regulations.
Table 4.2 Cross-sectoral legislation applicable to the Development
STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
NATIONAL SECTORAL LEGISLATION
Water Act No. 54 of Makes provision for a number of functions The Proponent should ensure 1956, as amended pertaining to the management, control and that water use during the use of water resources, water supply and the construction- and operational protection of water resources. phases is as sustainable as possible and that no pollution Of importance is that the Act - of any above and/or below • Prohibits the pollution of underground and ground water resource takes surface water bodies. place.
• Liability of clean-up costs after closure / abandonment of an activity.
Forest Act No. 12 of Provision for the protection of various plant Protected vegetation should 2001, as amended species. be incorporated as part of the Development. Section 22(1): It is unlawful for any person to “cut, destroy or remove” any living tree, bush Vegetation in watercourses or shrub growing within 100 metres from a and 100m on either side is to river, stream or watercourse on land that is be protected from damage. not part of a surveyed erf or a local authority Intended removal of such
Page 10 of 80 STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
area without a licence. vegetation (Acacia erioloba, Albizia, anthelmintica, Prohibits the removal of and transport of Ziziphus mucronata, Boscia various protected plant species. albitrunca) would require a permit. Nature Conservation Protects wild animals and indigenous plants. Ordinance No. 4 of Prohibits disturbance or destruction of the 1975, as amended eggs of huntable game birds or protected birds without a permit. Requires a permit for picking (the definition of “picking” includes damage or destroy) protected plants without a permit. Prohibits the removal of and transport of various protected plant species.
Soil Conservation Prevention and combating of soil erosion; Act No. 76 of 1969, conservation, improvement and manner of as amended use of soil and vegetation, and protection of water sources.
Hazardous The Ordinance applies to the manufacture, During the construction and Substances sale, use, disposal and dumping of hazardous operation phases, any Ordinance No. 14 of substances, and is administered by the hazardous waste needs to be 1974, as amended Minister of Health and Social Services. Its handled, stored and disposed primary purpose is to prevent hazardous of in a responsible manner substances from causing injury, ill health or and at appropriate waste the death of human beings. sites.
Atmospheric Provides for the prevention of the pollution of Excessive dust emissions Pollution Prevention the atmosphere. Part IV of this ordinance should be avoided as it could Ordinance No 11 of deals with dust control and provides for the be categorised as causing a 1976, as amended proclamation of dust control areas. public nuisance under common law.
Public Health Act No. Section 119 states that “no person shall cause The Contractor/s and/or 36 of 1919, as a nuisance or shall suffer to exist on any land Proponent has a general amended or premises owned or occupied by him or of obligation not to cause any which he is in charge any nuisance or other nuisance, which may have an Health and Safety condition liable to be injurious or dangerous to implication on human health. Regulations GN health.” 156/1997 (GG 1617)
Labour Act No. 11 of The Labour Act (No. 6 of 1992), the New The Proponent (including 2007, as amended Labour Act (no. 11 of 2007) and Government their appointed contractors) Notice 156 of 1997: Labour Act, 1992: needs to comply with health Regulations Relating to the Health and Safety and safety regulations of Employees at Work, governs working pertaining to the health and conditions of employees. safety of employees during
Page 11 of 80 STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
These regulations are prescribed for among construction. others safety relating to hazardous Operational activities should substances, exposure limits and physical not result in any potential hazards. Special consideration must be given negative health implications to: to the residents and/or larger • Chapter 3: Welfare and Facilities at community. Work-Places • Chapter 4: Safety of Machinery • Chapter 5: Hazardous Substances • Chapter 6: Physical Hazards and general provision
Road Traffic and Provides for the control of traffic on public All personnel and vehicles Transport Act 52 of roads and the regulations pertaining to road active during the construction 1999 and its 2001 transport, including the licensing of vehicles phase should be Regulations, as and drivers. appropriately licensed. amended Part 5 of the 2001 Regulations lays out Construction materials detailed provisions pertaining to vehicle loads transported/delivered to the – i.e. types of loads and the appropriate construction site should manner in which loads for different vehicle adhere to the requirements of classes should be carried. the 2001 Regulations – i.e. should note exceed limits stipulated and should be transported in a safe manner.
National Heritage Act The Act requires the identification of cultural All protected heritage (Act 27 of 2004), as and archaeological sites within the study area, resources (e.g. human amended registration and protection thereof. remains etc.) discovered, need to be reported immediately to the National Heritage Council (NHC) and require a permit from the NHC before they may be relocated. Heritage resources need to be considered by a heritage specialist.
Townships and Provides for the legal process to be followed Statutory approval is required Division of Land in the instance of township establishments. from the competent authority Ordinance No. 11 of (i.e. Ministry of Urban and 1963, and the Rural Development). Amendment Act, No. 28 of 1992, as amended
Page 12 of 80 STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
LOCAL SECTORAL LEGISLATION
Local Authorities Act The Act provides for the determination and This Act is interestingly silent No. 23 of 1992, as establishment of local authority council and with regards to environmental amended matters incidental to that, as well as the protection, as observed by management council and chief executive Ruppel & Ruppel-Schlichting officer; specific requirements with regards to indicating that the lawmakers service delivery (i.e. water supply, sewerage did find it necessary to and drainage, cemeteries, streets and public translate the environmental places, electricity supply, public transport requirement of the services and housing schemes); municipal Constitution into the valuations, rates and taxes. Traditional Authorities Act and In general, the Act thus regulates the not, for example, into the responsibilities of the particular local authority Local Authorities and in delivering certain services to the residents Regional Councils Acts. of their particular urban area (i.e. municipality, Environmental protection town and/or village). Of interest to this Project, within urban areas is as a public spaces are also regarded as areas result regulated by Council under jurisdiction of the local authority. Policies or other plans (i.e. Town Planning Scheme), which are customary to the particular local authority. The Aranos Town Council does not have any policies or plans currently regulating and managing sustainable urban development, apart from regulating land uses (i.e. Town Planning Scheme).
Town Planning This Ordinance makes no provision for the In essence, a town planning Ordinance No. 18 of preparation and carrying out of town planning scheme regulates land uses 1954, as amended schemes and for matters incidental thereto. and activities within urban Every local authority to which the provisions of areas with the aim to achieve this Ordinance have been applied (which the general purpose, as includes the Aranos Town Council) on the day outlined above. These land of commencement is obligated to have a town uses and activities are planning scheme in place. decided and implemented by As per this Ordinance – way of a Town Planning Scheme, being a statutory Every town planning scheme shall have for its document in accordance with general purpose a co-ordinated and the Town Planning Ordinance harmonious development of the local authority No. 18 of 1954, as amended. area, or the area or areas situate therein, to which it relates (including, where necessary, Any variations in the land the re-construction and re-development of any uses are to follow a statutory part which has already been sub-divided, procedure as prescribed by whether there are or are not buildings this Ordinance and the
Page 13 of 80 STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
thereon) in such a way as will most effectively particular Town Planning tend to promote health, safety, order, amenity, Scheme (i.e. Aranos Town convenience and general welfare, as well as Planning Scheme). efficiency and economy in the process of development and the improvement of communications.
Solid Waste Set out the waste goals for waste Waste management solution Management Policy management in Windhoek. to be in line with these goals.
General Health Provisions for setting standards for conditions Activities within the Regulations, 1969 that promote health in Windhoek. Development should be undertaken as per these Regulations.
While it has been set out to list all those laws and regulations, which regulate the healthy functioning of the environment, it is not necessarily complete and the Proponent has the responsibility to acquaint himself/herself of all applicable legislation and permit requirements applicable to the Development.
4.2 PERMITS, LICENCES AND/OR APPROVALS REQUIRED
The following permits and/or licenses (Table 4.3) should be obtained for the Development.
Table 4.3 – Permits, licenses and/or approvals that may also be required
Type of Permit / Activity Legislation / Institute License
Electricity provision Approval obtained Nampower for Phase 1
Water provision Approval obtained NamWater
Removal of protected Permit required if Forestry Act (Act 27 of 2004) & Forestry Ordinance No. and indigenous protected trees 37 of 1952 and/or Forest Act (Act 72 of 1968). species will be removed Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry; Directorate of Forestry.
Solid waste removal Approval required Aranos Town Council system (if applicable) if private waste management system applies
Page 14 of 80 4.3 INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS The international treaties and conventions applicable to the project and worth taking note of are listed below in Table 4.4 below.
Table 4.4 - International treaties and conventions applicable to the development
STATUTE PROVISIONS PROJECT IMPLICATIONS
Convention to Combat Focuses on land degradation in the dry The Development should Desertification 1994 lands where some of the most adhere to land management, vulnerable ecosystems and people in the which contributes to the world exist. conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the mitigation of climate change.
Convention on Biological Regulate or manage biological Removal of vegetation cover Diversity 1992 resources important for the conservation and destruction of natural of biological diversity whether within or habitats should be avoided outside protected areas, with a view to and where not possible ensuring their conservation and minimised. sustainable use. Promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings.
Stockholm Declaration on Recognises the need for: “a common The Proponent should strive the Human Environment outlook and common principles to inspire to adhere to the proclamations 1972 and guide the people of the world in the made under this declaration. preservation and enhancement of the human environment”. The following are among the proclamations made under the declaration:
• Natural resources must be protected • Wildlife must be protected • Pollution must not exceed the environment’s capacity to clean itself • Rational planning must prevent or resolve conflicts between environment and planning
Page 15 of 80 CHAPTER 5 THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
This chapter describes the details pertaining to the Development’s locality and urban characteristics of the surrounding area, the existing biophysical, socio-economic and cultural- historic characteristics. The description has been compiled based on secondary information received and site visits undertaken.
This chapter provides the basis for assessing the likely negative and positive impacts that the Development might have on the receiving environment (e.g. biophysical and social).
5.1 THE BUILD-UP ENVIRONMENT Considering that the informal township is existing and populated with structures/buildings and infrastructure, the particular development is defined as a brown field development.
5.1.1 LOCALITY The Nuwerus & Bosduin Informal Townships is located to the western parts of the larger Aranos, adjacent west to the townships of Sonara and Aranos Extension 6, as indicated by Figure 5.1 below.
The Nuwerus informal area is located on both Portion 6 and Portion 26 of the Farm Aranos Town and Townlands No. 167, while the Bosduin informal area is located on Erven 129, 130 and 131, Sonara.
5.1.2 TOWNSHIP CHARACTER The character of the Nuwerus and Bosduin informal areas, is typical of an informal township, resembling an informal township layout with temporary structures and lack of most municipal services.
Residential structures, temporary in nature (i.e. corrugated iron and wooden structures) dominate the building structures, with a few permanent structures (i.e. brick structures) either of residential nature or businesses (i.e. small shops or shebeens).
Informal erven, defined by self-made fences, range from very small erven of 100m² (not allowed by legislation) to larger erven of 700m², informally arranged along the informal street pattern. Several of these informal erven located throughout the Township does not have access to the informal street pattern.
Page 16 of 80
Figure 5.1 - Locality Map
Page 17 of 80
Photo 5.1 - Informal Corrugated House Structure
Photo 5.2 - Formal Brick Structure (Shop) with septic tank
Photo 5.3 - Informal Corrugated House Structure & Erf Fences
Page 18 of 80 5.1.3 SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE (i) Electricity Infrastructure Electricity lines (i.e. above ground pole structures) have been installed (see Photos 5.2 & 5.3), but no direct connection to the various households exists. Once the formalisation process has been completed, each and every household will be connected, as well as all other buildings forming part of the Townships.
Internal electricity is supplied by the Aranos Town Council, who again is supplied with electricity from NAMPOWER.
(ii) Water Infrastructure Some areas to the Informal Townships have access to potable water, which is supplied via an above ground pipe network with centralized stand taps (see Photos 5.4 & 5.4). Once the formalisation process has been completed, each and every household will be connected.
Internal water is supplied by the Aranos Town Council, while bulk supply to Council is supplied by NAMWATER.
Photo 5.4 - Water Lines Photo 5.5 - Centralised Stand Taps
(iii) Roads & Stormwater Road access to and within the Informal Townships are as expected of an informal nature, defined by property fences. Roads differ in width and do not follow a logical layout and hierarchy. All roads are gravel roads.
Once the formalisation process has been completed, formal gravel roads will be constructed.
(iv) Wastewater Infrastructure Wastewater is very limited with some of the properties having pit latrines (see Photo 5.6), while other have septic tanks (see Photo 5.2).
Once the formalisation process has been completed, formal sewer will be provided.
Page 19 of 80
Photo 5.6 - Pit Latrine
(v) Household Waste Household waste is currently collected on a weekly basis by the Aranos Town Council and disposed at the Council’s waste dumpsite.
5.2 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT The town of Aranos is composed of a dense population group of an estimated 2,500 people (1,430 people according to Socio-Economic Survey of 2013). A large proportion of the population of Aranos falls within the economically active group, of which only an estimated 14% is unemployed. Key economic activities such as commercial farming, retail, small industry, construction and tourism are resulting in a demand for industrial development, which is expected to contribute to both an influx of people and a natural increase in the population. It can be expected that the larger proportion of the influx will be male seeking employment.
The residents of Nuwerus and Bosduin are considered very poor of which the majority of people have an average income of N$ 500.00/month. Most of the informal residents depend on relatives employed in the agricultural sectors, i.e. surrounding farms. Most of the men, i.e. the income generators, reside on the farms during the week and home during weekends.
The Informal Areas does not provide for any social facilities, i.e. schools, clinics, hospital, etc., but do exists with the neighbouring township of Sonara, Rooiduin and Aranos.
5.3 CULTURAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HERITAGE The town of Aranos does not have any historical importance, nor does it host any recorded archaeological site/s or building/s of historical and/or cultural importance.
Page 20 of 80 5.4 BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
5.4.1 CLIMATE Aranos and the Hardap Region are situated in the central eastern region of Namibia where the climate is very variable and dry with climatic conditions that can be considered unreliable.
Wind is less prominent inland of Namibia compared to the coastal regions of Namibia. Wind speeds are generally low in Aranos and the Hardap Region, and the dominating feature is high temperatures can reach a maximum of 36ºC during the hottest months and below 2ºC during the coolest months.
The average maximum temperatures fluctuate between 34ºC to 36ºC, with December and January being the hottest months, while the average minimum have been known to drop below 2ºC (Mendelsohn et al 2002). Humidity ranges between 10 and 20 percent during the least humid months whereas during the most humid months, humidity ranges between 70 to 80 percent.
The average annual rainfall at Aranos is estimated at less than 25mm, with February being the peak rain month (Namibia Meteorological Services). The rainfall occurs in the months of January, February, and March, while no rainfall occurs between May and October.
5.4.2 GEOLOGY AND SOILS The bedrock geology of the Aranos area consists mainly of the Kalahari and Namib Sands forming part of the Kalahari Group. The Kalahari Group covers the majority of western and eastern parts of the Hardap Region, forming part of Nama Basin and most of the Owambo Basin as the Kalahari Basin, which extends from Northern Cape, north through Namibia, Botswana and Zambia, and into the area around the Congo River.
The Kalahari Sequence comprises of sand, clays and calcretes, which were formed in the period from about 70 to 65 million years ago due to a variation in climatic conditions. The formation of soils under arid conditions is dominated by exogenetic processes such as physical weathering and transportation. Chemical weathering is limited by the availability of water.
Aranos is dominated by the sandy soils of the Namib and the Kalahari which is a very permeable type of soil that retains very little or no water. This soil has a very low fertility and is poor for cultivation of crops.
5.4.3 GEOHYDROLOGY Aranos is closely located to the Nossob River which is an active tributary flowing south to the Orange River. Groundwater reserves are also found in the vicinity of the Hardap Region, which provides for domestic and agricultural consumption. Productive aquifers (Stampriet Aquifer) are found to the east of Hardap, and to the central parts of the Hardap Region. Irrigated agriculture is a common practice in the Hardap Region from the Hardap Dam (Hardap Regional Poverty Profile, 2007).
Page 21 of 80 5.4.4 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY The overall terrestrial diversity in and around Aranos is considered low compared to Namibia as a whole (Mendelsohn et al, 2002). However, species diversification does occur to the animals that can withstand the climatic conditions of Aranos, for example, Mendelsohn et al, (2002) stipulates that there are between 51 and 60 species of snakes in the Hardap Region. At the same time, large herbivores are present in the Hardap Region with a medium density of which springbok is the most abundant
The immediate study area is populated with the Acacia Erioloba tree, which is an indigenous tree to Namibia and is found all over Namibia. The Aranos area situated in the Hardap Region is home to between 50 to 99 plant species diversity that consists mainly out of trees, shrubs and grassland.
5.4.5 LANDSCAPE The altitude of Aranos is roughly 1200m to 1400m above sea level with a relatively flat surface area made up from the Kalahari and Namib Sands group. There is a slight slope in Aranos facing East draining towards the Nossob River.
The surrounding landscapes is defined by rolling red sand dunes to the north and east of the Nuwerus and Bosduin Informal Areas, while the west and south is defined by the Nossob River forming a canyon like landscape.
5.4.6 FLOOD LINES The Nuwerus and Bosduin Informal Areas are not situated within the proximity (i.e. within 100m) of any river. The Nossob River is located about 3km from the Informal Townships, with a height difference of +80m.
5.5 PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
5.5.1 SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK As the responsible local authority, the Aranos Town Council, have set certain planning guidelines according to which development within the larger Aranos should be guided.
In accordance with the Aranos Spatial Development Framework (2017), the particular areas (i.e. Nuwerus and Bosduin) and areas to the north, has been earmarked for township development of a mix land use nature.
5.5.2 ARANOS TOWN PLANNING SCHEME (2001) The Aranos Town Planning Scheme (statutory) provides for various land uses and activities allowed within the jurisdictional boundary of the Town Council. The mentioned scheme has the purpose of controlling development to ensure controlled and harmonious development to the benefit of both man and nature.
The land taken-up by the Nuwerus and Bosduin Informal Townships has the zoning of ‘residential’ and ‘undetermined’.
Page 22 of 80 CHAPTER 6 DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT
This chapter provides a description of the Development, required resources, engineering services, construction activities and expected socio-economic contributions.
6.1 OVERVIEW The ‘Development’ entails the formalisation of two informal ‘townships’, which originated during the late 1990’s and has since then expanded to two large townships, located on Portions 6 and 26 of the Farm Aranos Townlands No. 167 (Nuwerus) and Erven 129, 130 and 131, Sonara (Bosduin).
‘Formalisation’ refers to the process whereby an ‘informal township’, which is an unproclaimed township in accordance with the Township and Division of Land Ordinance (No. 11 of 1963), is subject to a legal process of establishing a formal township. Informal townships does not provide for land tenure and is usually also not provided with municipal services, mainly because of a lack of collateral and non-legal existence.
6.2 FORMALISATION Formalisation of an informal area entails a statutory process, which includes a planning phase being done by the town planner (i.e. designing of a formal township layout and obtaining of the statutory approvals), a land surveying phase done by the land surveyor (i.e. registering of the townships general plan), the official proclamation of the township and lastly the registering of ownership.
The other component to this process entails the physical construction of services, i.e. roads, water network, electricity network and the wastewater network. It is also this component that pose the real impact, which need to be assessed and managed to ensure the least possible environmental and socio-economic impact/s.
6.3 TOWNSHIP LAYOUT & LAND USES The Townships’ layouts has been designed considering the need for access and a holistic larger township, but equally important considering the existence of structures and property fences, as well as the existing bulk electricity supply network (see Figure 6.1).
The township layout proposed has been done with the aim to minimize social disturbance within an existing community. Due to some erven being too small (i.e. smaller than 300m²) and some erven not having street access, not all structures and fences could have been accommodated.
Residents that are affected by the proposed layout, which will have to relocate, will be accommodated at other available erven forming part of the larger townships. These people will be assisted by the Aranos Town Council.
Page 23 of 80
Figure 6.1 - Nuwerus and Bosduin Township Layouts
Page 24 of 80 The type of land uses provided for are pre-dominantly residential, as a result of the nature of the existing dwellings, but providing for other activities such as business, institutional (i.e. church; crèche) and also public open spaces.
The street layout of the informal township has largely been adopted with a few changes to ensure optimal access and linkage with the existing township of Sonara and Aranos Extension 6, but also to ensure sensible traffic and pedestrian flow throughout.
6.4 RESOURCE DEMAND AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES
6.4.1 POTABLE WATER SUPPLY & INFRASTRUCTURE Potable water will be supplied to each erf via an underground potable water network located within the road reserves. Potable water will be supplied by the Aranos Town Council for which each owner will pay as per the monthly usage.
The potable water network located within Sonara and Aranos, located directly east of the proposed Townships, will be extended to supply water to the Development.
NAMWATER has a local water supply scheme consisting of a few boreholes, pump stations and reservoirs, which extend throughout the larger Aranos.
6.4.2 WASTEWATER & TREATMENT The waste water/sewerage outfall will be dealt with by the means of septic tanks, which will be allocated to each erf and pumped by the Aranos Town Council.
Each erf’s wastewater infrastructure will consist of normal uPVC piping leading into an underground concrete structure with manholes appropriately spaced to facilitate proper and easy maintenance on the network.
The sewage pumped from the septic tanks is disposed at the Council’s oxidation ponds.
6.4.3 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY & INFRASTRUCTURE Bulk electricity lines already exist within the Nuwerus and Bosduin Areas, which are linked with the Town’s larger electricity network. Electricity will be extended from the exiting bulk lines to each individual erf, which will be charged as used on a monthly basis.
Electricity is supplied to the Aranos Town Council from NAMPOWER, via their regional grid.
6.4.4 HOUSEHOLD WASTE SYSTEM Household waste is collected on a weekly basis by the Aranos Town Council and disposed at the Council’s waste dumpsite.
Page 25 of 80 6.4.5 ACCESS & ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE Access to the Nuwerus & Bosduin Townships will be obtained via the existing road network of the larger townships (i.e. Sonara, Aranos & Rooiduin).
The internal streets planned vary in width, determined by the particular road’s purpose (i.e. collector-; distributor-; link-, etc.). A prominent link has been provided in-between the existing township of Sonara, located adjacent east of Nuwerus and Bosduin, which extends northwards as a prominent collector road throughout the Townships. From the prominent collector road, various smaller link roads have been provided to ensure optimal and effective access throughout.
6.5 CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES The Development is generally associated with the following activities during both the construction phase and the operational phase.
6.5.1 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES Activities associated with the construction phase, both during bulk infrastructure and construction of buildings, but not necessarily limited to, are:
• Setting-up of a temporary –
o construction yard; o site office and parking area; o workshop and stores; o batching area; o ablution facilities; o solid waste disposal facility; o stockpile area; and o area for the handling of hazardous substances, wash bays, bulk storage and dispensing of fuel.
• Demolition of existing structures.
• Clean up of existing dumpsites and smaller points of pollution currently on-site.
• Clearance of vegetation, stockpiling and removal from site.
• Removal of topsoil and storage.
• Dumping of large quantities of unsuitable material.
• Access to and from the site by construction and delivery vehicles.
• Daily commuting of labour force to and from the site.
• Digging of trenches and construction of infrastructure (i.e. roads, electricity, water and wastewater).
• Generation of construction waste, temporary storage and removal from site.
Page 26 of 80 • Usage of water for daily construction activities and generation of wastewater.
The impacts expected to occur during the construction phase, the assessment therefore and the mitigations recommended (see Section 8.2.1) are also listed in much detail within the attached Construction Environmental Management Plan (Appendix D).
6.5.2 OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES Activities associated with the operational phase, but not necessarily limited to, are:
• Traffic movement to and from the Townships.
• Generation of dry and wet waste, the temporary storage thereof and removal.
• Street lighting.
• Noises associated with the residential and business activities.
• Resource consumption (i.e. electricity; water).
• Use of pesticides and herbicides; paint, petrol & diesel spillages.
• Groundwater pollution from sewer lines, septic tanks and/or oxidation ponds.
• Routine maintenance on bulk and internal services and servitude maintenance.
6.6 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION The Development is expected to have a direct and indirect positive socio-economic impact, especially during the current poor economic times. These positive impacts can briefly be summarised as -
• Supplying in the demand for developable land within the Aranos area.
• Enabling land ownership and economic empowerment.
• Employment and skill transfer during both the construction phase and the operational phase.
• Additional rates and taxes to the local authority.
• The Development is expected to have a general Socio-Economic upliftment impact, which is much required during the particular economic times.
Page 27 of 80 CHAPTER 7 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS
Public consultation for the purposes of this project was done as prescribed by Regulations 21 to 24 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (GN. 30 of 2012).
This chapter describes in detail the full extent of the public consultation process that was followed, as well as the I&APs and authorities that were notified of the study. It also includes the main issues and concerns raised during the public consultation process.
7.1 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
7.1.1 FIRST ROUND OF CONSULTATION Engagement with the public and authorities as part of the first round of public consultation commenced on the 30th of October 2018 and concluded on the 20th of November 2018. During the first round of consultation, I&APs and authorities were given an opportunity to register and submit comments and/or concerns towards the Development.
(i) Activities of Public Engagement Activities undertaken to date to ensure effective and adequate involvement, are as follows:
• A list of predetermined I&APs and authorities was compiled. A total of 33 I&APs were included on the database (Appendix C1).
• A notification email (Appendix C2) with Background Information Letter (Appendix C3) was distributed to all pre-identified I&APs and authorities (Appendix C1) on 30 October 2018.
• Notification letters (Appendix C4) were hand delivered on 30 October 2018 (Appendix C5) to line ministries and parastatals (Appendix C1).
• Public notices announcing the commencement of the EA and an invitation to register as an I&AP were placed in the “New Era” and the “Namibian” on 30 October 2018 and 6 November 2018 (Appendix C6).
• A public notice (with the dimensions 60cm x 42cm) was placed at the Aranos Constituency Office and the Aranos Town Council (Appendix C7).
• A register was opened and maintained and included all registered I&APs who as a result of the consultation process submitted comments or raised their concerns (Appendix C8). Considering the fact that the affected land and surrounding portions/erven is in ownership of Aranos Town Council, also being the Proponent, no direct neighbours exists.
(ii) Comments Received and Responses Provided All comments received from I&APs and authorities and feedback given are summarised in Table 7.1 below, while a copy of the original correspondence is attached as Appendix C9.
Page 28 of 80 Table 7.1 - Comments received and feedback provided during the first round of public consultation NO. NAME COMMENTS NAME RESPONSE 1
1. Ms. Jolanda Murangi Hi Brand, Urban Green cc Dear Jolanda, Environmentalist In- NamWater has a concern with regards to (14/11/2018) Thank you for the feedback, I will Training the sufficiency of our water resources for indicate accordingly. NAMWATER this area and NamWater’s ability to supply Just to confirm, it is the ‘resource’ water to the new township. (14/11/2018) that is a concern and not the Please liaise with Andries Kok: infrastructure? [email protected] for more What is however problematic is that information and clarity on the matter. the people are already living in the Regards, area (i.e. informal township), it is merely a formalisation which leads to a township establishment. So this is not a ‘new development’, only a new ‘township’.
Regards,
Brand
Ms. Jolanda Murangi Morning Brand,
Environmentalist In- Andries is in a better position to shed more Training light on this and he’s unfortunately out of the office until next week. He can only NAMWATER attend to your enquiry then. (15/11/2018) Regards,
Jolanda
Mr. Andries Kok Dear All, Urban Green cc Dear Andries,
Acting Chief Water Below the expected demand of Aranos, (20/11/2018) Thank you for the below information,
Page 29 of 80 NO. NAME COMMENTS NAME RESPONSE 1 Supply South based on the Master Water Plan dated but I am not quite following. I would 2007. need further clarification please? NAMWATER (See attached actual communication and Has the actual daily use surpassed (19/11/2018) graph) the actual supply capacity or only a planned capacity? Is the actual Below the actual annual demand of Aranos usage per day more than what can up to 2017/18. It can be seen that the be supplied? actual demand (251 000) exceeds the planned figure (220 000) for 2017/18. Regards Based on the graph (above) it can also be Brand van Zyl seen that the possibility of a 35% reduction is possible with demand management. The following was recommended;
Prior to the implementation of any supply augmentation is required during the planning period, it is recommended to carry out detailed investigations into the actual water consumption and leakage including night-flow assessments, to reduce the water demand, to avoid unnecessary investment in the bulk water supply infrastructure. It is suggested that the water demand based on a 35% potential water saving be accepted as a realistic demand for Aranos.
ACTUAL DEMAND
(See attached actual communication and graph)
Although the existing sources and infrastructure will be able to supply 504 000 m3/a, there is still a concern with regards to
Page 30 of 80 NO. NAME COMMENTS NAME RESPONSE 1 Demand Management within Aranos and the sustainable long term use of sources.
Thanks
Urban Green cc Dear Andries, Mr. Andries Kok Brand – that is correct yes.
(20/11/2018) Apologies, I see now that both the Acting Chief Water infrastructure and resource would be able to Supply South supply 504,000 m3/a, which means that the NAMWATER actual demand is at 49.8%. The concern is with losses and water wastage. (20/11/2018)
Regards
Brand
Page 31 of 80 7.1.2 SECOND ROUND OF CONSULTATION Engagement with the public and authorities for the second round of public consultation commenced on the 20th of June 2019 and concluded on the 4th of July 2019. During the second round of consultation, I&APs and authorities were given an opportunity to submit comments on the Draft Scoping Report.
7.1.2.1 Activities of Public Engagement Activities undertaken to date to ensure effective and adequate I&AP involvement, are as follows: • A notification email (Appendix C10) informing all pre-identified and registered I&APs of the availability of the Draft Scoping Report and request for comment, was distributed on 20 June 2019. Proof of delivery of email sent is attached as Appendix C11. • A notice informing the residents of Aranos of the availability of the Draft Scoping Report and opportunity to comment was placed at the Aranos Town Council offices (Appendix C12), while notices was also placed at the office of the Aranos Constituency Office and Aranos and at the Hardap Regional Council Offices in Mariental (Appendix C12). • The Draft Scoping Report with a Comment Sheet and Register were made available at the Office of Urban Green cc.
7.1.2.2 Comments Received and Responses Provided All comments and feedback received from I&APs and Authorities are summarised in Table 7-2 below, while a copy of the original correspondence is attached as Appendix C13.
Page 32 of 80 Table 7-1: Comments received during the second round of public consultation NO. NAME COMMENTS NAME RESPONSE
1. Mr E. de Paauw Afternoon Mr van Zyl Urban Green cc Dear Mr. E. de Paauwe, (Roads Authority) Would appreciate if you could forward me an electronic (20/06/2019) Find attached an electronic copy of the Scoping (20/06/2019) copy of the ESA. Report. Regards and thanks Should you wish to have any of the appendixes or EAM de Paauw the township layout in a higher quality format, please let me know? Regards Brand van Zyl
2 Mr NP du Plessis Dear Brand Urban Green cc Dear NP, (NAMWATER) Please forward the draft scoping and EMP report to me. (21/06/2019) Find attached. (21/06/2019) Regards Should you need any of the other appendixes or NP better quality maps, please let me know? Regards Brand
Mr NP du Plessis Dear Brand Urban Green cc Dear NP, (NAMWATER) Attached please find comments on the Aranos SR. I (9/07/2019) Your comments and our discussion of yesterday (3/07/2019) reviewed only water related issues. refer. The Word file is too big to send via email. 1. Water balance – as discussed I will give Regards feedback to the Aranos Town Council that NP NAMWATER is requiring that a water balance be done by Council and that Mr. Andries Kok be consulted to provide the necessary training on how this should be done. The requested is done to establish if there are any water losses within the larger system, which should be done by the Council in the interest of long term water
Page 33 of 80 NO. NAME COMMENTS NAME RESPONSE savings and sustainable practises, which will also benefit Council financially. 2. P.7 – The particular sentence will be rephrased so to state that NAMWATER’S infrastructure includes those up to the terminal reservoir, from where the water infrastructure belongs to the Aranos Town Council. The same goes for your comment on p.19. 3. P.25 - Sufficiency of water resource – from the communication during the 1st round of public consultation (see attached), feedback received from Andries was that actual demand is currently sitting at only 49.8%. For ease of reference, I have attached the email communication. Andries’ concern was also on the losses and wastage that is taking place. 4. P.25 - Risk of leakages and ground water pollution from septic tanks – as indicated under section 8.2.2(ii), initially after construction (if properly constructed) the risk of leakage is very low, but is known to increase over time as the septic tank’s integrity decrease. I have included additional mitigations that each newly constructed septic tank should be sealed with an approved sealant for septic tank use and that Council should inspect and approved the latter as part of the approval process. As part of the operational phase,
Page 34 of 80 NO. NAME COMMENTS NAME RESPONSE I have included the mitigation that Council should inspect each septic tank currently existing to determine the integrity and that each newly built septic tank should be inspected every 5 years. In the event that any damages are found and/or leakages, that the particular septic tank be repaired or replaced according to the municipal standards. Regards Brand
3 Mrs Y Murangi Dear Brand, Urban Green cc Dear Jolanda, (NAMWATER) Please include the comments below as part of (9/07/2019) Your comments below and our discussion of (4/07/2019) NamWater’s comments: yesterday refer. According to the report, “sewage pumped from the As stated yesterday, the Aranos Town Council septic tanks shall be disposed of at the council's does not have properly designed and lined oxidation ponds”, more septic systems will be oxidation ponds. Their ponds are nothing more required to accommodate the additional sewage than gravel dams where the sewer waters are for the proposed erfs. The Town Council dumped… It is also not fenced-in. I can thus be oxidation ponds capacity should be investigated expected that underground pollution has been and whether it will be able to accommodate the is still taking place. As is the case with all these expected increase effluent. As overflow may smaller local authorities, they do not have the cause environmental pollution and possible funding to upgrade their sewer network and underground water contamination in the long run. treatment system. I will include your comment in During construction and after, contractors/Council the Final Scoping Report and indicate that urgent should ensure that the NamWater pipelines are funding and attention is required, as the current not obstructed or affected by the development. method of operation can be expected to cause Regards, ground water pollution and is also unsafe and Jolanda unhygienic. Your concern regarding the NAMWATER pipelines will also be included into the documentation for
Page 35 of 80 NO. NAME COMMENTS NAME RESPONSE notification by the Aranos Town Council and the future contractor. Can you please supply me with a .dwg file of NAMWATER’S infrastructure? As part of the EMP a township layout with infrastructure (inclusive of NAMWATER’S infrastructure) will be provided. Regards Brand
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CHAPTER 8 ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATIONS
This chapter provides a description and assessment of the key issues of concern and potential impacts associated with the Development. Mitigation measures relevant to the planning, design, construction, operational and decommissioning phases of the Development as appropriate are recommended. These measures are aimed at avoiding, minimising or rehabilitating negative impacts or enhancing potential benefits. The significance of potential impacts without and with mitigation is also provided.
Given the nature of the Development and that of the receiving environment, and given that the Development has been in existence and the environment already affected, the Development is expected to have had impacts on the immediate and surrounding receiving socio-economic and biophysical environment. An understanding of these impacts together with effective mitigation measures can however minimise such impacts, even avoid impacts in certain instances.
8.1 METHODOLOGY OF ASSESSMENT The potential impacts identified were evaluated in terms of duration (time scale), extent (spatial scale), intensity (magnitude), probability, and status, in combination providing the expected significance. The means of arriving at the different significance ratings is explained in Table 8.1 below.
These criteria are used to ascertain the significance of the impact, firstly in the case of no mitigation and then with the most effective mitigation measure(s) in place. The significance of an impact is derived by taking into account the temporal and spatial scales and magnitude. Such significance is also informed by the context of the impact, i.e. the character and identity of the receptor of the impact.
Table 8.1 - Impact Assessment Criteria
CRITERIA CATEGORY
Impact This is a description of the expected impact.
Nature Positive: The activity will have a social/ economical/ Describe the type of effect. environmental benefit. Neutral: The activity will have no effect. Negative: The activity will be socially/ economically/ environmentally harmful.
Extent Site Specific: Expanding only as far as the activity itself Describe the scale of the impact. (onsite) Small: Restricted to the site’s immediate environment within 1 km of the site (limited)
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Medium: Within 5 km of the site (local) Large: Beyond 5 km of the site (regional)
Duration Temporary: < 1 year Predicts the lifetime of the impact. Short-term: 1 – 5 years Medium term: 5 – 15 years Long-term: >15 years (Impact will stop after the operational or running life of the activity, either due to natural course or by human interference) Permanent: Impact will be where mitigation or moderation by natural course or by human interference will not occur in a particular means or in a particular time period that the impact can be considered temporary.
Intensity Very low: Affects the environment in such a way that Describe the magnitude (scale/size) natural and/or social functions/processes are not of the Impact. affected. Low: Natural and/or social functions/processes are slightly altered. Medium: Natural and/or social functions/processes are notably altered in a modified way. High: Natural and/or social functions/processes are severely altered and may temporarily or permanently cease.
Probability of Occurrence Improbable: Not at all likely. Describe the probability of the Impact Probable: Distinctive possibility. actually occurring. Highly probable: Most likely to happen. Definite: Impact will occur regardless of any prevention measures.
Degree of Confidence in Unsure/Low: Little confidence regarding information Predictions available (<40%). State the degree of confidence in Probable/Med: Moderate confidence regarding predictions based on availability of information available (40-80%). information and specialist knowledge Definite/High: Great confidence regarding information available (>80%).
Significance No change: A potential concern which was found to The impact on each component is have no impact when evaluated. determined by a combination of the Very low: Impacts will be site specific and temporary above criteria. with no mitigation necessary. Low: The impacts will have a minor influence on the proposed development and/or environment. These impacts require some thought to adjustment of the project design where achievable, or alternative mitigation measures.
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Moderate: Impacts will be experienced in the local and surrounding areas for the life span of the development and may result in long term changes. The impact can be lessened or improved by an amendment in the project design or implementation of effective mitigation measures. High: Impacts have a high magnitude and will be experienced regionally for at least the life span of the development, or will be irreversible. The impacts could have the no-go proposition on portions of the development in spite of any mitigation measures that could be implemented.
There is a hierarchy of actions, which can be undertaken to respond to any negative activity, i.e. avoidance, minimisation and compensation. It is possible and considered sought after to enhance the environment by ensuring that positive gains are included in the Development. If negative impacts occur then the hierarchy, as a guiding philosophy, recommends the following steps.
• Impact avoidance: This step is most effective when applied at an early stage of project planning. It can be achieved by:
o not undertaking certain actions or elements that could result in adverse impacts; o avoiding areas that are environmentally sensitive; and o putting in place preventative measures to stop adverse impacts from occurring.
• Impact minimisation: This step is usually taken during impact identification and prediction to limit or reduce the degree, extent, magnitude, or duration of adverse impacts. It can be achieved by:
o scaling down or relocating the project; o redesigning elements of the project; and o implementing mitigation measures to manage the impacts.
• Impact compensation: This step is usually applied to remedy unavoidable residual adverse impacts. It can be achieved by:
o rehabilitation of the affected site or environment, for example, by habitat enhancement; o restoration of the affected site or environment to its previous state or better; and o replacement of the same resource values at another location (off-set), for example, by wetland engineering to provide an equivalent area to that lost to drainage or infill.
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8.2 POTENTIAL IMPACTS IDENTIFIED AND ASSESSED For this assessment’s purpose, the issues and impacts identified are grouped according to the main project phases – i.e. the construction phase and operational phase. Sections 8.2.1 and Section 8.2.2 give a broad overview of each potential impact expected during the two phases, as well as an assessment outcome with mitigations.
8.2.1 CONSTRUCTION-RELATED IMPACTS The construction activities, which have been considered, include those activities applicable to both the construction of bulk services (i.e. roads; potable water; sewer; stormwater; and electricity) and the construction of buildings (i.e. houses & businesses), of which both have already taken place, but also expected to be redone or done from new.
Construction impacts are apart from a few, mostly temporary in nature, but may have a permanent and lasting result if not addressed in time and in an effective manner. Details with regards to the potential impacts expected during the construction phase are briefly discussed below.
Detailed mitigation measures and environmental requirements having direct relevance to the expected construction impacts are presented in the tables below and in the Environmental Management Plan (Appendix D).
Table 8.2 below presents the potential impacts expected to occur during the construction phase of the Development, while Table 8.3 to Table 8.14 present the assessment and outcome of each of the key impacts, with mitigations.
Table 8.2 - Key issues and potential impacts expected during the construction phase IMPACT CAUSE
Vegetation clearance Erosion & Sedimentation Trenches & excavated areas
Ground and Surface Water Waste disposal Pollution Hazardous material & liquid disposal
Vegetation clearance & removal of trees Habitat Destruction and Loss Erosion & sedimentation of Biodiversity Poaching
Vegetation clearance Visual Aesthetics and Sense Poorly planned construction sites of Place Insensitive infrastructure design and scale
Dust nuisance
Noise and vibration nuisance Socio-Economic Traffic safety
Health, safety and security
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IMPACT CAUSE
Employment creation (positive impact)
Heritage and Archaeological Removal and/or disturbance Resources
Unacceptable high levels of consumption Natural Resources (water & energy) Wastage
(i) Erosion and Sedimentation Erosion and sedimentation will take place in the event that soils are exposed to the natural elements (i.e. winds and rains) through clearing of vegetation or steep excavations, which in turn could result in seasonal (rain season) degradation of habitats and visual downgrade. The amount of erosion and sediment transport is directly related to what time of the year the construction activities occur and the duration thereof. If clearing and grading activities take place during the wetter months of the year (November to March), substantially more erosion would result.
The Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969 requires the prevention and combating of soil erosion; the conservation, improvement and manner of use of the soil and vegetation; and the protection of water sources.
Considering the natural conditions (i.e. topography, soil composition and vegetation cover) (see section 5.4) erosion and sedimentation is not expected, mainly as a result of the affected environment’s flat topography and high infiltration rate.
Given the environment’s natural characteristic and scale of future infrastructure to be constructed, the potential occurrence of erosion and resulting sedimentation is rated as low for the area (see Table 8.3).
Table 8.3 – Erosion and sedimentation significance Impact Description Erosion and sedimentation
Nature Negative
Extent Site specific Duration Short Term
Intensity Low
Probability Probable Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation No change
Legal Implications Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969 (see section 4.1) Apply acceptable engineering standards and design, or Best Mitigations Management Practices (BMP). BMPs are defined as
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physical, structural, and/or managerial practices, that when used singly or in combination, prevent or reduce the expected impact/s. Structural BMPs typically include sediment ponds or traps, stabilized construction entrances, filter fences, check dams, and riprap. Managerial BMPs include preserving the natural vegetation, leaving buffer zones, and providing dust control.
Plan the timing of construction to avoid clearing and grading during erosive high rainfall months of the year.
Avoid unnecessary and excessive vegetation clearance and disturbance of top soil.
Contractor should draft a Rehabilitation Plan and re- vegetated exposed areas once construction at the particular area ceased. The Rehabilitation Plan should provide for a phased approached ensuring that no large area is exposed to natural elements (e.g. wind, water).
‘Part 2 – Environmental Specifications of the Construction’ of the Environmental Management Plan provides detail specifications and requirements to avoid any potential impacts.
(ii) Ground and Surface Water Pollution
Construction activities are associated with a variety of potential pollution sources (i.e. cement, oils, diesel, chemicals, paints, etc.), either having a direct and immediate impact or indirect and longer- term impact. As a single incident, in order for the downstream ground water to be contaminated, very large quantities of pollutants will have to be released into the environment, of which volumes are not associated with this type of Development (i.e. construction of streets and other infrastructure). Although, however small these potential sources of pollution might be, it still requires special attention (i.e. planning, control and management) to avoid any potential pollution of the immediate environment and contributing to the cumulative pollution impacts on downstream resources.
The soil, geological (see section 5.4.2) and hydrogeological (see section 5.4.3) characteristics of the affected environment and surroundings characterise a sensitive status, which in turn indicate a definite and real impact to downstream resources in the event that large quantities of pollutants are released in to the natural environment. Prevention of any form of pollution is thus essential and crucial in the interest of all downstream resources.
Given the environment’s natural characteristics and scale of construction, construction pollution is expected to have a moderate impact before mitigation and a low impact following proper mitigation measures and continues monitoring (see Table 8.4). With the proper precautionary measures in place, it is unlikely that groundwater contamination will occur and therefore the proposed construction phase is not likely to have any detrimental impacts on the groundwater resources of the area.
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Table 8.4 – Surface and ground water pollution significance Impact Description Groundwater and surface water pollution
Nature Negative
Extent Medium (short term)
Duration Short term
Intensity Medium
Probability Probable
Degree of Confidence Probable
Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Low
Legal Implications Water Act No. 54 of 1956, as amended /Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969 / Hazardous Substances Ordinance No. 14 of 1974, as amended / Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Draft and implement a Construction Waste Management Plan to be maintained for the duration of the construction phase.
Waste should be stored in appropriate containers in an appropriately constructed area protected against exposure to high intensity rainfall.
Waste should be frequently disposed of at the approved dump site.
Storage of any material or substance that may cause pollution to water sources should be safely handled and stored in accordance with appropriate legislation. Contractor should submit a Method Statement for the purpose of handling and storage of hazardous materials on-site.
A Storm Water Management Plan should be drafted to be maintained for the duration of the construction time frame.
Ensure proper maintenance of all construction vehicles and equipment, and conduct continues maintenance and check- ups.
Draft and implement a Detailed Preparedness and Emergency Plan for all construction related spillages.
Ensure that oil/ fuel spillages from construction vehicles and machinery are minimised and that where these occur, that they are appropriately dealt with. Polluted soil and building rubble must be transported away from the site to an approved and appropriately classified waste disposal site. Polluted soil must be remediated where possible.
Drip trays must be placed underneath construction vehicles when not in use to contain all oil that might be leaking from these vehicles.
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All fuel tanks must be bunded to 120% of the capacity of the tank in order to contain any spillages that might take place.
Washing of personnel or any equipment should not be allowed on site. Should it be necessary to wash construction equipment these should be done at an area properly suited and prepared to receive and contain polluted waters. These polluted waters should be transported and disposed at the Kupferberg waste site for hazardous materials.
Appointing qualified and reputable contractors is essential.
Proper training of construction personnel would reduce the possibility of the impact occurring.
‘Best’ practice measures should be applied to minimise the potential discharge of pollutants onto open soil especially near ephemeral rivers intersected by the proposed power line routes.
‘Part 2 – Environmental Specifications’ of the Construction Environmental Management Plan provides detail specifications and requirements to avoid any potential impacts.
(iii) Habitat Destruction and Loss of Biodiversity Removal of the natural vegetation cover to make way for the roads, other infrastructure and buildings is inevitable, although in the case of this Development has already been done.
Any further clearance for purpose of infrastructure construction should be done within a properly planned and responsible manner to avoid unnecessary removal of ground cover and especially protected species, as per the Forest Act (No. 12 of 2001, as amended).
Considering that the larger part of the Development has been in existence, habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, has already taken place to a large extend. Construction of bulk services that might pass through virgin portions of land should consider the receiving environment and adapt accordingly, either through realignment or minimising the expected impact. Larger trees, especially the protected Acacia erioloba, which do appear in the area should be protected.
Given the directly affected environment’s natural characteristic (i.e. severely disturbed) and expected scale of destruction (i.e. minor infrastructure construction), the impacts are expected to be low before mitigations and very low following proper mitigation measures and continuous monitoring (see Table 8.5).
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Table 8.5 – Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity significance Impact Description Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity Nature Negative
Extent Site specific
Duration Short term Intensity Low
Probability Probable
Degree of Confidence Definite Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation Very low Legal Implications Forest Act No. 12 of 2001, as amended / Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975, as amended / Soil Conservation Act No. 76 of 1969, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Conduct a Pre-construction Vegetation Survey to establish protected/endangered species to be marked and incorporated into the Development.
Avoid clear felling i.e. removal of all the indigenous trees/shrubs and grasses of the area prior to development. If required to remove indigenous trees introduce a policy of re- establishing (i.e. planting) 5 indigenous tree species for each indigenous species removed.
Incorporate the protected species as well as some of the other bigger tree/shrub specimens in the overall final landscaping of the area. The bigger tree/shrubs often serve as habitat to a myriad of indigenous fauna – e.g. loose bark, cavities, etc. Indigenous species also require less maintenance and water than exotic species.
Identify and mark trees or other vegetation that should be protected and that should not be removed during construction.
Show overall environmental commitment by adapting a minimalistic damage approach.
A Rehabilitation Plan as proposed in the EMP should address all aspects of the natural environment on completion of construction and prior to operation.
Eradicate and remove the invasive alien species, especially the individual Prosopis species located throughout the area.
Restrict construction vehicle movement to the site and restrict movement into the No-Go areas or beyond the construction site boundaries.
No hunting, trapping, setting of snares or any other
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disturbance of any fauna species.
During the planning phase of the construction period, the appointed contractor should identify areas for lay down areas and construction vehicle sites within areas that are already cleared or disturbed.
Only prominent gravel tracks should be utilised during the construction phase, to avoid track proliferation. Off-road driving should be strictly prohibited.
Permits should be obtained for protected plant species that unavoidably need to be removed.
Construction activities should be subject to well-coordinated planning to avoid unnecessary removal of vegetation particularly protected plant species. Unnecessary destruction of habitats within the footprint of the construction site and along the pipeline route alignment should be avoided. Direct involvement of the Environmental Site Manager is a prerequisite in determining the locality of the construction site and final alignment.
‘Part 2 – Environmental Specifications of the Construction’ of the Environmental Management Plan provides detail specifications and requirements to avoid any potential impacts.
(iv) Visual Aesthetics and Sense of Place Construction activities are known to have a visual impact owed to the nature of the activity, although temporary in lifespan. The significance of this impact is directly linked to the topography and vegetation occurrence within the affected environment, as well as the scale of the construction activities and the distance between the impact and the receptor.
Given the existence of infrastructure and structures within a disturbed urban environment and the expected scale of construction activities, the visual impact during the construction phase is expected to be low. By applying the proposed mitigations, the impacts during construction can be reduced (see Table 8.6).
Table 8.6 – Visual aesthetics and sense of place significance Impact Description Visual aesthetics and sense of place
Nature Neutral Extent Small
Duration Temporary
Intensity Very low Probability Definite
Degree of Confidence Definite
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Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation Very low
Mitigations Keep as much natural vegetation on site as possible to screen construction site and activities.
Restrict the amount of structures on site and restrict the height to a maximum of 3 meters, where possible.
If required, structures should be painted in natural colours to lessen the visual impact.
Keep the construction site tidy and clean of any construction waste, especially over weekends.
Limit construction vehicle movement in the area to a minimum and use designated pre-demarcated routes having the least possible impacts on residents.
‘Part 2 – Environmental Specifications of the Construction’ of the Environmental Management Plan provides detail specifications and requirements to avoid any potential impacts.
(v) Socio-economic Implication Construction activities are associated with a variety of impacts that has either a direct or indirect implication on the surrounding residents’ living conditions and/or socio-economic status, as covered below.
Income Generation & Skills Transfer (Employment) Construction makes use of larger numbers of unskilled labour, as well as skilled labour although to a lesser extent, which does not only contribute to income generation and a security of better livelihoods, but contributes to skills transfer as well.
Considering the socio-economic standing of the Region (see section 5.2) and in specific that of Aranos, a serious need for employment opportunities and improved living conditions exists, which would contribute to achieve the socio-economic goals set by Vision 2030.
It is important that local people be employed and that the necessary opportunities exist for unskilled labour to undergo on the job training and skills enhancement.
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Table 8.7 – Income generation and skills transfer significance Impact Description Income generation and skills transfer Nature Positive
Extent Large
Duration Temporary Intensity High to the unemployed
Probability Definite
Degree of Confidence Definite Significance Pre-mitigation High to the unemployed
Significance Post-mitigation High to the unemployed
Economic Benefit to the Construction Industry The construction of the bulk and internal services, as well as buildings (dwellings and businesses) will have a direct positive implication on the currently struggling construction industry, which is one of the most important employers.
It is crucial that local contractors be appointed and that as many as possible of the locally available construction material be used throughout the Development.
Table 8.8 – Economic benefit to the construction industry significance Impact Description Economic benefit to the construction industry
Nature Positive Extent Large
Duration Temporary
Intensity Medium Probability Definite
Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Moderate
Dust & Emissions The air quality in the area is considered good, based on the potential impact that current activities in the area are likely to have on air quality.
Dust and emissions are associated with construction activities (i.e. digging; clearing; excavating; transport of materials) of which the severity is directly related to the extent of the Development and the nature of the receiving environment. Given the activities within the immediate surroundings, dust is expected to be more of a nuisance than emissions, as a result of construction activities.
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Table 8.9 – Dust and emissions significance Impact Description Dust and emissions Nature Negative
Extent Small
Duration Temporary
Intensity Low Probability Highly probable
Degree of Confidence Definite Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation Very low Legal Implications Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Ordinance No 11 of 1976, as amended / Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended / Labour Act No. 11 of 2007, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Regular dust suppression, if required, during times of strong winds, should minimise dust impacts mainly with respect to the contractor’s staff. Dust suppression by means of wetting should only be done with treated wastewaters.
Removal of vegetation should be restricted to the minimum and what is necessary.
Construction activities during high winds should be limited to those activities not generating dust.
Handling and transport of erodible materials should be avoided under high wind conditions.
Where possible, topsoil stockpiles should be located in sheltered areas and covered.
Appropriate dust suppression measures should be used when dust generation is unavoidable particularly during prolonged dry periods in summer. Such measures shall also include the use of temporary stabilising measures.
No fires should be allowed on-site for any what purpose and construction waste are not allowed to be burned on-site.
It is imperative that all machinery and vehicles on site is road worthy and do not give rise to excessive smoke or emissions.
The contractor’s personnel are to be provided with access to dust masks.
‘Part 2 – Environmental Specifications’ of the Construction Environmental Management Plan provides detail specifications and requirements to avoid any potential impacts.
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Construction Noise & Vibration Noises and vibrations are synonymous with the construction phase, as heavy construction vehicles and machinery operates. The scale of the construction activities and type of construction activity, as well as the locality of the surrounding receptors determine the significance to the particular construction activity.
The severity of these impacts is likely to be more significant to those receptors living close by, compared to those further away from a construction site.
The prevailing wind direction and strength may increase the impact-radius of construction noises, but is expected to be minimal, considering the prevailing wind direction.
The predicted noise levels from construction activities are expected to be significantly low to the larger surrounding area, but definitely higher to the immediate neighbours. For the surrounding properties the impact is expected to be moderate-low in significance.
Table 8.10 – Noise and vibration significance Impact Description Noise and vibration
Nature Negative Extent Small
Duration Temporary
Intensity Low to the larger surroundings and medium to the direct neighbours Probability Highly probable
Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Low to the larger surroundings and medium to the direct neighbours
Significance Post-mitigation Very low Legal Implications Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended / Labour Act No. 11 of 2007, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Appropriate directional and intensity settings are to be maintained on all hooters and sirens.
No amplified music should be allowed on Site.
Inform immediate neighbours of construction activities to commence and provide for continues communication between the neighbours and Residents Engineer.
The Contractor shall not use sound amplification equipment on Site unless in emergency situations.
Limit construction times to acceptable daylight hours.
Should blasting be required all residents as per the legal requirements should be informed. Blasting times must be limited to the hours from 08:00 to 17:00 during weekdays only. Blasting should be considered as the last option.
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Screen construction activities from residential, social and business entities as far as reasonably possible.
The World Health Organization (WHO) guideline on maximum noise levels (guidelines for Community Noise, 1999) to prevent hearing impairment can be followed during the construction phase. This limits noise levels to an average of 70 db over a 24 hour period with maximum noise levels not exceeding 110db during the period.
All construction vehicles and machinery should be kept in good working condition. If any noise-related complaints are registered the applicable construction vehicles and machinery should be fitted with noise reduction devices.
Personnel working in noisy environments must be issued with hearing protectors.
‘Part 2 – Environmental Specifications’ of the Construction Environmental Management Plan provides detail specifications and requirements to avoid any potential impacts.
Traffic & Safety Construction activities are associated with an increase in vehicles of different kinds (i.e. workers’ busses, delivery vehicles and construction vehicles) to and from the Site, which inevitably increase risk and conflict.
The potential pre-mitigation impact is regarded as low, which can be reduced to very low through applying proper mitigations (see Table 8.11).
Table 8.11 – Traffic & safety significance Impact Description Traffic & safety
Nature Negative
Extent Small Duration Temporary
Intensity Low Probability Probable Degree of Confidence Probable
Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation Very low Legal Implications Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended / Labour Act No. 11 of 2007, as amended / Road Traffic and Transport Act 52 of 1999 and its 2001 Regulations, as amended (see section 4.1)
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Mitigations Contractor’s personnel should adhere to speed limits.
Appropriate signs should be in place along the roads being used by construction vehicles notifying road users and residents of the construction activity and roads used by construction vehicles.
Drivers of construction vehicles should have valid driver’s licenses with ample experience on proper road usage and manners on-site as well as when making use of public roads.
Construction vehicles’ need to be in a road worthy condition and maintained throughout the construction phase.
Make use of predetermined roads and refrain from creating new roads for access purpose.
Provide traffic signals and road markings where necessary to ensure safe traffic movement.
‘Part 2 – Environmental Specifications’ of the Construction Environmental Management Plan provides detail specifications and requirements to avoid any potential impacts.
Health, Safety & Security Health and safety of both the residents and that of construction staff is essential and should be respected. Construction activities should be done is such a manner as to prevent any potential risk to the residents safety and/or health. It is thus important that trenches be fenced-off and secured, while hazardous liquids used and stored should be done in a safe manner.
Areas within which construction activities takes place is usually associated with criminal activity, posing a security risk to those residing in the area. It is not to say that these criminal activities are as a result of the construction staff, but is known to happen in the vicinity of construction sites. Prostitution is also associated with construction activities especially where construction labourers reside in temporary accommodation near or on site/s.
These potential impacts hold moderate significance and can with appropriate mitigations reduce its impact to low (see Table 8.12).
Table 8.12 – Health & safety & security significance Impact Description Health & safety & security
Nature Negative
Extent Small Duration Temporary
Intensity Low Probability Probable
Degree of Confidence Probable
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Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Low Legal Implications Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended / Labour Act No. 11 of 2007, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Ensure that all construction personnel are properly trained depending on the nature of their work.
Provide for a first aid kit and properly trained person to apply first aid when necessary.
A wellness program should be initiated to raise awareness on health issues, especially the impact of sexually transmitted diseases.
Restrict unauthorised access to the site and implement access control measures.
Clearly demarcated the construction site boundaries along with signage of no unauthorised access.
Clearly demarcate dangerous areas and no go areas on site.
Staff and visitors to the site must be fully aware of all health safety measures and emergency procedures.
The contractor must comply with all applicable occupational health and safety requirements. The workforce should be provided with all necessary Personal Protective Equipment including earplugs. All affected land owners should be notified at least one month in advance who the appointed contractor is and provided with details about the proposed construction activities and timeline.
Heritage / Archaeological Resources The town of Aranos has a cemetery that has some cultural value as the cemetery is populated with the remains of the previous generations. This cemetery occurs within the larger area of Rooiduin but is not affected by the proposed development. Besides the cemetery, there are no other areas of cultural significance.
No record of any cultural or historical importance or on-site resemblance of any nature could be located as part of this study. No known heritage sites or proclaimed national monuments are located within the footprint of the site or adjacent properties.
The probability of locating any important archaeological heritage remains during the construction phase is likely to be improbable.
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Table 8.13 – Heritage / archaeological resources significance Impact Description Heritage / archaeological resources Nature Negative
Extent Small
Duration Permanent
Intensity Medium Probability Probable
Degree of Confidence Probable Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Low Legal Implications National Heritage Act (Act 27 of 2004), as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Caution should be exercised during the construction phase in the event that archaeological/heritage remains are discovered during the excavations.
The Environmental Site Manager should receive training by a suitably qualified archaeologist with respect to the identification of archaeological/heritage remains and the procedures to follow in the event that such remains are discovered during construction.
Any archaeological materials find should be reported to the Environmental Site Manager and the National Monuments Council, and all on-site activities stopped immediately. Details with regards to the procedure to follow is defined in the EMP.
(vi) Natural Resources The construction phase requires both water and energy of which water is currently the source under pressure, throughout Namibia.
Given that roads will remain gravel roads, the impact on water resources are minimised. Alternative water resources (i.e. treated wastewater) are available and should be used during the construction phase.
These potential impacts hold moderate significance and can with appropriate mitigations reduce its impact to low (see Table 8.14).
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Table 8.14 – Natural resources significance Impact Description Natural resources Nature Negative
Extent Large
Duration Permanent
Intensity Medium Probability High Probable
Degree of Confidence Definite Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Low Legal Implications Water Act No. 54 of 1956, as amended / Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations There should be no tolerance towards water wastage.
Treated wastewater should be obtained and used for the bulk of the construction requirements.
Temporary catchment dams should be constructed to capture water if construction takes place during the rainy season.
8.2.2 OPERATIONAL-RELATED IMPACTS These impacts are usually more permanent in nature or at least until decommissioning of the Development. Different from the construction related impacts, no Management Plan is provided for the Operational Phase, but rather recommendations are made to existing Policies or Plans (i.e. Local Authority Bylaws) to be applied. Details with regards to the potential impacts expected during the operation phase are briefly discussed below. Detailed mitigation measures and environmental requirements having direct relevance to the expected operational phase impacts are presented in the tables below.
Table 8.15 below presents the potential impacts expected to occur during the operational phase of the Development, while Table 8.16 to Table 8.22 present the outcome of each.
Table 8.15 - Key potential impacts expected during the operational phase IMPACT CAUSE
Erosion & Sedimentation Vegetation clearance
Ground and Surface Water Waste disposal Pollution Hazardous material and liquids disposal
Habitat Destruction and Loss Vegetation clearance of Biodiversity Erosion & sedimentation
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IMPACT CAUSE
Poaching
Vegetation clearance / altered vegetation Visual Aesthetics and Sense Architectural design & scale of buildings of Place Land use change
Emissions and dust nuisance
Noise
Socio-Economic Traffic safety
Health, safety and security
Employment creation (positive impact)
Unacceptable high level of consumption Natural Resources (water & Wastage electricity) No sustainable practises
(i) Erosion and Sedimentation Erosion and sedimentation during the operational phase is highly unlikely, as provision will be made for storm water management, which reduces the occurrence of erosion and sedimentation.
It will however take place in the event that the open areas are cleared of vegetation, for whatever reason, which would then result in erosion and sedimentation, as well as seasonal (rain season) degradation of habitats and visual downgrade.
The Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969 requires the prevention and combating of soil erosion; the conservation, improvement and manner of use of the soil and vegetation; and the protection of water sources.
Open areas should be kept within a natural state and no vegetation removal should be tolerated.
Given that storm water management will be applied as part of the engineering designs and the flat topography, the potential occurrence of erosion and resulting sedimentation is rated as low before mitigations and very low following proper mitigation measures (see Table 8.16).
Table 8.16 – Erosion and sedimentation significance Impact Description Erosion and sedimentation
Nature Negative Extent Site specific
Duration Long Term
Intensity Low
Probability Improbable
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Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation Vert Low
Legal Implications Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969 (see section 4.1) The stormwater culverts and system should be well maintained. Mitigations The occurrence of erosion should be monitored and mitigated.
(ii) Ground and Surface Water Pollution The soil, geological (see section 5.4.2) and hydrogeological (see section 5.4.3) characteristics of the affected environment and surroundings characterise a sensitive status, which in turn indicate a definite and real impact to downstream resources in the event that large quantities of pollutants are released in to the natural environment. Prevention of any form of pollution is thus essential and crucial in the interest of all downstream resources.
Sources of potential pollution include, but are not limited to hazardous liquids (i.e. diesel/petrol/cleaning liquids) stored at homes or business; leakages from wastewater network; pesticides; improper storage of domestic waste and dumping of waste within open areas. Increased run-off created as a result of the Development (i.e. roofs and other hard surfaces) could enhance pollutant transportation, as well as increased distance pollutants can be transported away from its source.
Apart from sewer waters, none of the other long-term activities (i.e. houses & business) is associated with any large volumes of potential hazardous liquids to the extent of having a significant risk factor, although it will have a cumulative effect on the already polluted downstream conditions. The greatest risk factor lies with the wastewater network where leakages go undetected. The focus during the operational phase should thus be on the proper management and maintenance of the wastewater network (i.e. pipelines; septic tanks and oxidation ponds), but also ensuring proper waste management and a zero waste disposal at the area to be developed.
Possible pollution by way of the wastewater network (and others) is initially considered to be low, but has proven to increase in risk over the years as the infrastructure and equipment degrade. Should no management, policing and/or monitoring be done (i.e. no mitigations) from the side of the Local Authority, the risk factor can be regarded as high, but can be avoided and reduced to an expected low impact following proper mitigation measures and continues monitoring (see Table 8.17).
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Table 8.17 – Surface and ground water pollution significance Impact Description Groundwater and Surface Water
Nature Negative
Extent Medium (short term) / Large (long term)
Duration Short Term
Intensity Medium
Probability Probable
Degree of Confidence Probable / medium
Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Low
Legal Implications Water Act No. 54 of 1956, as amended /Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969 / Hazardous Substances Ordinance No. 14 of 1974, as amended / Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Draft and implement a Wastewater Management Plan that aims at monitoring the entire wastewater network and checking for any leakages, by the Local Authority. This Plan should include as a minimum the following -
• Upgrading and maintenance of the oxidation ponds;
• Investigation of ALL existing septic tanks and sewer pipelines for leakages and repairs where required; and
• Continues monitoring plan.
Continues awareness of harmful practises and keeping of hazardous liquids should be undertaken by the Local Authority.
The discharge of pesticides and herbicides in harmful quantities should be prevented. Pesticides and herbicides should not be used during periods of rainfall; and biodegradable pesticides and herbicides with short half-lives of three days or less should be used. It is recommended to rather use local indigenous flora throughout the landscaped areas and minimise any other plants, trees and lawns as part of the landscaping areas to minimise the necessity for any pesticides and herbicides.
Ensure that surface water are channelled and captured through a proper storm water management system to be treated in an appropriate manner before disposal into the environment.
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(iii) Habitat Destruction and Loss of Biodiversity The most destructive disturbance to the local habitat takes place during the construction phase, when the land is prepared for the intended dwellings and businesses. The risk of further habitat destruction during the operational phase depends on the mind-set and environmental awareness of the residing community.
The introduction of human activities on a daily basis can place an increased strain on the fauna and flora species if not managed sensitively. Impacts during the operational phase are predominantly associated with the daily operations of humans and poor management practices (e.g. improper waste management, uncontrolled fires, etc.) and irresponsible behaviour (e.g. uncontrolled access to sensitive areas; collecting of plants or animals; killing of snakes, use of general poison, etc.). The introduction of gardens and in specific non-indigenous plants will result in the greatest change to the habitat and loss of biodiversity, along with pets scarring away reptiles and other smaller fauna. Planting of invasive alien species and the creation of areas where invasive species can establish, could accelerate alien invasions. Illegal dumping of waste and improper storm water management can also threaten them within these open areas are also a concern and need to be managed and regulated.
From an ecological perspective, notice should be taken of the occurrence of the protected A. erioloba trees (Camelthorn trees), found within the larger area, which should be protected.
Given the environment’s natural characteristic and expected scale of habitat disturbance, the impacts are expected to be moderate before mitigations and low following proper mitigation measures and continues monitoring (see Table 8.18).
Table 8.18 – Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity significance Impact Description Habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity
Nature Negative
Extent Site specific
Duration Long Term
Intensity Low
Probability Probable
Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Low Legal Implications Forest Act No. 12 of 2001, as amended / Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975, as amended / Soil Conservation Act No. 76 of 1969, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Incorporate the protected species as well as some of the other bigger tree/shrub specimens in the overall final landscaping of the erf. The bigger tree/shrubs often serve as habitat to a myriad of indigenous fauna – e.g. loose bark, cavities, etc. Indigenous species also require less
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maintenance and water than exotic species.
Show overall environmental commitment by adapting a minimalistic damage approach.
Avoid introducing potential invasive alien species – e.g. Lantana, Opuntia, Tecoma, etc. species – in the eventual landscaping (i.e. ornamental plants) as these have the potential of escaping and infesting the local surroundings.
Eradicate and remove the invasive alien species, especially the individual Prosopis species located throughout the area.
No hunting, trapping, setting of snares or any other disturbance of any fauna species within the open areas.
Avoid unnecessary and excessive vegetation clearance and disturbance of top soil for purpose of landscaping. With regards to landscaping the following should be done –
• Landscaping should be done using local and indigenous vegetation.
• Lawns as part of the landscaping should be limited to the minimum.
• No alien species should be used as part of the landscaping.
Residents should be informed and educated not to remove any plants or animals from the open areas.
(iv) Visual Aesthetics and Sense of Place The operational phase having the existence of various buildings (i.e. dwellings; business buildings) and infrastructure (i.e. street lights, reservoir, etc.) will have an ‘urban’ sense of place. The lasting visual aesthetics is determined by the architectural design and scale of buildings, emphasized by the receiving environment’s topography and vegetation cover.
Considering the existence of buildings and infrastructure, visual and sense of place has been established, which resembles an urban environment, although the surroundings to the west still containing large open areas.
Given the scale and nature of the Development, the natural vegetation present on-site and the topography of the larger site, visual impact and change in sense of place is expected to be low. Given the expected status, as mentioned, very little mitigation exists to decrease the impact apart from applying sensible and sensitive architecture (i.e. design, scale, etc.) (see Table 8.19).
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Table 8.19 – Visual aesthetics and sense of place significance Impact Description Visual aesthetics and sense of place Nature Negative
Extent Small
Duration Permanent Intensity Very low
Probability Probable
Degree of Confidence Definite Significance Pre-mitigation High for higher lying parts / low for lower lying parts
Significance Post-mitigation High
Mitigations Keeping as much natural vegetation within the entire Development to enable screening. Landscaping on ground level with indigenous trees and shrubs can soften the visual impact from the larger and immediate surroundings. This will increase the sense of place and make the development easier on the eye. Landscaping will further reduce noise impacts, glare and heat.
Structures and buildings can be constructed or cladded with natural stone to blend with the colours of the immediate surroundings. Buildings should be painted with natural colours to promote blending with the natural environment and to lessen the visual impact.
Care needs to be taken with reflective or bright surfaces so that glare is avoided.
Large areas of bright colours are to be avoided although small areas of colourful accent may be used provided that the colours are chosen to compliment the environment. Generally, darker colours and neutral greys are proposed.
Roofs are usually most visible and the finishes need to be chosen to reduce the visual impact from elevated positions. Neutral greys are generally most useful in making structures recessive.
Light sources must be placed in such a way, or shielded, so as to provide light only to the area that needs to be lit. Light spillage and pollution must be minimised.
(v) Socio-economic Implication The operational phase of any type of development is associated with a variety of impacts that has either a direct or indirect implication to the residents and surrounding residents.
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Municipal Rates & Taxes The Development, which falls within the jurisdictional area of the Aranos Town Council, will bring an additional income to the local authority coffers, which is much needed for service delivery throughout the larger part of Aranos.
Table 8.20 – Economic benefit to the construction industry significance Impact Description Municipal Rates and Taxes
Nature Positive Extent Large
Duration Permanent
Intensity Low to Medium Probability Definite
Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Moderate
Significance Post-mitigation Moderate
Noise & Disturbance Apart from vehicle movement, no other noises of significance are associated with the operational activities.
Urban developments of this scale and nature are not associated with activities generating unhealthy noise levels, such as industrial activities or agricultural activities. The increase in vehicle movement to and from the Development will have a slight increase in traffic noise compared to the status, but is expected to be of low significance.
The predicted noise levels from the Development’s operations and that of the nearby traffic onto the Development is considered very low (see Table 8.21).
Table 8.21 – Noise significance Impact Description Noises
Nature Negative Extent Small
Duration Permanent
Intensity Low Probability Definite
Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation Very low Legal Implications Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended (see section 4.1)
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Mitigations Consider the existence of traffic along the roads during the design and orientation of dwellings.
Traffic & Safety Operational activities in this respect is associated with vehicle movement of residents’ and visitors’ to and from the Development.
The potential pre-mitigation impact is regarded as low, which can be reduced to very low through applying proper mitigations (see Table 8.22).
Table 8.22 – Traffic & safety significance Impact Description Traffic & safety
Nature Negative
Extent Small
Duration Permanent
Intensity Low Probability High Probable
Degree of Confidence Definite
Significance Pre-mitigation Low
Significance Post-mitigation Very Low Legal Implications Public Health Act No. 36 of 1919, as amended / Road Traffic and Transport Act 52 of 1999 and its 2001 Regulations, as amended (see section 4.1)
Mitigations Proper road designs (soft bends, circles, etc.) should be incorporated to limit speeding and maintained for the duration of the lifetime of the development.
Natural Resources (Demand vs Supply) Water Demand From the communication with NAMWATER, the availability and supply of water is sufficient, although wastages through leaks and undetected wastages, should be addressed from the side of the Town Council. For this purpose Aranos Town Council has been requested to undertake a water balance investigation, with the technical assistance from the side of NAMWATER.
To alleviate pressure on the scares water resources, it is recommended that sustainable practises and principles be applied during operational phase, i.e. -
• Recycling and reuse of treated wastewater for purpose of flushing of toilets and gardening, which can bring a saving of 35% of the daily potable water consumption;
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• Harvesting of rainwater for purpose of household consumption;
• Restricting gardens to indigenous plants and limited in size; and
• Water wise technologies with the household.
Electricity Demand From the side of the Aranos Town Council and that of the Regional Network, sufficient electricity is available to supply in the demand of the new Townships.
8.3 DECOMMISSIONING AND CLOSURE Some developments may require decommissioning and closure at a certain point within their lifetime. Township developments are however very seldom decommissioned and/or closed as a functioning entity, although some aspects require upgrading (i.e. decommissioning and replacement).
In such an event, the activities are 100% similar to that of the construction phase and is accordingly treated and managed in accordance with the Environmental Construction Management Plan (Appendix D).
8.4 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS As indicated under section 8.2, the introduction of any development can be expected to have both positive and negative impacts on the immediate and surrounding receiving environment (natural and social) during either the construction,- operational- and/or decommissioning phase, of which the significance is determined by the nature of the particular activity/ies and the sensitivity of the particular receiving environment.
Some of these impacts will result in having a cumulative impact along with other already existing activities. Cumulative impacts are defined as “those that result from the successive, incremental, and/or combined effects of an action or activity when added to other existing, planned, and/or reasonably anticipated future ones” (International Finance Corporation, 2013).
Although cumulative impacts cannot be entirely avoided, they ought to be significantly reduced by means of sustainable practises and thorough implementation of all recommended mitigation measures and implementation of this Scoping Assessment Report and the Construction Environmental Management Plan. Continues monitoring of the effectiveness of mitigations is essential in the long-term, sustainable existence and should be applied to all aspects of the Development.
Potential impacts associated with the Nuwerus and Bosduin Development (section 8.2 above) which is expected to have a contributing factor to existing impacts (i.e. cumulative impact), are -
• Ground and Surface Water Pollution (e.g. wastewater; domestic waste).
• Habitat Destruction and Loss of Biodiversity
• Visual Aesthetics and Sense of Place / Land Use Change
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• Socio-economic Implication
• Income Generation & Skills Transfer (Employment)
• Municipal Rates & Taxes
• Economic Benefit to the Construction Industry
• Traffic & Safety
• Load on infrastructure (e.g. water network; road infrastructure; waste dumpsite).
• Demand for resources (e.g. water & electricity).
Considering the medium- to low density nature and sustainable practises proposed for implementation at the Development, the pre-operational cumulative impact is considered to be low. It is however important that continues assessment be done as data become available over time, and that the necessary adjustments be made as and when required.
Assessing the full extent of cumulative impacts is not accurately possible at the scale of a single environmental assessment and should include the larger surrounding area, which should consider all other contributing activities and the sensitivity of the larger surrounding receiving environment.
8.5 NO-GO OPTION The scenario with or without the Development can be summarised as follows -
• Socio-economic perspective:
o With the Development, various socio-economic benefits can be expected, which would directly and indirectly contribute to improved socio-economic conditions.
o Without the proposed development, none of the socio-economic benefits would be applicable and the particular portion of land will remain to have very little or no economic benefit.
• Ecological perspective:
o With the Development, an increase in ecological degradation can be expected during the construction phase, as natural habitat will make way for buildings and above ground infrastructure.
o Without the Development, ecological degradation will be avoided, but might further deteriorate due to littering, wood harvesting, etc.
• Resource demand perspective:
o With the Developed, an increasing load will be placed on natural resources. o Without the Development, no additional load will be placed on the natural resource.
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CHAPTER 9 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
9.1 CONCLUSIONS The Aranos Town Council (hereafter referred to as the Proponent) is of the intention to formalise the informal townships of Nuwerus (two townships) & Bosduin (one township) (hereafter referred to as the Development) to become formal townships of Aranos Town. Aranos Town is located to the east within the Hardap Region, located south of the Khomas Region.
The Development includes certain activities that are listed as ‘Listed Activities’ according to Government Notice No. 29 of 6 February 2012, which requires that an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) be obtained from the office of the Environmental Commissioner, thus requiring that an Environmental Assessment (EA) be conducted.
Urban Green cc was accordingly appointed by the Proponent to apply for the required Environmental Clearance Certificate and undertake a scoping assessment (hereafter referred to as the Study) as per the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (No. 30 of 2012) of the Environmental Management Act (No. 7 of 2007).
Given the nature of the Development and associated activities during both the construction and operational phases, evaluated against the sensitivity of the receiving environment, it is inevitable that the Development would not have an impact on its receiving socio-economic and biophysical environment, some of greater potential significance and others of less.
During the construction phase, these would include impacts associated with vegetation clearance (e.g. loss of biodiversity, dust generation, surface runoff, and erosion), construction noises, surface and groundwater pollution, and increased traffic movement (e.g. safety and increased load on existing road network). Mitigation measures have been provided capable of controlling the extent, intensity and frequency of some of these impacts, while the impact on habitat destruction due to vegetation clearance is not able to be mitigated. A direct positive impact of the proposed development is the creation of employment during the construction phase.
Impacts expected during the operational phase are potential pollution (i.e. untreated sewage or wastewater leakages), generation of domestic waste, and increased demand on infrastructure and resources. Mitigation measures have been provided that can control the extent, intensity and frequency of these impacts not to have any substantial negative results.
The Development is also subject to certain approval, permits and licences, as reflected under Chapter 4, to which the Development must adhere too.
Based on the baseline information, as presented in this Report, this Scoping Assessment Study, after following the above evaluation, concludes that, there is currently no evidence suggesting that any of the potential impacts identified are of such significance that it cannot be mitigated and that the Nuwerus and Bosduin Formalisation, as presented in this Report, cannot be allowed to continue. It is however required that the recommendations as presented below be satisfied with approval from the Environmental Commissioner before the Nuwerus and Bosduin Formalisation can commence.
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9.2 RECOMMENDATIONS It is therefore recommended that an Environmental Clearance Certificate be issued for the listed activities forming part of the Nuwerus & Bosduin Development, subject to the following recommendations:
• All required permits, licenses and approvals (see section 4.2) for the Development be obtained before construction commences.
• All mitigations listed in Tables 8.3 to 8.14, and Tables 17 to 22, and the Construction Environmental Management Plan (Appendix D) be implemented prior and during construction.
• Pollutants of different sorts should be managed and treated in such a manner not to cause any pollution of the immediate and surrounding receiving environments. The necessary mitigations to achieve a zero pollution factor have been proposed within this Scoping Report and the Construction Environmental Management Plan.
• An Environmental Control Officer should be appointed during the construction phase of the Development to make sure all the requirements within the Scoping Report and Construction Environmental Management Plan (Appendix D) are adhered to.
• In the event that road construction material is sourced from nearby quarries it is required that the necessary approval (i.e. environmental clearance certificate) either exists or be obtained by the appointed Contractor.
• It is recommended that alternative and renewable sources of energy be explored and introduced into the Development to reduce dependency on natural resources. Recycling and reuse of treated wastewater or rainwater should be implemented.
• Continued public participation should form part of the construction phase.
• Before construction commences it is recommended to conduct an ecological survey to ensure that all protected species be marked as no-go areas.
• Continued on-site monitoring and evaluation be conducted during the construction and operational phases to be authorised by the DEA and Aranos Town Council.
• That an Environmental Audit Report be compiled once the construction phase is completed and submitted with both the Directorate of Environmental Affairs (MET).
9.3 E NVIRONMENTAL S TATEMENT Based on the information presented in this Scoping Report, the Environmental Assessment Practitioner are of the opinion that the immediate and larger environment will not be significantly impacted should the above recommendations as proposed in this Report be implemented and monitored, and responsible environmental practises be applied by the Proponent, contractors and sub-consultants.
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Urban Green cc, the independent environmental assessment practitioner, recommend to the relevant authorities that the application for the Nuwerus & Bosduin Development be supported on condition that the above recommendations (section 9.2) be met and adhered too, and that continues monitoring be conducted as per the Environmental Management Act (Act No. 7 of 2007). It is important that proof of monitoring be submitted with the office of the Environmental Commissioner for review of Environmental Clearance renewal after 3 years.
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REFERENCES
Aranos Town Council, 2001. Aranos Town Planning Scheme No. 2
Cunningham, P.L. 2006. A guide to the tortoises of Namibia. Polytechnic of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia.
Curtis, B. and Mannheimer, C. 2005. Tree Atlas of Namibia. National Botanical Research Institute, Windhoek, Namibia.
Giess, W. 1971. A preliminary vegetation map of South West Africa. Dinteria 4: 1 – 114.
Geological Survey of Namibia. 1:250,000 Geological Series (Provisional). 1997.
Griffin, M. 1999. Checklist and Provisional National Conservation Status of Amphibians, Reptiles and Mammals Known or Expected to Occur in Namibia. Unpublished Report, Ministry of Environment and Tourism Report.
Mannheimer, C. and Curtis, B. (eds) 2009. Le Roux and Müller’s field guide to the trees and shrubs of Namibia. Macmillan Education Namibia, Windhoek.
Mendelsohn, J., Jarvis, A., Roberts, A. and Robertson, T. 2002. Atlas of Namibia. A portrait of the land and its people. David Philip Publishers, Cape Town, RSA.
Matthee, J.F. La G. & Van Schalkwyk, C.J. 1984. A Primer on Soil Conservation. Bulletin No. 399. Division of Agricultural Engineering, Department of Agriculture, Pretoria, South Africa.
The National Planning Commission of Namibia. 2011. Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Preliminary Results. (www.npc.gov.na)
Vogt, A. 2004. National Monuments in Namibia.
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