Eskom Rethabiseng North Substation Final
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Johannesburg 14 Eglin Road Sunninghill 2191 29/10/2015 PO Box 2700 Rivonia 2128 To: Sonja van der Merwe Tel: +27 11 519 4600 Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd Fax: +27 11 807 5670 Tel: 011 231 2200 Web: www.gibb.co.za Email: [email protected] PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT A FAUNAL, FLORAL AND AVIFAUNAL ASSESSMENT OF THE AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESKOM RETHABISENG NORTH SUBSTATION, BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, GAUTENG PROVINCE It is my pleasure to provide you with a proposal to conduct a faunal, floral and avifaunal (hereafter referred to as ecological study) of the area associated with the proposed Eskom Rethabiseng North Substation. It is understood that Eskom Distribution Gauteng Operating Unit are proposing the construction of a new Distribution Substation and associated loop-in and loop-out lines to be situated in Ekangala, Gauteng Province. The proposed new Substation will be known as the Rethabiseng North 132/11kV 2x20MVA Substation, and will have four fully equipped 11kV feeder bays for feeder splitting. Two powerlines are proposed which will tie in and out of the proposed new substation. Details of the proposed lines are provided below: • The Rethabiseng-Rethabiseng North loop-in line which will be approximately 0.5km in length. This line will be a 132kV Kingbird line which will tie into the existing Rethabiseng- Gemsbok line; • The Rethabiseng North -Gemsbok loop-out line which will be approximately 0.5km in length. This line will be a 132kV Kingbird line which will ties into the existing Rethabiseng- Gemsbok line 44 - Establish Rethabiseng 132/11kV 2x20MVA Substation Substation location: West of Ekangala F Township - Establish four fully equipped 11kV feeder bays for feeder splitting. The ecological assessment will provide a description of the dominant species occurring in the area as well as those expected to occur, including floral species composition and structure as well as faunal habitat diversity. The assessment will distinguish clearly between areas containing predominantly exotic and predominantly natural vegetation. It will also describe the endangered, rare or protected plant and animal species, and/or potential habitats that occur on the study site for these species. Assessments will be done in accordance to GDARD’s minimum requirements for biodiversity studies and should thus be conducted between November and March (summer). Avifaunal studies will include surveys to determine if any major flight patterns and/or paths of birds which are vulnerable to collisions with powerlines are crossing the proposed powerlines. 1. PROJECT METHODOLOGY The methodology for the ecological assessment will be undertaken as follows: • Review of relevant literature which will include distribution data of fauna (including avifauna) and vegetation unit(s) expected to occur on the site, as well as the conservation status of the vegetation unit(s) and faunal species; GIBB Holdings Reg: 2002/019792/07 Directors: Dr D. Mkhwanazi (Chairman), Mr R. Vries, Mr B. Hendricks, Mr M. Mayat GIBB (Pty) Ltd, Reg: 1992/007139/07 is a wholly owned subsidiary of GIBB Holdings. A list of divisional directors is available from the company secretary. • Review available information layers within the Geographical Information System (GIS) e.g. land cover; relevant C-Plan. • Field survey of the site and immediate surroundings, using accepted scientific methodologies; • Field survey to detect the presence of threatened or protected plant and animal species on the study site and immediate surrounds or to identify suitable habitat for these species; and • Field surveys to determine flight patterns of avifaunal species that are vulnerable to collision with power lines. 2. DELIVERABLES The deliverables of the ecological assessment will include the following: • Status quo report comparing the faunal and floral assemblages that are expected to occur on the site to the actual communities present within the study site; • Description and mapping of the broad vegetation communities identified during the field survey and their ecological connectivity; • Mapping of the sensitivity of the vegetation communities and faunal habitat; • List of plant and animal species identified during the field survey; • List of threatened, rare or protected plant and animal species that could occur on the site as well as those confirmed to occur; • Map(s) indicating the locality of confirmed populations and/or suitable habitat of threatened, rare or protected plants and animals; and • Impact assessment and mitigation measures to aid the conservation of these species and to minimise the impacts on the natural environment during construction. 3. LIMITATIONS • Ecological surveys can only be conducted during the growing season of most plants and the breeding season of most fauna, which is from November to March . • Due to the short time in the field, small mammal trapping will not be undertaken. If this is deemed necessary by the authorities, a separate study can be arranged. • The faunal assessment will not include invertebrate surveys. • No costs associated with security have been included within the proposal. 4. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE The ecologist, as a registered member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), undertake his/her profession in accordance with the Code of Conduct of the Council, act as an independent consultant and have and will not have vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding. 2 5. REVIEW PROCESS The resulting ecological report will go through an internal and if needed an external peer review process, conducted by competent specialists in the field of study for which the ecologists are registered. 6. TERMS OF REFERENCE The Terms of Reference for the current project is understood to be as follows: • Status quo report comparing the faunal and floral assemblages that are expected to occur on the site to the actual communities present within the study site; • Description and mapping of the broad vegetation communities identified during the field survey and their ecological connectivity; • Mapping of the sensitivity of the vegetation communities and faunal habitat; • List of plant and animal species identified during the field survey; • List of threatened, rare or protected plant and animal species that could occur on the site as well as those confirmed to occur; • Map(s) indicating the locality of confirmed populations and/or suitable habitat of threatened, rare or protected plants and animals; and • Impact assessment and mitigation measures to aid the conservation of these species and to minimise the impacts on the natural environment during construction. 7. BUDGET • A breakdown of the fee proposal is provided in the table below. Please note the total is excluding VAT. • The cost estimate is based on a process expressly involving the activities and expenses related to them as described in this proposal. In the event that some activities have to be repeated, or additional activities have to be conducted, the time and financial implications will be discussed with the client, prior to commencement. • The process and timing as specified in this proposal rely at various points on inputs by the proponent and technical consultants. 3 Table 1: Proposed Budget Activity Total 1. Project Administration R 1 500.00 2. Professional Fees R 43 950.00 3. Disbursements R 4 382.00 Total excl. VAT R 49 832.00 • Only activities directly to the Terms of Reference stated above have been provided for. Should any additional activities be required, a variation order will be raised; 8. GIBB ADDED VALUE The multi-disciplinary nature of the GIBB project team, with all relevant knowledgeable sectors incorporated, will allow for the strategic and effective incorporation of all relevant and required inputs, streamlining the entire process. This project proposal fully supports the project brief and compliments it by providing an aligned and focussed project approach and methodology which will ensure that the required objectives of the Ecological Assessment are met through high quality, appropriate and practical deliverables. The GIBB project team is keen to work with you on this project and will contribute our very best efforts to make all aspects of this project a success. Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned should you require any additional information or further clarification. For and on behalf of GIBB (Pty) Ltd _____________________________ Karin van der Walt Specialist Unit: Specialist Direct Tel: 0726078613 Fax: 012 348 5878 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] 4 ESKOM RETHABISENG NORTH SUBSTATION AND ASSOCIATED POWER LINES: ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT (FLORA AND FAUNA INCLUDING AVIFAUNA) GIBB Reference No. J35409 Prepared for: Jeffares & Green (Pty) Ltd Engineering and Environmental Consulting 37 Sunninghill Office Park Peltier Drive Sunninghill Johannesburg 2191 Tel. No.: 011 231 2200 Fax. No.: 011 807 1607 E-mail: [email protected] Prepared by: GIBB P.O. Box 35007 Menlo Park Pretoria 0102 Tel. No.: 012 349 1307 Fax. No.: 012 349 1229 December 2015 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ COPYRIGHT WARNING Copyright in all text and other matter, including the manner of presentation, is the exclusive property of the author. It is a criminal offence to reproduce and/or use, without written consent, any matter, technical procedure and/or technique contained in this document. Criminal and civil proceedings will be taken as a matter of strict routine against any person and/or institution