8 BASELINE ENVIRONMENT

8.1 Introduction

A description of the existing bio-physical and socio-economic environment is provided hereunder. Details are discussed per specialist area, and provide a framework from which to understand and assess the potential impacts of the proposed development (Chapter 9 and 10 respectively).

8.2 Bio-Physical Environment

8.2.1 Land Capability

The information presented below was extracted from the Land Capability Impact Study available in Appendix K. The region through which the proposed Muldersvlei – Bacchus and Bantamsklip - Bacchus power lines run can be subdivided into a number of zones in terms of terrain, climate, soils, land use and geology. Along the coast relatively deep aeolian transported soils, mainly sands will be encountered with a possibility of collapse potential. This is a sensitive area and removal of the fynbos can also lead to wind erosion and the formation of sand dunes.

The greater section of the study area forms part of the Cape Supergroup consisting of the southern coastal region with sandstones and quartzites of the Table Mountain Group and mudrock and shales of the Bokkeveld Group. Further inland past Montagu the quartzites of the Witteberg Group are found. Near Kappa the Karoo series of Ecca and Dwyka shales and mudstones are common. The Table Mountain Sandstone (TMS) is predominantly overlain by the Bokkeveld mudrock and shales in the valleys between the mountain ranges. The mountain ranges in general consist of Table Mountain sandstone and quartzites that have been exposed through erosion of the Bokkeveld shales. Extensive folding and warping of the ranges have also taken place as can be detected in most of the mountains. Near Paarl Cape Granite in its different forms of weathering will be encountered. Between Wellington and Tulbagh alternative 2 of the Muldersvlei – Bacchus route also crosses Malmesbury shales.

Along the Muldersvlei - Bacchus and Bantamsklip - Bacchus routes the region is characterised by a number of high sandstone mountain ranges (e.g. Dutoits and Riviersonderend Mountains) with undulating plains underlain by shale west of the Dutoits Mountains and in the Ruens in the south-west. The Breede River valley forms a prominent lowland west and north-east of the Dutoits Mountains. Land use in these areas is mainly annual small grain in combination with pastures. Along the Breede River valley and on lower mountain foothills where irrigation water is available fruit and wine grapes are produced. The rainfall in this part of the study area is fairly high and suitable for dry land cropping.

The potential impact the proposed power lines may have on general agriculture will depend on the specific land use along the proposed power line routes. The more intensive the land use activity the greater the impact. Irrigated fruit and wine grape production will therefore be more affected than extensive dry land small grain production in combination with pastures. Non-arable sections along the routes, either

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due to steep slopes, non-availability of irrigation water or low annual rainfall, are primarily used for extensive natural veld grazing.

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus alternatives

From Bacchus southwards Bantamsklip - Bacchus Alternatives 1, 2 and 3 run through the Stettyn valley near Bacchus into the Villiersdorp valley as far as the Theewaterskloof Dam G. In the Stettyn valley the route is on the eastern slopes between the Sandstone Mountains and the lower shales in the valley, while in the Villiersdorp valley it is along western slopes. Land use range from fruit and wine grapes where irrigation water is available to dry land production of small grain and pastures. In most irrigated areas vegetables are produced in localized areas under irrigation. From the Theewaterskloof Dam the routes cut across the low, western hills of the Riviersonderend Mountain range and then continue in a southerly direction into the Ruens. The undulating to rolling Ruens is underlain by shale and the dominant land use is small grain in combination with pastures (lucerne and/or clovers).

From the Kleinrivier Mountains Alternative 1 has a more westerly route (compared to 2 and 3). Where water is available for irrigation, wine grapes and in localised areas fruit are produced in combination with small grain and pastures. From Stanford to Bantamsklip Alternative 1 follows the low coastal plain that is underlain by calcareous sands or limestone with Standveld vegetation; locally fairly undisturbed.

From the Kleinrivier Mountains to the south Alternatives 2 and 3 cut across the fairly flat eastern Bredasdorp Plain at a lower elevation than the Ruens. The underlying material is shale and the land is predominantly used for dry land or locally irrigated pastures. The most southern section of Alternatives 2 and 3 is similar to that of Alternative 1. Bacchus Alternative 4 follows a route completely different to that of 2, 3 and 4. From Bacchus it follows an easterly direction to as far as the Stormsvlei- Bonnievale road. It cuts across four lower lying valleys with low mountain ridges (Diamant, Klip and Elandsfontein Mountains) that separate the valleys.

The rainfall decreases from west to east and the soils range from acid and sandy in the west to loamy, usually with lime in the low lying areas in the east. Depending on the availability of water for irrigation land use range from irrigated fruit, wine grapes and pastures to dry land small grain production and veld. Vegetables are also planted in localized areas. The mountainous areas are natural vegetation. From Stormsvlei the route swings south and cuts across the undulating Ruens with small grain production combined with pastures (lucerne and clover) as dominant land use. From the Soetmuis Mountain the route direction changes to the south-east. From here the terrain, soil and land use is similar to that of the most westerly section of Alternative 3.

• Bacchus – Muldersvlei alternatives

From Muldersvlei both Muldersvlei - Bacchus routes (Alternatives 1 and 2) cuts across a mildly dissected, fairly flat to undulating coastal plain in an east to northeasterly direction up to the foothills of the north-south orientated Dutoits Mountains. The area is underlain by shales and is predominantly used for small grain production and pastures. In the vicinity of the Paarl Mountain, Berg River and along the Dutoits Mountains foothills where irrigation water is available, fruit and wine grapes are produced. The rainfall in the sub-region is fairly high. Further eastwards both alternatives cut across sandstone mountain ranges with essentially undisturbed natural Fynbos vegetation. East of the mountain range both alternatives turns to the south and follow the Breede River valley to Bacchus. Along the northern section of

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Alternative 2 as far south as Wolseley small grain production and pastures is the dominant agricultural activity. This undulating landscape is underlain by shale.

From Wolseley to the point where this alternative joins with Alternative 1, the land is used for a variety agricultural purposes. These include the following: irrigated fruit and vineyards where irrigation water is available, small grain and pastures, with localized fairly undisturbed veld. The majority of soils have developed from underlying shale with sandy collovium from the mountains along the east facing slopes. East of the Dutoits Mountains Alternative 1 cuts across fairly recent sandy alluvium and/or colluvium from the sandstone mountains and the land is mainly used for irrigated wine grape production. The southern section of both alternatives is the same (therefore similar soils and land use). From the northern boundary with the Brandvlei Dam a variety land uses occur. In the vicinity of Bacchus substation the soils are very sandy with undisturbed Fynbos vegetation.

8.2.2 Flora

The information contained below was extracted from the Flora Impact Assessment contained in Appendix L. The Bantamsklip-Bacchus-Mulersvlei routes are located within different bioregions, namely the Agulhas Plain (Bantamsklip area), the southern Tankwa (Ceres) Karoo (Kappa) and the western Little Karoo. The routes traverse three different biomes – namely the Fynbos, Renosterveld and Succulent Karoo, and all fall within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). The CFR is one of only six Floristic Regions in the world, and is the only one confined to a single country. It is also by far the smallest Floristic Region, occupying only 0.01% of the world’s land surface, and supporting about 9000 plant species - almost half of all the plant species in South Africa. At least 70% of all the species in the Cape region do not occur elsewhere, and many have very small home ranges (these are known as narrow endemics). Most of the lowland habitats are under pressure from agriculture, urbanisation and alien plants, and thus many of the range restricted species are also under severe threat of extinction, as habitat is reduced to extremely small fragments.

The latest data from the Red Data Book (RDB) listing process currently being undertaken for South Africa is that fully 75% of the threatened plant species in the country occur only in the south-western Cape, and these total over 1600 species (D. Raimondo – pers. comm.)! It should thus be clear that the south-western Cape is a major national and global conservation priority, and is quite unlike anywhere else in the country in terms of the number of threatened plant species and threatened habitats (see Figure 8.1 ). Developments in this area thus need to take this into account.

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Figure 8.1: Map showing number of plant species of conservation concern ( i.e. rare and threatened species; per quarter degree square) for the country, and for the Western Cape (inset). Note how the proposed corridors cross areas with amongst the highest concentrations of threatened plant species in the country. (Map sourced from Raimondo et al – in press, with permission).

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus alternatives

Four route alternatives were presented for assessment. The southern Overberg and Agulhas Plain is an acknowledged centre of plant diversity and endemism (Cowling & Holmes 1992, Cole et al 2000, Mergili & Privett 2008), and is characterised by rapid changes in vegetation types from one area to the next, with many very localised rare plant populations, many of which are already severely threatened by urban development, agriculture and alien vegetation (Raimondo et al – in press).

Bantamsklip itself is not in a particularly sensitive vegetation type, in that the Overberg Dune Strandveld in the area is relatively well conserved, is regarded as Least Threatened (Rouget et al 2004), and supports relatively few rare or localised plant species (pers. obs.). However, very large portions of the natural vegetation north of the tarred road from Franskraal to Buffeljags (2km north of the site) can be regarded as High botanical sensitivity areas. The limestone hills immediately north of the road support Agulhas Limestone Fynbos, which is regarded as Least Threatened on a national basis, but its conservation value is substantially elevated due to the high incidence of rare and localised plant species, many of which are restricted to this vegetation type. The Hagelkraal – Awila area (traversed mostly by Alternatives 2 & 3) is a major hotspot for localised limestone species (Heydenrych 1994) within the region. Of the 15 limestone areas sampled by Heydenrych he found that the Hagelkraal area supported the second highest number of species restricted to one or 8-4 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

two sites, after the much larger De Hoop area (Heydenrych 1994). Highly localised species restricted to this area include Erica calcareophila (Vulnerable) , Erica occulta (Vulnerable) and Amphithalea rostrata (Endangered; mostly on adjacent sands, restricted to Carruther’s Hill area, which would be directly impacted by Alternative 4). Numerous other rare species are found on the small patches of Agulhas Sand Fynbos (a Vulnerable vegetation type) just inland of Pearly Beach (impacted by Alternatives 1 and 2), including the Endangered Spatalla ericoides . It is thus clear that parts of the coastal plain and fringing hills in the Pearly Beach – Buffeljags area are a major region of botanical sensitivity.

Alternative 1 turns inland just north of Pearly Beach and then follows the road from Uilenkraal to Flower Valley, Platbos and Grootbos Nature Reserve, and thence to Stanford. Overberg Sandstone Fynbos (recently raised to Vulnerable on account of the diversity or range and habitat restricted species) and Overberg Dune Strandveld are the primary vegetation types in the area, although there are also important areas of Agulhas Limestone Fynbos and unique patches of Southern Coastal Forest (such as Platbos and Grootbos), all adding to the exceptional floristic diversity in this area. This diversity has been documented by Mergili and Privett (2008) and by Privett and Lutzeyer (in prep), and a number of new and range restricted species have been described from the area in the last few years ( e.g. Lachenalia lutzeyeri -Duncan & Edwards 2007), with others not yet described (Privett – pers. comm.). Grootbos Nature Reserve alone supports more than fifty RDB listed plant species, and the total number of plant species recorded on the property is now over 750 (Privett and Lutzeyer - in prep.).

The area is clearly a major botanical hotspot (High sensitivity), and fortunately (from a conservation perspective) there are a number of conservation oriented landowners in the area, many of whom depend wholly or partly on ecotourism and/or sustainable wildflower harvesting operations, and thus indirectly, on the botanical integrity and diversity of the area. Perhaps the most unusual habitat in the area is the exceptional indigenous forest community, from which the well known Grootbos Nature Reserve takes it name. The patches are surprisingly species rich, and are exceedingly rare both in the region and in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), and are vulnerable to invasion by alien invasive plants and to fire. Both these are sometimes associated with powerlines (pers. obs). Needless to say direct impacts of tower construction within forest would be very significant (see IAP comment by M. Krige, Platbos, 2 Oct 2008), although in most cases the spans are probably sufficient to avoid most or all patches.

From Stanford the route crosses some important Elim Ferricrete Fynbos (Endangered vegetation type) patches, and then heads north over the eastern Klein River Mountains (Overberg Sandstone Fynbos). This area includes very steep south facing slopes and fragile, easily erodable mid- elevation wetlands on peaty sands. Alien plant invasion is major problem in this area, especially in the form of Hakea sericea (silky hakea). The Klein River mountains support numerous rare and/or endemic species, and at least some of these are likely to occur on the projected route. Botanical sensitivity is regarded as High.

The route then drops down to the Teslaarsdal area, which lies at the transition between the shales and sandstones, and is an area known to support various rare species such as Merciera brevifolia (Endangered), Moraea elegans (Endangered) and Aristea teretifolia (Endangered). These and other species are also found along the northern base of Shaw’s Mountain, which the route then skirts. This is an area of High sensitivity, being a major edaphic (soil) interface (sandstone / shale), identified by Von Hase et al (2003) as a key component of ecological process and thus an 8-5 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

important conservation area. The Overberg Fine Scale Plan (in prep) has selected this area as a Critical Biodiversity Area. In addition the route passes right through the lower north slopes of Shaw’s Pass, which is an acknowledged rare plant hotspot, being the only known site of Erica jasminiflora (Critically Endangered, <10 plants known). Other rare species in this area include Acrodon parvifolius (Endangered), Otholobium pungens (Endangered), Otholobium lanceolatum (Critically Endangered), Selago pinea (Endangered), Gladiolus subcaeruleus (Near Threatened) and Tritoniopsis flexuosa (Endangered).

The route then heads towards Bot River, crossing a number of High sensitivity patches of Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld (Critically Endangered). The Bot river valley and Van der Stel’s Pass area to the north was also identified in the Cape Lowlands Project by Von Hase et al (2003) as a priority for 5 and 20 year conservation action, and as a Core Area for Renosterveld conservation, and all remaining vegetation in this area is consequently of High sensitivity. The area supports numerous rare species, amongst which are two that are restricted to this area (Van der Stel’s Pass to Rooihoogte Pass) – Freylinia helmei (Vulnerable) and Moraea atropunctata (Critically Endangered). Peucedanum pungens (Endangered) is another very rare species found primarily in this area, extending east to Caledon. The Overberg Fine Scale Plan (in prep) has selected this area as a Critical Biodiversity Area.

The last area of major (High) sensitivity is the pass between Villiersdorp and Worcester, and the area down to Bacchus (see Section 5.1 for discussion around the Bacchus site itself). The Overberg Fine Scale Plan (in prep) has selected this area as a Critical Biodiversity Area, as has the Upper Breede River Valley (UBRV) Fine Scale Plan (Pence – in prep). The vegetation type at the top of the pass is Critically Endangered Elgin Shale Fynbos,and its forms a vital east – west ecological link, the last possible such link in this area. Numerous rare species occur in this area, including Oxalis camelopardalis (Vulnerable), Sparaxis maculosa (Critically Endangered; only known site) and various Ixia species.

Once again Alternative 2 crosses numerous areas of High botanical sensitivity, and only the most notable will be discussed below. Many of the comments made for Alternative 1 also apply to Alternative 2, as it passes quite close in the Klein River mountain area and follows exactly the same route north of Villiersdorp to Bacchus.

The first area of concern is the section from the Pearly Beach – Buffeljags road north to the Koudeberg, northwest of Baardskeerdersbos. The habitat diversity in this area is very high, with no less than five vegetation types in the space of 20km. Species diversity, and the abundance of rare and localised species, is correspondingly high. For example, Farm 251, which is run as an ecotourism operation, has recorded more than 35 RDB listed plants on its 800ha (M. Groos – pers. comm.), including the newly described Aloe juddii , which is only known from four rocky outcrops within about 10km of each other. Interestingly, there appear to be no Critically Endangered species on this list, which is mostly a reflection of the substantial areas of natural habitat still present in the region, in conjunction with ongoing threats to these areas. Numerous peaty wetlands occur in this area, and all must be regarded as highly sensitive to erosion, and most of them support rare species, including a diversity of orchids.

From east of Teslaarsdal the route then follows a straight line over mostly Low sensitivity cultivated land, until the N2 highway and the Caledon Swartberg. The Caledon Swartberg is an island of sandstone (Overberg Sandstone Fynbos) in a sea of cultivated shales, and is known to support at least six endemic plant species ( e.g. 8-6 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

Metalasia bodkinii (Vulnerable) , Restio scaber (Vulnerable) , Cullumia selago (Endangered), Moraea longiaristata (Critically Endangered), and a newly described and endemic moss frog ( Arthroleptella ; A. Turner – pers. comm.). The actual route lies east of the most sensitive mountain area (north and south of the main peak), and much of the route actually lies within an area that has been severely invaded by alien Pinus radiata (Monterey pine). Much of this area is technically rehabilitable, but most of the landowners appear to be doing nothing in this regard. A number of sensitive wetlands may well be located within the proposed route, but overall most of the route probably has a Medium sensitivity in this area, although there is a chance that some of the rare and/or endemic species may be in the area.

The route then crosses the Ruens to an area south of Genadendal and turns northwest and crosses the Snyerskraalkoppe, a prominent ridge of Greyton Shale Fynbos (Vulnerable vegetation type). A limited number of rare species are known from these hills, including Peucedanum pungens (Endangered). From there the route climbs to the Donkerkraal area, and traverses a steep south facing slope with substantial peaty wetlands, which are not an appropriate area for development of infrastructure. After this high sensitivity area the route then descends and follows Alternative 1 to Bacchus (see previous section).

Alternative 3 is a longer route, but crosses a similar mix of vegetation types and many High sensitivity areas. The initial 20km cross mostly good quality Agulhas Limestone Fynbos and Overberg Sand Fynbos, although some areas are invaded by alien vegetation. The former vegetation type is particularly sensitive as it forms part of the previously mentioned Hagelkraal – Awila limestone centre of diversity (Heydenrych 1994). After leaving the sandstones in the Nuwedam area it then crosses a valley with remnant patches of Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, and numerous Red Data Book species (see IAP comment J & M Gaffney, Nuwedam farm, 19 Sep 2008). This area was surveyed by Helme (2007c), who found a previously unknown population of the Critically Endangered shale wetland daisy Arctotheca forbesiana in one of the patches directly crossed by Alternative 3. This is the largest known population of this species, which is now verging on extinction in the Cape Flats.

The route then proceeds northeast towards Fairfield farm, where it swings to the north. The Renosterveld on Fairfield has been identified by the Cape Lowlands Project as one of the Core sites for conservation action (Von Hase et al 2003), as the farm supports some of the largest remaining pieces of Critically Endangered Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld, as well as key edaphic (soil) interfaces (where the shales meet the sandstones of the Overberg Sandstone Fynbos). Numerous RDB species are known from the remaining natural vegetation areas on the farm, and all such areas must be considered to be of High sensitivity.

The route then crosses an intensely agricultural Ruens landscape and reaches the eastern edge of the Caledon Swartberg, where it crosses a few patches of ecotonal (transitional) habitat with both Renosterveld and Sandstone Fynbos species. Rare species known from these lower patches include Cullumia selago (Endangered), Moraea longiaristata (Critically Endangered) and Metalasia plicata (Endangered).

From here the route joins Alternative 2 for about 30km and crosses more Low sensitivity agricultural land, crosses the Medium sensitivity Snyerskraalkoppe (see Alternative 2), and descends to the mostly (except for the Riviersonderend river) Low sensitivity Helderstroom Prison area, where it diverges from Alternative 2 and swings north. At this point the line climbs up into the Donkerkloof valley, and up and over the western Riviersonderend mountains, in the valley east of Wolfieskop. Most of this

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mountain area (South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos) is extremely rugged, and a significant portion of this route has no access tracks. This area visited in February 2008, as I was searching for Athanasia scabra , which is only known from the south facing slopes in this area. This species is very rare, and is RDB listed as Vulnerable (Raimondo et al – in press). The Wolfieskop area is known to support numerous other rare and highly localised species, such as Spatalla argentea (Endangered), Serruria viridifolia (Vulnerable), and Leucadendron nervosum (Near Threatened). The line then descends the northern sandstone slopes and crosses a relatively dry Renosterveld and arid Fynbos area that is mostly agricultural. All remaining patches of natural vegetation in this area are regarded as being of High sensitivity, and the area has been described for Alternative 2.

Alternative 4 is by far the longest route, as it runs east of the Caledon Swartberg and the Riviersonderend mountains, passing through Stormsvlei kloof, and then heading west through the UBRV.

Immediately north of the Franskraal – Buffeljags road the line crosses Caruther’s Hill, which is a High sensitivity area that is the only known location for Amphithalea rostrata (Endangered). This is thus a No Go area and a Red Flag for this particular route.

The route then crosses a large High sensitivity area of Overberg Sandstone Fynbos, Elim Ferricrete Fynbos and Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands, and the village of Viljoenshof. The area supports numerous rare and localised plant species, with a particularly high concentration in the Elim Ferricrete Fynbos areas, such as Leucadendron stelligerum (Critically Endangered), Leucadendron modestum (Endangered), Leucospermum heterophyllum (Endangered), Lobostemon collinus (Endangered), Protea pudens (Endangered) and Xiphotheca guthriei (Vulnerable). The wetlands support the recently described and very rare Aponogeton fugax (fynwaterblommetjie; Vulnerable) and large stands of Leucadendron laxum (Endangered). The wetlands in this area are part of the Nuwejaarsrivier catchment and feed the critically important vleis and wetlands in the Agulhas Plain, and have all been identifed as CBAs in the Overberg FSP (in prep.), along with virtually all remaining patches of Elim Ferricrete Fynbos (an Endangred vegetation type).

The route then leaves the High sensitivity Agulhas Plain by climbing the Soetmuisberg (Overberg Sandstone Fynbos) west of Bredasdorp. This is also a High sensitivity area, with many localised plant species such as Cyrtanthus guthriei (Bredasdorpvuurlelie; Critically Endangered; only known location, <250 plants) and Lachenalia sargeantii (Vulnerable).

The route then crosses the very heavily agricultural eastern Ruens landscape, which is mostly of Low botanical sensitivity, until it reaches the eastern Riviersonderend mountains and the Highsensitivity Stormsvlei Kloof. This Kloof is a key ecological link between the Overberg and the UBRV, and has been identified as such in the UBRV FSP (Pence – in prep.) and the Overberg FSP (in prep.). Rare plants known to occur in this area include Acrodon purpureostylus (Endangered) and Athanasia oocephala (Vulnerable).

From this point on the route lies within the Upper Breede River Valley (UBRV) Fine Scale Conservation Plan (FSP) area, and crosses numerous Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs), all of which must be regarded as High sensitivity areas. In addition, SKEP (2004) has identified much of this area lower part of the Breede River Valley as a succulent plant hotspot. Approximately 80% of the terrain traversed between Stormsvlei and Bacchus is largely undisturbed natural vegetation, mostly classified as 8-8 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos (Least Threatened), Robertson Karoo (Least Threatened), Breede Alluvium Renosterveld (Endangered) and Breede Shale Renosterveld (Vulnerable). The rocky outcrops in this area are particularly important habitats for localised plants (such as Haworthia species) and reptiles, and should be avoided. Various rare species are known from the deeper soil areas, including a number of Ixia species (e.g. Ixia vanzijliae – Vulnerable), Sparaxis maculosa (Critically Endangered), and Euphorbia nesemanii (Near Threatened), but in general there are far fewer rare species than in the Agulhas Plain. Most of the last 3km of the route can be regarded as being of High sensitivity.

• Bacchus-Muldersvlei alternatives

The main vegetation types traversed by the two alternatives are indicated in Figure 8.3.

Both Alternatives 1 and 2 traverse a High sensitivity area within the grounds of the Brandvlei Correctional Services facility (Figure 5; Helme 2007a & b). Most of this has been mapped as Breede Sand Fynbos by Mucina & Rutherford (2006), but the Fine Scale Vegetation Mapping project has further subdivided this area (Helme 2007a), and recognises at least three vegetation types in this area, including one that is largely restricted to the Brandvlei region. Threatened and highly localised plant species that occur in this area include Arctotis formosa (not assessed for RDB as this genus is taxonomically poorly understood), Leucadendron chamelaea (Critically Endangered), Leucadendron flexuosum (Critically Endangered), Lachnaea capitata (Vulnerable), Euchaetis pungens (Vulnerable) and Babiana arenicola (Endangered). All six of these rare species could potentially be impacted by the proposed powerline towers and access road, and the last mentioned is known only from this area (Goldblatt & Manning 2007) and is thus of particular concern. Alien invasive vegetation (notably Hakea sericea and Acacia mearnsii ) is a threat to the vegetation in this area.

Alternative 1 swings west and follows Du Toits Kloof, whilst Alternative 2 goes north up the Breede river valley to Wolseley. Highly localised species known from the lower north facing slopes of Du Toits Kloof (Alternative 1) include Psoralea implexa (Figure 8.2) and Pteronia centauroides . The former is known from a single locality about 50m above the existing powerlines (pers. obs), and is RDB listed as Endangered (Raimondo et al – in press). The latter is also restricted to this valley, but is slightly more widespread, and is RDB listed as Vulnerable (Raimondo et al – in press). This section of Alternative 1 is arguably the highest sensitivity portion of the route.

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Figure 8.2: Psoralea implexa is an Endangered and extremely localised species known from a single population in Du Toits Kloof, just above the existing powerline.

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Figure 8.3: The two Bacchus – Muldersvlei alternatives superimposed on the SA Vegetation Map for the area (Mucina & Rutherford 2006).

Additional sensitive areas include some small strips of intact Swartland Granite Renosterveld on the lower north slopes of Paarl mountain, where various RDB species can be expected to occur.

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Alternative 2 crosses some sensitive Breede Alluvium Fynbos area south of Wolseley, where various RDB species such as Leucadendron chamelaea (Critically Endangered) and Leucadendron corymbosum (Vulnerable) are known to occur. It then crosses the north – south trending mountain range (Limietberg and Elandskloof range), which is also well known as a hotspot for rare Mountain Fynbos species, such as Sorocephalus imbricatus (Critically Endangered) and Cliffortia pilifera (Vulnerable).

The most significant lowland area of natural vegetation traversed by the proposed Alternative 2 is the western base of these mountains, which is part of the Swartland bioregion. This area incorporates the Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve (see Figure 4; now a Contract Nature Reserve with CapeNature, which means that it has the same formalised conservation status as a Municipal Reserve) and the Kranskop Munitions Factory site to the site (part of which is also run as a nature reserve). Elandsberg is the largest privately owned conservation area in the Swartland, and was selected by the Cape Lowlands Renosterveld project as a Core Site and as one of the target areas for conservation action over both the 5 and 20 year planning horizons (Von Hase et al 2003). The property was selected by this project because of its excellent ecological connectivity, its extent, and because of its plant diversity.

The site is well known as a major conservation hotspot within the CFR, and the property supports upwards of 50 Red Data Book listed plant species, as well as rare animal species, such as the Geometric Tortoise. Just some of the rare species known from the area include Leucadendron stellare (Critically Endangered), Oxalis natans (Critically Endangered), Brunsvigia elandsmontana (Critically Endangered), Protea mucronifolia (Critically Endangered), Lotononis complanata (Endangered), Metalasia octoflora (Endangered), Marasmodes sp. nov. (Endangered), Tritoniopsis elongata (Endangered), Leucadendron corymbosum (Vulnerable), and Lampranthus dregeanus (Vulnerable). At least five species are endemic to this property, and approximately ten others have their largest known populations on this site, which is an exceptional figure, making this arguably one of the top lowland flora conservation priorities in the CFR.

8.2.3 Fauna

The information presented below was extracted from the Fauna Impact Assessment which can be viewed in Appendix M. The composition of faunal communities is predominantly influenced by geological, climatic and floristic factors. Due to the vastness of the study area, these factors are relatively varied and comprise a mosaic of diverse macro and micro habitat zones that include for example coastal lowlands with strandveld vegetation, large seasonal lowland wetlands, high altitude fynbos covered mountain slopes, peaks and ravines, renosterveld patches and karroid flats. Although most terrestrial mammals, reptiles and amphibians can be regarded as habitat generalists, a substantial proportion has marked associations with specific habitat types. Zoogeographical and faunal analyses of these regions are generally lacking, but the following provided some insight in this regard:

• Western Cape mammals – Lloyd 2002 • Western Cape herpetofauna – Baarde & De Villiers 2002 • Western Cape frogs – Minter et al. 2004 • Western Cape freshwater fishes – Impson et al. 2002

Four components serve as indicators of faunal sensitivity, i.e. vegetation type, land- use (protected areas), sensitive habitats (wetlands) and Red Data species.

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• Bantamsklip-Bacchus: Vegetation

Substantial areas of untransformed vegetation still remain within the Bantamsklip to Bacchus route alternatives. Although most of these are of Low sensitivity, some patches of High and Medium sensitivity are also present. The belt of remnant renosterveld patches that extends across the northern half of these routes is particularly sensitive and will require careful mitigating measures.

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus: Protected Areas (PAs)

With a few exceptions, the Bantamsklip to Bacchus route alternatives are relatively unrestricted by PAs. The southernmost and northernmost reaches contain PAs that will have to be considered when finalising the line alignments.

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus: Wetlands

A large variety of wetland types are present throughout the Bantamsklip to Bacchus route alternatives. These vary in levels of sensitivity, but all will have to be considered when finalising the line alignments. The most sensitive wetlands are those within the immediate surroundings of Bantamsklip and Bacchus, because they are utilised by various Red Data species (see below).

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus: Red Data Species

The southernmost reaches of the Bantamsklip to Bacchus route alternatives is characterised by a relatively high concentration of Red Data species, and thus this area requires careful mitigating measures (see also Harrison et al. 2008). Most significant in this regard are three Red Data frog species (and their High sensitivity wetlands), but the Southern Adder and Cape Kurper and Cape Galaxias also require consideration. The Cape Whitefish at the Bacchus wetlands are of High sensitivity.

• Bacchus-Muldersvlei: Vegetation

Vegetation zones of High senstivity present substantial issues throughout much of the Bacchus to Muldersvlei route alternatives. These will require careful mitigating measures.

• Bacchus-Muldersvlei: Protected Areas (PAs)

Both of the Bacchus to Muldersvlei route alternatives traverse substantial patches of PAs and thus require mitigating measures.

• Bacchus-Muldersvlei: Wetlands

A variety of wetlands are present within the Bacchus to Muldersvlei route alternatives, and all of these require consideration during the final alignments of the transmission lines. The major wetlands at Bacchus are of High sensitivity. The final alignment of transmission lines through mountainous terrain need to consider the sensitivity of inconspicuous wetlands such as seeps and marshes.

• Bacchus-Muldersvlei: Red Data Species

The potential occurrence of Geometric Tortoise along several sections of the Bacchus to Muldersvlei route alternatives, especially along alternative 2, represents a highly sensitive scenario that calls for an extremely cautious approach in terms of the

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proposed development. It is likely that substantial ground-truthing will be needed to adequately mitigate in this regard. The Cape Whitefish at the Bacchus wetlands are of High Sensitivity.

8.2.4 Avifauna

The information presented below was extracted from the Avifauna Impact Assessment which can be located in Appendix N. The study area comprises a vast area in which the proposed power lines fall predominantly in fynbos vegetation . However, the study area also exhibits characteristics of both the succulent and nama karoo, as well as a small percentage of afro-montane forest. It is widely accepted that vegetation structure is more critical in determining bird habitat, than the actual plant species composition (Harrison et al ., 1997). The description of vegetation presented therefore concentrates on factors relevant to the bird species present, and is not an exhaustive list of plant species present.

Fynbos is dominated by low shrubs and can be divided into two categories, fynbos proper and renosterveld. There are considerable areas of natural fynbos left in the study area in between cultivated activity, particularly on the steeper slopes which are unsuitable for cultivation, some of which are formally conserved such as the Haweqwas State Forest between Paarl and Worcester. Despite having a high diversity of plant species, fynbos and renosterveld have a relatively low diversity of bird species. The only Red Data species that are closely associated with fynbos in this study area, are the Black Harrier (which may breed in fynbos), and the Knysna Warbler (Harrison et al., 1997). Other Red Data species that use this habitat are Secretarybirds and Denham’s Bustard which are occasionally found in fynbos and renosterveld (pers. obs.), and Martial Eagles on occasion forage in this habitat. Much of the fynbos and renosterveld in the study area have been transformed for agriculture. Whilst this obviously resulted in substantial natural habitat being destroyed, several species have in fact adapted rather well to this transformation. One such species, which is highly relevant to this study, is the Blue Crane. This species has thrived on the (predominantly) wheat lands in the southern and western Cape.

Succulent karoo occurs predominantly in the far west of the country, generally at altitudes of less than 800m. In the study area the succulent karoo is known as the Little Karoo and differs from the rest of the succulent karoo in having a rather well developed tree cover. The succulent karoo is primarily characterised by low winter rainfall (20 to 290mm per annum). It consists of flat to undulating plains with some hilly and broken veld. This vegetation type is characterised by dwarf succulent plants and an almost total absence of trees. Grasses are rare, except in some sandy areas. The number of plant species is high in this biome (Harrison et al., 1997). The nama karoo vegetation largely consists of low shrubs and grasses. Trees such as Acacia karoo and the exotic mesquite Prosopis glandulosa are largely restricted to the watercourses, where they often form dense stands. The nama karoo generally has a much higher proportion of grasses and trees than the succulent karoo (Harrison et al., 1997). As far as power line sensitive birds in the study area are concerned, succulent karoo and the nama karoo (or Great Karoo) are both suitable habitats for the same species, and the same impacts on these species are likely to occur in both areas, they are therefore jointly referred to on this report as the karoo. It must be noted that the karoo in the study area exhibits many characteristics of fynbos, and should be more accurately described as an eco-tonal zone between succulent karoo and fynbos. This is evidenced by the low reporting numbers of typical karroid species such as the Ludwig’s Bustard, and the absence of Blue Cranes in natural veld, while they

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are commonly found in the nama karoo east of the study area. It is known that Blue Cranes avoid areas of natural fynbos (Kotoane 2003).

The tree-canopy cover in afro-montane forest is continuous, with mainly evergreen tree species present. Below the canopy, the vegetation is multilayered, with little ground vegetation as a result of the dense canopy blocking sunlight out. Forests are found only in frost-free regions, with relatively high rainfall and protection from fire (Harrison et al., 1997). Afro-montane forest occurs at sea level in the south of the country, but at progressively higher altitudes towards the east and north of the country. Several bird species associated mainly with afro-montane forest are endemic to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. The Knysna Woodpecker and Knysna Warbler are the only Red Data species present in this study area that are associated with forest habitat to any extent. The relative lack of species associated with forests in this study area, correlates with the low representation of forest.

Whilst much of the bird species distribution in the study area can be explained in terms of the above broad vegetation description (based on the quarter degree square level), there are many differences in bird species distribution and density that correspond to differences in habitat at the micro level. These bird micro-habitats are evident at a much smaller spatial scale than the broader vegetation types or biomes, and can largely only be identified through a combination of field investigation and experience. Furthermore, as mentioned above, large portions of the study area have been highly transformed, making the above vegetation description less valid. It was therefore extremely important to visit the study area first hand.

• Cultivated Land

The cultivated land transformation in the study area consists mostly of vineyards, cereal crops, canola, pastures and irrigated crops e.g. lucerne.

Vineyards ( Grape cultivation ) result in a total transformation of the natural habitat resulting in the cultivated area becoming unusable for the majority of birds. This habitat is definitely not suitable for large birds, especially the large terrestrial, power line sensitive species. Vineyards are most prevalent in valleys and flat topographical areas between the mountains in the east of the study area, and are the dominant land-use in the area between the towns of Paarl, Worcester, Robertson and up to Villiersdorp where the agriculture becomes more varied with pastures, fruit orchards and derelict lands more often encountered between the orchards. The pastures in this area hold some attraction for large terrestrial species such as Black-headed Heron, White Stork and Blue Crane. Notwithstanding the above, cultivated areas dominated by vineyards are generally unlikely to act as draw cards for large power line sensitive species.

The mosaic of cereal crops, canola, pastures and irrigated fields (wheat, barley, canola and so on) interspersed with pastures that comprise the area known as the Overberg Wheatbelt, is classified as an Important Bird Area (Barnes 1998), and is of specific importance to the endemic, Red listed Blue Crane, as well as the Red listed Denham’s Bustard. This large agricultural district stretches from Caledon to Riversdale and encompasses the area south of these two towns, running between the coastal towns of Hermanus and Stilbaai. The topography consists of low-lying coastal plains and consists primarily of cereal croplands. The Overberg holds the largest population of Blue Cranes in the world. At times the Overberg can hold nearly 20% of this species’ global population, as well as containing large numbers of Denham’s Bustard and White Stork during the summer (Barnes 1998). The Blue Crane has relatively recently expanded its range into the Overberg, where it feeds on inter alia 8-15 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

fallen grain and recently germinated crops. They also feed on supplementary food put out for small stock, and can congregate in huge numbers around these feed lots. The Black Harrier is also found frequently in the modified agricultural matrix of the Overberg region, where several pairs breed (Barnes 1998), although it prefers the natural renosterveld in between the cereal crops. Some typical karroid birds such as the endemic Karoo Korhaan is also found in the wheat matrix (Barnes 1998). All of these species are power line sensitive, specifically with regard to collisions with power lines.

In the fynbos – karoo ecotone , the irrigated crops (mostly lucerne) that are found near to water sources (mostly drainage lines), could attract a variety of species such as Black-headed Heron, Ludwig’s Bustard, White Stork and Spur-winged Goose.

• Mountains

The study area contains several rugged mountain ranges which all form part of the Cape Fold Belt. These mountains are regarded as an important bird habitat, which is emphasised by the fact that two Important Bird Areas in the study area, namely SA107 Eastern False Bay Mountains and SA113 Southern Langeberg Mountains, have their cores centred on mountain ranges.

Apart from being important refuges for fynbos and supporting many restricted-range and biome-restricted assemblage species, the rugged mountain habitat is suitable for many medium-sized and large raptors such as Black (Verreaux’s) Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Jackal Buzzard and Booted Eagle. These species may occasionally venture out of the mountains and hunt in the adjoining fynbos. On such occasions the birds may interact with the power line; mostly by perching on it, as large trees are generally sparse. In some areas the line could create a risk of collisions for example where it crosses a steep slope, mountain crest or a steep valley which acts as a natural flight path. Although not directly threatened by the proposed new lines, the Cape Vultures breeding at Potberg in the De Hoop Nature Reserve close to Bredasdorp might perch on the towers when they encounter them while foraging. This could lead to bird streamer induced faulting on certain tower types, depending on the design of the towers. Black Storks also breed in some of the mountains and would be subject to the same collision risks as the raptors.

• Dams, wetlands and rivers

The most important wetland habitat along the alignment consists of man-made dams, some of which are huge such as the Greater Brandvlei Dam and the Theewaterskloof Dam. The dams serve as important draw cards for a variety of waterbirds, as well as Blue Cranes. This creates a potential collision risk for several species in a variety of habitats. In the karoo, farm dams could attract power line sensitive Red Data species such as Blue Cranes, Greater Flamingo and Black Stork and a variety of non Red Data species such as White Stork, Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose and African Fish Eagle. In the Overberg the small farm dams are key roosting areas for Blue Cranes and a variety of non Red Data species such as White Stork, Spur-winged Goose and Egyptian Goose. Any alignment that skirts or crosses a dam will create a serious collision risk. The study contains many rivers, including some larger ones such as the Breede River. The riverine vegetation in the area is generally heavily impacted by alien invasive plant species, particularly Australian Acacia and Eucalyptus species, which reduces the suitability of the habitat for many birds. Power line sensitive species that use the rivers are various non Red data herons, ducks, coots and waders. Several large wetlands with open water bodies are situated in the

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south of the study area in 3419DB, which serve as a draw card for many waterbirds as well as Blue Crane and African Marsh Harrier. Smaller natural wetlands are also used by Blue Cranes in the Overberg to roost in.

• Other

The study area contains many other micro-habitats which are not important for Red Data species e.g. plantations, urban areas and mining activity. Copses of exotic Eucalyptus do create an attractive habitat for raptors such as Black Sparrowhawk, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk and Forest Buzzard, none of which are presently Red listed.

Within this study area, a total of 22 Red Data species (excluding marine and coastal species, which are not relevant to this report) have been recorded during the bird atlas period. Table 8.1 lists the Red Data species relevant to this report that have been recorded in the study area. It also states the conservation status, habitat preferences as well the primary potential type of impact that the proposed power line (collisions, habitat destruction and disturbance) could have on the species.

Table 8.1: Red Data species recorded in the study area (Harrison et al., 1997) Habitat Conservation 1 destruction 2 Common Name Scientific Name Status Collision & disturbance Habitat requirements Cliffs for roosting and breeding, and rivers and dams for foraging. Occurs in the Cape Fold mountains and recorded from almost Black Stork Ciconia nigra NT x - all the squares. Always associated with water – dams, wetlands, rivers, marshes, even small pools. Recorded only from one square, rare vagrant to Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis NT x - the Western Cape. Open shallow, euthropic wetlands. Could be present at some of the larger water Phoenicopterus bodies and farm dams in Greater Flamingo ruber NT x - the study area. Open shallow, euthropic wetlands. Can tolerate more saline and alkaline conditions than the Greater Flamingo. Could be present at some of the larger water Phoenicopterus bodies and farm dams in Lesser Flamingo minor NT x - the study area. Grassland, old lands, open woodland. Most likely to be encountered in the Sagittarius Overberg, in fynbos, Secretarybird serpentarius NT x - pastures and fallow lands. Large cliffs for breeding and roosting, open woodland and grassland. Roosts on Gyps transmission lines. Likely to Cape Vulture coprotheres VU x - be encountered in the

1 Barnes 2000. 2 Barnes 1998; Barnes 2000; Hockey et.al. 2005; Young et.al. 2003; Harrison et.al. 1997; personal observations. 8-17 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

Habitat Conservation 1 destruction 2 Common Name Scientific Name Status Collision & disturbance Habitat requirements Overberg all the way up to Swellendam, but particularly near Potberg. Diverse habitats, from open grassland and scrub to woodland. Typically found in flat country. Sparsely Polemaetus recorded from almost all Martial Eagle bellicosus VU x - squares. Large permanent wetlands with dense reed beds. Sometimes forages over smaller wetlands and grassland. Recorded mostly African Marsh- from the Overberg, Harrier Circus ranivorus VU x x especially 3419DB. Recorded in almost all the squares, but highest densities in remnant patches of renosterveld in Black Harrier Circus maurus NT x - the Overberg A wide range of habitats, but cliffs (or tall buildings) are a prerequisite for Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus NT x - breeding. Generally prefers open habitat, but exploits a wide range of habitats. Recorded Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus NT x - from most squares. No interactions are expected with the proposed Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni VU - - power lines. No interactions are Hottentot Turnix expected with the proposed Buttonquail hottentotus EN - - power lines. Cereal crops, old lands, pastures, wetlands, dams and pans for roosting. Anthropoides Overberg is the biggest risk Blue Crane paradiseus VU x - area. Cereal crops, fynbos and Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami VU x - pastures in the Overberg. Occurs in the Karoo areas of the study area, although not in large numbers, as the habitat still contains strong elements of fynbos, which is Ludwig's Bustard Neotis ludwigii VU x - not suitable habitat. No interactions are Greater Painted- Rostratula expected with the proposed snipe benghalensis NT - - power lines. Fast-flowing streams with Half-collared Alcedo clear water and well- Kingfisher semitorquata NT - x wooded banks. Occurs in fynbos forest patches, or on the edges of Knysna Campethera afro-montane forest. Woodpecker notata NT - x It typically occurs in thick, tangled vegetation along the banks of watercourses, Bradypterus or covering drainage lines in Knysna Warbler sylvaticus VU - x fynbos forest patches, or on 8-18 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

Habitat Conservation 1 destruction 2 Common Name Scientific Name Status Collision & disturbance Habitat requirements the edges of afro-montane forest. Note: NT: Near Threatened; VU: Vulnerable; EN: Endangered.

8.3 Socio-Economic Environment

8.3.1 Social

The following information was extracted from the Social Impact Assessment which can be located in Appendix O. All proposed route alternatives are located within the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. In terms of the administrative context, two District Municipalities (DMs) are of relevance, namely the Overberg DM and Cape Winelands DM. Due to their linear nature and length, each of the proposed route alternatives traverses a number of Local Municipal (LM) level administrative areas located within either the Overberg DM or Cape Winelands DM, or both. The relevant areas traversed by each of the proposed routes are recorded in Table 8.2.

Table 8.2: Administrative areas traversed by proposed route alignments

Route Overberg DM Cape Winelands DM Approximate Length Muldersvlei-Bacchus • Drakenstein LM 88.7 km Alt. 1 • Breede Valley LM Muldersvlei-Bacchus • Drakenstein LM 102.5 km Alt. 2 • Witzenberg LM • Breede Valley LM Bantamsklip-Bacchus • Overstrand LM • Breede Valley LM 123.2 km Alt. 1 • Theewaterskloof LM Bantamsklip-Bacchus • Overstrand LM • Breede Valley LM 113.6 km Alt. 2 • Theewaterskloof LM Bantamsklip-Bacchus • Overstrand LM • Breede Valley LM 125 km Alt. 3 • Theewaterskloof LM Bantamsklip-Bacchus • Overstrand LM • Breede River/ 180.1 km Alt. 4 • Cape Agulhas LM Winelands LM • Swellendam LM • Breede Valley LM

• The Overberg DM

Overberg is the southernmost of the district municipalities in the Western Cape and covers approximately 11 393 km² ( Figure 8.4). The administrative seat of the Overberg DM is located in Bredasdorp. The DM is comprised of four local level municipalities (LMs), namely the Overstrand LM (Hermanus), the Cape Agulhas LM (Bredasdorp), the Theewaterskloof LM (Caledon) and the Swellendam LM (Swellendam), and one administrative area (centered around the De Hoop nature reserve). Other established urban settlements include Kleinmond, Gansbaai, Stanford, Napier, Barrydale, Botrivier, Elgin and Grabouw. The region also includes a number of smaller settlements of historical and heritage significance, namely Baardskeerdersbos, Elim, Kassiesbaai, Genadendal and Suurbraak.

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Figure 8.4: Overberg District Municipality (Overberg DM SDF, 2004)

The region is traversed by the N2 from west to east. The N2 roughly demarcates the Agulhas plain to the south from more mountainous terrain towards the north of the N2 (including for instance the Riviersonderend mountain chain and the Langeberg). A number of tarred roads link major settlements to one another. These include the R316, R326, R319, R43 and the R406. Nevertheless, the majority of public roads in the region are gravel roads (73.6%).

Roughly the southern half of the region borders onto ocean, viz. the Atlantic and Indian Oceans towards the west and east of Cape Agulhas respectively. The region is well-known for its scenic beauty, and includes a number of recreational coastal locations of national significance. These include the greater Hermanus area, the greater Gansbaai area, Struisbaai and L’Agulhas and Arniston/Waenhuiskrans. The southernmost tip of the African continent is located within the region (viz. Cape Agulhas). The Agulhas plain south of the Bredasdorp Mountains is an important botanical biodiversity area, and contains large stretches of fynbos of international tourism significance. The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is located in the extreme western portion of the DM, and is a UNESCO world heritage area. Agriculture forms the economic backbone of the region, with small grain cultivation (e.g. wheat, canola) and livestock farming (wool sheep, cattle) predominating in the area south of the N2 (Agulhas plain), and fructiculture and viticulture featuring more prominently in the area north of the N2 (for instance Elgin/Grabouw and near Barrydale).

• Cape Winelands DM

The Cape Winelands DM is a large region, covering approximately 22 000 km² (Figure 8.5). The administrative seat of the Cape Winelands DM is located in

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Stellenbosch. The DM is comprised of five local level municipalities, namely the Stellenbosch LM (Stellenbosch), the Drakenstein LM (Paarl), the Witzenberg LM (Ceres), the Breede Valley LM (Worcester), the Breede River/ Winelands LM (Ashton) and one administrative area (north of Touwsrivier). Other significant towns in the DM include Wellington, Tulbagh, Wolseley, Rawsonville, De Doorns, Touwsrivier, Robertson and Montagu. The region also includes a number of smaller settlements of historical and heritage significance, including McGregor.

The DM is landlocked. Geographically, the region is characterised by a number of fertile valley systems in a generally mountainous landscape. The region includes a number of major mountain chains, including the Hottentots Holland, Hawequas and Franschoek mountains. The region is famed for its scenic beauty, and is the major location of South African wine routes (e.g. Paarl, Stellenbosch, Wellington and the Breede Valley). Historically, colonial settlement fanned out from Cape Town into the western parts of the Cape Winelands region, and towns like Stellenbosch, Paarl, Tulbagh and Worcester are therefore of major historic and tourist significance, both regionally and nationally.

The N1 roughly bisects the DM from south-west to north-east, and provides the major road link to areas outside the DM. A number of additional tarred roads link major settlements to one another. While the largest proportion of the public road network in the DM as a whole are gravel roads (62%), the road networks in the Drakenstein, Stellenbosch and Breede Valley are predominantly tarred, and provide convenient access from the Cape Metropolitan area as well as to towns outside the region. Agricultural land use is spatially characteristic of the region. Agricultural activities cover a broad spectrum, but viticulture and fructiculture are probably the most intimately tied to the region’s sense of place. Important centres include the Paarl basin, Stellenbosch, Wellington, the Tulbagh and Ceres valleys, the areas around the Breede River, and the Hexrivier and Koo valleys.

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Figure 8.5: Cape Winelands District Municipality (Cape Winelands District Municipality SDF 2006)

An overview of the socio-economic conditions in these district municipalities is provided below. Information presented is derived from the Socio-Economic Profile document compiled by the Provincial Treasury of the Western Cape Provincial Government for each DM in 2007. Where necessary, this has been supplemented with information derived from the most recent national Census count (2001).

• Population

The Overberg DM is home to approximately 5% of the Western Cape’s population; the Cape Winelands DM to approximately 14% (second only to the City of Cape Town). Table 8.3 provides an overview of key aspects related to basic demographic aspects related to population numbers and composition.

Table 8.3: Population of the Overberg and Cape Winelands regions (Provincial Treasury WCPG, 2007)

Overberg DM Cape Winelands DM Total estimated population (2007) 237 555 652 154 Projected population 270 202 (2015) 658 000 (2012) Population density 23.7 per km² 29.3 per km² Urban/rural ratio 75.7%: 24.3% 70.3%: 29.7% Number of households (2007) 69 529 175 703 % of population under 25 (2007) 43.4% 47% % of population 65 or older (2007) 7.4% 4.4%

• Education Levels

The table below provides estimated education levels attained by the population 6 years or older of the relevant regions by 2006 ( Table 8.4).

Table 8.4: Education levels within the Overberg and Cape Winelands regions (Provincial Treasury WCPG, 2007)

Overberg DM Cape Winelands DM No schooling 13.2% 14.6% Some Primary 23.2% 21.6% Complete Primary 8.6% 7.4% Some Secondary 34.6% 35.1% Complete Secondary 16% 14.3% Higher 4.4% 7.1% Total 100% 100%

As indicated in the table above, education levels are generally low for both regions. General household surveys conducted by Statistics SA in 2006 indicated that unattainably high school fees and overcrowding of available classroom facilities remained significant obstacles in the education systems of both DMs. While the Cape Winelands contains a number of excellent schools and tertiary facilities and is able to retain and attract skilled and qualified people, the Overberg DM appears to be losing its more skilled and qualified population group to other areas.

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• Employment

The economically active age cohort (15-64 years) of the Overberg DM and Cape Winelands DM populations was estimated (2007) to account for 66% and 67% of their total populations respectively.

The most recent unemployment estimates available for DM level date to the 2001 Census. According to Census 2001 figures, an estimated 52.4% of the Overberg DM’s economically active population was employed in 2001. An estimated 12% were unemployed, and the remaining 35.6% were not economically active. The relevant rates for the Cape Winelands were 52.3%, 11.7% and 36% respectively. While unemployment rates compared favorably with those for the Western Cape (17%) and South Africa (24%), it should be taken into account that the actual month-to-month unemployment rates in these regions are probably significantly understated due to the fact that the main employment sector in both regions, agriculture, is highly seasonal in nature. In other words, off-season unemployment levels in both areas are probably significantly higher.

• Income Levels and Indingency

According to Census 2001, the majority of households in the Overberg DM either fell within the R800–R1600 (19.9%) or R1600-R3200 (21.8%) per month income brackets. More recent estimates are not available for the Overberg, but a 2007 estimate for the Cape Winelands indicated that the majority of households (36.2%) in the Cape Winelands fell with the R800–R1600 per month income bracket (Provincial Treasury, 2007). From these figures it is clear that a significant portion of households in both regions live below or slightly above the poverty datum figure of R800/month.

The number of indigent households in 2006 was estimated at 14 339 for the Overberg DM and 29 545 for the Cape Winelands DM. This represented 20.6% and 16.8% of the total number of households for each DM respectively.

On a provincial scale, the Overberg DM is a relatively small centre for economic activity. Areas such as Caledon, Hermanus and Swellendam are the most important areas of economic activity. The DM’s economy generated a nominal GDP of R3.6 billion in 2005. Economic growth in the region was estimated at 5.4 % during 2004/05.

The three largest contributors to regional GDP (2005) were the agricultural sector (21.8%), wholesale and retail trade; catering & accommodation (18.4%), followed by the finance and business services sector (14.6%). The three aforementioned sectors all grew at above 4.5 %, indicative of a fairly robust economy. The Overberg agricultural sector accounted for approximately 11.6 % of all agricultural production in the Western Cape in 2005. The most important manufacturing sub-sector in the DM is the food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector (34.3%). This - essentially agricultural beneficiation - underscores the importance of agriculture to the regional economy. Tourism forms another important component of the region’s economy, but as it spans a number of Census SA sectors, it is not possible to quantify its significance (Provincial Treasury, 2007).

• Key Economic Sectors

The Cape Winelands DM is the second largest economic hub in the Western Cape, with areas such as Paarl, Stellenbosch, Worcester and Wellington being important areas of economic activity. Economic growth in the region was estimated at 4.8 %

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during 2004/05. Economic activity is fairly diverse, with tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and a growing financial services sector all featuring in the region. The DM’s economy generated a nominal GDP of R13.86 billion in 2005. Economic growth in the region was estimated at 5.4 % during 2004/05.

The three largest contributors to regional GDP in 2005 were the manufacturing (21%), finance and business services (20.7%) and the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors (16%). The DM’s agricultural sector accounted for approximately 31% of all agricultural production in the Western Cape in 2005. The most important manufacturing sub-sector in the DM is the food, beverages and tobacco sub-sector (49%). This - essentially agricultural beneficiation - underscores the importance of agriculture to the regional economy. Tourism forms another important component of the region’s economy, but as it spans a number of Census SA sectors, it is not possible to quantify its significance (Provincial Treasury, 2007).

• Municipal service delivery

According to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, all the local municipalities in the relevant DMs had water services development plans in place by 2007. Table 8.5 summarises key information with regard to municipal service levels in terms of access to piped potable water, waterborne sewage, refuse removal and formal housing provision for both regions.

Table 8.5: Municipal service levels (Provincial Treasury WCPG, 2007)

Service levels Overberg DM Cape Winelands DM % of households with access to piped 93.2% 92.3% water (2006) % of households with access to flush 91% 92% toilet with offsite disposal (2006) % of households in formal areas with 78.9% 100% access to weekly refuse removal (2006) % of households living in informal 8.1% 5.2% backyard dwellings (2006) % of households living in informal 8.2% 5.6% settlements (2006)

• Social Facilities

Currently, 10 public old age homes are located in the Overberg DM. The relevant number for the Cape Winelands DM is 29. The 65+ cohort of the populations of both DMs is expected to increase over the next 5 years, and it is anticipated that current old age home facilities will be inadequate in both regions.

The Overberg DM is serviced by 15 police stations. The relevant number for the Cape Winelands DM is 23. Statistics compiled by the SAPS for the period 2004-2007 indicate a general decrease in reported serious crimes (murder, rape) for both DMs. While drug related crimes had significantly decreased in the Overberg DM during this period, the Cape Winelands DM displayed a significant increase. This increase is closely linked to the spreading scourge of tik (crystalline methamphetamine HCl) in the Western Cape Province, and is cause for serious concern, as abuse of the substance is closely linked to significant antisocial behaviour and irreversible neuro- physiological damage in users.

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According to a survey by the National Department of Transport, which was conducted in 2007, 6.4% of the population of the Overberg and 1.2% of that of the Cape Winelands DM had no access to trains, buses or taxis. Taxis represented the most dominant form of transport in both DMs, accounting for 31% of household’s primary form of transport in the Overberg and 50% in the Cape Winelands. Table 8.6 describes public health indicators.

Table 8.6: Public health indicators (Provincial Treasury WCPG, 2007)

Health indicators Overberg DM Cape Winelands DM Number of public health care facilities 47 92 (2007) Number of uninsured people per fixed 7707 8901 primary health care facility HIV prevalence 4.1% 3.8% TB prevalence per 100 000 1142 1113 % of children in hunger (2005) 0% 1.3%

8.3.2 Heritage

The information contained below was extracted from the Heritage Impact Assessment which can be located in Appendix P. The region which is to be traversed by the transmission lines stretches from the proposed site for the Bantamsklip nuclear site on the southern coast of the Western Cape Province, through sections of the Overberg, across sections of the Breede River Valley and over the Langeberg Mountains to Kappa in the Karoo. For the purposes of this study, the coastline and mountains can be considered to form an important part of the cultural landscape of the area.

The coastline is very inhospitable and there have been more than 150 shipwrecks in the last few hundred years. The Agulhas region consists of a wide coastal plain separated by undulating hills from the ranges of the Cape Folded Belt. The hills that lie between the coastal plain and the mountains are called “mountains” but they are only about 300 m above sea level. The stretch of coastal limestone between Walker Bay and Mossel Bay is of interest to archaeologists as erosion has resulted in numerous caves and rock shelters which would have been suitable dwelling places for the San. Much of the Renosterveld vegetation which is found on the coastal plains has been transformed by agriculture and only isolated pockets remain. The region is characterised by its Fynbos vegetation and the dried flower craft has become a major industry supporting many disadvantaged communities. The forests of the Overberg were heavily exploited in the 18 th century when supplies in the Cape Peninsula had been exhausted. Indigenous vegetation is limited to the mountains and conservation areas, while the plains around Caledon, Bredasdorp and Swellendam are under intensive grain and canola cultivation. Large areas of the Breda River Valley are under vineyards. The landscape has therefore been transformed by more than 200 years of agriculture and has a distinctive patchwork mosaic when travelling through the area.

Prior to the arrival of the Dutch, the Overberg area was occupied by San hunter- gatherers who inhabited caves, rock-shelters and open sites. Archaeological evidence indicates that they were the original inhabitants of the area and they and their ancestors occupied the region for more than 30 000 years. Archaeologists anticipate that there are numerous archaeological sites as well as rock art sites in the mountains but due to a lack of any systematic surveys, very little is known about the

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archaeology of the inland areas. Some rock art sites on private land have been used for heritage tourism.

There are also archaeological and historical sites which relate to the Khoekhoen who occupied large areas of this region from around 2000 years ago. They were a pastoralist people with sheep and cattle. According to Elphick (1985) they were divided into various tribal groupings, the groups living in the area around Caledon were the Chainouqua with the Hessequa living closer to Swellendam (Elphick 1985). The Chainouqua traded livestock with the VOC Company outposts such as Soekmelksvlei and Tygerhoek (on the Riviersonderend River) and Riet Valley (now called Oupos), located just beyond the Buffelsjagrivier and established in 1734 (Forbes 1986; Raper and Boucher 1988) in exchange for colonial items. Gradually European stock farmers and professional hunters moved into the area.

After 1704 free burghers were allowed to barter for livestock with the Khoekhoen. The system of loan farms was introduced in 1723 and this gave colonists exclusive grazing rights as far as the upper Breede River. Quitrent tenure was introduced in 1732. By the 18 th century the Dutch East India Company began to “formalise” the granting of farms in this area. An examination of the 1:50 000 maps shows many of the farms in the Overberg have circular boundaries, a remnant of the 18 th century when the extent of the farm boundaries were determined from a central spot, a “walking off” distance that resulted in a circular farm of around 3000 morgen (Malan & Harris 1999).

Stock posts were granted east of Hermanus by the 1730’s while the first hunting licences were granted in the Baardskeerdersbos area (close to Elim) by 1706. By the mid 18 th century, European farmers were distributed across the landscape and the Khoekhoen, who had been using the coastal plains to graze their livestock were gradually forced out of the most desirable areas. Their numbers were decimated by smallpox and by the mid 19 th century their social structure had collapsed and they were either living on mission stations (such as Elim, Genadendal and Suurbraak) or had become employed on farms.

Many of the towns in the Overberg, and most of the farms, have well-preserved historical features, some of which are still in daily use. The vernacular architecture is characterised by simple white-washed cottages with thatched roofs. Building materials include clay mixed with grass. Lime and shell were burnt as binding material. Reeds were used for the thatch and “spaanseriet” for the ceilings. The scarcity of wood resulted in wood being salvaged from shipwrecks and used in the construction of homes.

These villages and towns were connected by various wagon routes and sections of these roads are still visible in certain places. The main route into the Overberg ran from the present Sir Lowry’s Pass down Houw Hoek to the farm Boontjieskraal near Caledon where it split into two. The inland route went past Greyton to Riviersonderend. In 1711 almost all the farms along this route (including Botrivier and Boontjieskraal) were owned by Governor WA van der Stel. The wagon route then travelled past Hessequas Kloof to Swellendam (Mossop n.d.). Oak and popular trees were planted at overnight stops along the wagon roads, resulting in an alteration to the countryside.

There are very few published studies on the colonial period settlement and heritage with most existing studies focussing on the early mission stations such as Genadendal and Elim (Japha et al. n.d.). The recent “Overstrand Spatial Development Framework” includes a heritage component prepared by Aikman, 8-26 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

Baumann, Winter and Clift (2005). The magazine Village Life contains a great deal of information on the history of Overberg villages and farms but this is dispersed across many volumes. An historical overview of the area has yet to be compiled.

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus Alternative 1

The proposed transmission line follows sections of the coast in a south-westerly direction from Bantamsklip to the edge of Walker Bay/Die Kelders before veering in a westerly direction toward Stanford.

Very little sustained archaeological research has been undertaken in this area. Archaeologists from the South African Museum (Iziko Museums of Cape Town) were active on the south coast during the 1960’s and 1970’s but no work has been done since this date.

Bantamsklip: Bantamsklip is located on the farm Groot Hagelkraal between Pearly Beach and Die Dam. The survey by Hart (2008) for the Bantamsklip site on the farm Hagelkraal, located over 115 archaeological sites (predominantly Later Stone Age shell middens) in a swathe up to 400 metres from the shore. Hart emphasises that this is only an indicator of the density of archaeological sites and there are likely to be many more buried in dune bodies or obscured by coastal Fynbos. Graham Avery (of the Iziko Museums of Cape Town) undertook surveys and excavations of a number of shell middens in the Pearly Beach area during the 1970s and found shell middens located just behind the beach dunes but some were found up to 2 km inland (Avery 1974). He concluded that the coastal sites reveal the presence of both the ancestors of the Khoekhoen pastoralists as well as hunter-gatherer groups who used the resources of the coast on a seasonal basis. Byneskranskop: the transmission lines pass directly over the archaeological site of Byneskranskop, located in a limestone hill with numerous caves. The site situated near to the top of a hill, was excavated by Schweitzer and Wilson (1982) in 1974. It contains a deposit spanning 13 000 years of human settlement and is very valuable in informing us about the occupation of this area. Hart (2008) noted that Late Stone Age sites were observed in caves and rock shelters in the limestone complex inland of Bantamsklip and we can therefore anticipate more sites such as Byneskranskop along the coastal margins.

Human Remains: A large number of human remains have been found from archaeological contexts along this stretch of coastline (Morris 1992). Fourteen fragmentary remains were found in excavations at Die Kelders and nine from excavations at Byneskranskop. In addition, five were recovered from middens at Gansbaai and five from middens at Pearly Beach. One was excavated at Groot Hagel Kraal in 1968 (Voigt 1972). This shows the likelihood of further remains being uncovered during any development along the coastal margins.

Groot Hagel Kraal: The proposed site “Bantamsklip” for the Nuclear power station project encompasses the farms Hagelkraal and Kleyn Hagel Kraal and the original three farms which make up these farms were granted around 1831.

From Walker Bay, Alternative 1 runs parallel to the R43 to Stanford before crossing the Kleinriviersberge and travelling over Teslaarsdal before travelling along the foothills of the Steenboksberg and Shaw’s Mountain.

Stanford: is located on the Kleinrivier, to the south of the Kleinriviersberge, on land first granted in the early 18 th century. The farm was purchased by Captain Robert Stanford in 1838 and he developed it into an important food production estate, with 8-27 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

produce taken by wagon, and later ship, to Cape Town. The town was laid out on the farm in 1857 by P de Bruyn and still retains its original irrigation furrows. Stanford has retained much of its Victorian architecture and contains a high concentration of conservation worthy buildings and streetscapes. It was declared a conservation area in 1995 in terms of the old National Monuments Act (No 28 of 1969). The village has experienced a revival with many people settling in the town from elsewhere.

Teslaarsdal: is named after JJ Tesselaar who was a wealthy landowner in the Overberg. His estate, dating to 1797, included five farms and 18 slaves and he left the farm Hartebeesrivier to his slaves. Their descendants still live in the village which developed on the farm. The houses date to the 19 th century and there is a historic cemetery. Teslaarsdal is attracting interest from outside developers.

Alternative 1 then crosses the historic farm of Dassiesfontein on the N2 (midway between the bottom of the Houw Hoek Pass and Caledon) before travelling west past the Theewaterskloof Dam, passed Villiersdorp to Bacchus.

Villiersdorp: is located between the mountains and is reached by five mountain passes. It lies on the edge of the Theewaterskloof Dam. The town grew up around the historical farm of Boradyn and was established in 1843. It was named after a local farmer called Pieter de Villiers and is associated with the De Villiers – Graaff family.

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus Alternative 2

The proposed transmission line travels to the north of Bantamsklip across Perdekop and just clips the edge of the hamlet of Baardskeerdersbos. It passes directly over the farm of Goedvertrouw before crossing the Klein Riviersberge and Teslaarsdal.

Baardskeerdersbos: was first mentioned in an account dating to 1660 when an expedition of five men was sent out by Van Riebeeck, and reported back on the valley and its Khoekhoen inhabitants. The hamlet is characterised by its traditional settlement patterns and its rural architecture. It is situated in isolated and undisturbed valley with extensive areas of Fynbos replaced in recent years with wheat and canola.

Goedvertrouw: The owners of the farm, originally called Uilenkraal have registered their concern as an interested party during the preliminary workshops organised by NMA Effective Social Strategists. The original farm dates to 1726 and there are buildings dating between 1812 and 1840 which have been restored on the property.

The proposed line crosses the N2 to the north of Caledon and then veers west along the Riviersonderend valley, passing Greyton and Genadendal. It then travels north to Theewaterskloof, Villiersdorp and Bacchus.

Greyton: was established in 1854 by H Vigne on the farm Weltevreden when he created a freehold agricultural village on the farm. He kept two portions for himself and bequeathed the remainder of the properties to their owners, naming it Greyton, in honour of Sir George Grey, Governor of the Cape. The plots in the town are serviced with “leiwater” or water furrows, and the cottages, in the Cape vernacular style, were built close to the road leaving a large portion for vegetable gardening. The town has a number of historic buildings of local significance.

The Greyton Nature Reserve can be found on the steep slopes of the Riviersonderend Mountains. The Boesmanskloof Trail joins Greyton and McGregor through the mountains. Consideration should be given to this trail when deciding on the placement of the power lines. 8-28 ESKOM Bantamsklip Transmission Line March 2009 Draft Scoping Report – Application 2

Genadendal: the mission village was established in 1738 by Georg Schmidt of the Moravian Church, in the upper reaches of a narrow kloof in the Riviersonderend Mountains, with the aim of preaching the gospel to the Khoekhoen groups in the area. By the late 18 th century, Genadendal had become the second largest settlement (next to Cape Town) in the country. After emancipation, slaves settled at the mission station. The original cottages are white washed with thatched roofs and the mission buildings (there are some 25 previous `National Monuments’ in the village which are now termed Provincial Monuments) form “an intimate public space” (Fransen 2006:260). Fransen (2006) describes the village as one of the most important urban environments in the Cape and it relies greatly on cultural tourism.

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus Alternative 3

The proposed transmission line travels in a north-westerly direction from Bantamsklip, passing between Baardskeerdersbos and Elim, before crossing the Elandsberg and then travelling south-west to cross the N2 at Driefontein.

Archaeology of the coastal plains: Macfarlane (1949) examined the high-level gravels at Napier, Swellendam and Riversdale and reported that these gravels (thought to be of Tertiary age), in fact contained stone implements of a “pre-Stellenbosch culture” which he termed “Cromerian” (Macfarlane 1949:95). His description of “cleavers” and “handaxes made on flakes” – suggests that this is an Acheulian industry from the Early Stone Age. Macfarlane observed that this part of the coastal plain had experienced uplift in the past and one encounters this “pre-Stellenbosch culture” in the high-river terraces of the Breede River and its terraces.

Driefontein (Driefonteynen): is an historic farm which was visited by Thunberg (Forbes 1986) on his return from the eastern frontier in 1773.

The lines then follow a short section of the Riviersonderend Valley, opposite (but at some distance) from Genadendal and Greyton, before crossing the Riviersonderend Mountains to Bacchus. This route avoids Villiersdorp.

• Bantamsklip-Bacchus Alternative 4

The transmission lines follow a north-westerly direction through the hamlet of Wolvengat, avoiding the mission of Elim, then crossing the Soetmuisberge before travelling between Napier and Bredasdorp in a westerly direction to the Riviersonderend Mountains.

Wolvengat: also known as Viljoenshof, is an historic hamlet between Elim and De Dam. The hamlet is characterised by its vernacular architecture and sympathetic relationship with its setting. There are some references to a possible leper colony but there is no support for this oral history.

Elim: This mission was founded in 1824 after the Moravian Missionary Society acquired the farm Vogelstruyskraal. The newly-established mission became known as "Elim" after the fountains in the area. It also contains the only Slave Emancipation Monument in South Africa. The church (which has the oldest working clock in South Africa) was built in 1824 and the church square with its buildings is a national monument.

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The transmission lines avoid the historic towns of Napier (dating to 1838) and Bredasdorp (dating to 1838).

Napier: was founded in 1838 after the farm Klipdrift was bought from Pieter de Bruyn. Feeshuis 150, a building next to the Dutch Reformed Church (part of the churchyard), was a wine cellar but was also apparently used to house slaves.

After crossing through the Riviersonderend Mountains, the lines travel in a westerly direction down the Breede River Valley and passes between the historic town of McGregor and Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve.

MacGregor: A few houses existed on the site in the early 1800s but the village was only officially proclaimed in 1862 and divided into 2½ ha plots. The growing settlement was originally called Lady Grey. In 1904 the congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church decided to call their parish and new church after the Rev. Andrew McGregor, who had just retired after 40 years of service in Robertson and this, was officially gazetted in 1906. MacGregor contains many historic buildings and relies greatly on heritage tourism.

It then follows the northern edges of the Riviersonderend Mountains in the Breede River Valley to Bacchus.

• Bacchus-Muldersvlei Alternative 1

From outside Rawsonville, the line follows existing power lines through the Du Toitskloof over the top of the Klein Drakenstein Mountains. However, at the top of the mountain, the lines travel straight down through the northern section of the Paarl Valley, through a section of the valley called Dal Josaphat, passed the townships of Newtown and Mbekweni.

Bredekloof historic farms and cultural landscapes: There are a number of important wine estates located between Rawsonville and the Du Toitskloof Pass. The transmission line will pass along the foothills of the mountains and will be apparent from the farm houses, many of which are Victorian mansions or Cape Dutch homes.

Dal Josaphat Valley: is located between Paarl and Wellington and was settled in the late 17 th century by French Huguenot families. There are many wine estates with Cape Dutch farmhouses that have Provincial Heritage status, such as Schoongezicht, Valencia, Kleinbosch, Roggeland and Non Pareille (Simons & Proust 2000). The Afrikaans Language Route travels through the Dal Josaphat Valley and there are many important heritage sites which commemorate the establishment of Afrikaans as an official language in 1875. While the transmission line will not pass over any of the declared heritage sites, it will be visible to them.

The line skirts the north-western corner of Paarl Mountain, before travelling south- west along existing power lines to Muldersvlei.

• Bacchus-Muldersvlei Alternative 2

From Rawsonville, this alternative travels in a north-westerly direction along the Breedekloof Valley, in parallel with an existing 66 kV transmission line. It travels south of Wolseley following a westerly direction over the Elandsberge.

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Breedekloof: is a valley of great scenic beauty, with towering mountains through which winds the Breede River. Intensive cultivation takes place on all available flat areas and this is an important fruit and wine-producing area. There are many important wine estates on both slopes of the valley.

Land van Waveren: The section of the Breedekloof Valley from Wolseley to Tulbagh was named “Het Land van Waveren” by Governor WA van der Stel in 1699 and there are many historic farms, such as La Plaisante with its 1813 homestead.

Wolseley: was founded in 1875 and was first called Ceres Road Station. It was called Wolseley in 1910 after the Governor of Natal. There are two Anglo-Boer War fortifications near Wolseley.

The lines avoid Wellington, passing along its western edge, before travelling south to Muldersvlei.

8.3.3 Visual

The information presented in this section was extracted from the Visual Impact Assessment which can be viewed in Appendix Q. From a broad brush perspective, the proposed powerline routes travel through a landscape varied and unique in character. Generally the southern municipalities are typified by sweeping vast rural and natural areas. The Overberg encompasses the portion of the south western Cape from the Hottentots-Holland mountains in the west to the Albertinia region in the east. This area is part of the Cape Floral Region, a declared serial UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is considered of outstanding universal value for representing ongoing ecological and biological processes associated with the evolution of the unique Fynbos biome. The region is made up of eight protected areas, covering 553,000 ha and follows the Cape fold belt of mountains, from the Cedarburg and Hottentots Holland mountains, then cuts through the Langeberg, following the mountain ranges towards the Eastern Cape. (http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=1007).

The area is noted for its mountainous areas which present receptors with an ever- changing vista of farmlands, mountains and wide open spaces. Historic towns and villages and the surrounding vistas are tourist destinations, known for their great scenic beauty. The Langeberg Mountain Range is a mountain range running in a generally east-west direction and is approximately 170 km long. The open plains of the Little Karoo border the north of the mountain range, while to the south lies the Agulhas Plain and the Overberg wheat belt. It is mostly comprised of Table Mountain Sandstone and the range is part of the Cape Fold Belt.

The Riviersonderend Mountains are also part of the Cape Fold Belt and run east to west from Riviersonderend to Villiersdorp, separating the Breede River Valley from the Overberg region. They are composed of Table Mountain Sandstone and attain a maximum height near McGregor and Riviersonderend at Pilaarkop (1654m). The Hottentots Holland mountain range is also part of the Cape Fold Belt. The range forms a barrier between the Cape Town metropolitan area and the southern Overberg coast. The range is comprised primarily of Table Mountain sandstone and forms an impressive range to the east of Somerset West. Sir Lowry's Pass is the only crossing in the form of the N2 motorway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki).

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8.4 Conclusion

This chapter discusses the baseline bio-physical and socio-economic characteristics of the receiving environment. The information contained in this chapter was obtained form the various specialist studies ( Appendices N – T). The bio-physical studies include; Land Capability, Flora, Fauna and Avifauna. The socio-economic studies include; social, heritage and visual.

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