DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT This Draft Environmental Impact Report was done to comply with the requirements of the Environmental Regulations, R982 and R984, promulgated on 4 December 2014. These Regulations are promulgated in terms of Section 24(5) of the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998. The proposed project is listed under Item 2 of Listing Notice 2. Administrative Information Location description : The Proposed Development is located on the Remainder of the farm Rodenbeck 2972, Bloemfontein. The proposed Development is located on the south-eastern side of Bloemfontein, east of the Dewetsdorp Road Project Description : Proposed Rodenbeck Township Establishment on the Remainder of the farm Rodenbeck 2972, Bloemfontein that includes Infrastructure and Roads. 26 September 2017 on behalf of: MANGAUNG METRO MUNICIPALITY Compiled By: MvW Environmental Services Stock Crescent 9 Bloemfontein 9301 Draft EIR NEAS: EMS/15,27,28/17/06 PROPOSED RODENBECK TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHMENT ON THE REMAINDER OF THE FARM RODENBECK 2972 , BLOEMFONTEIN THAT INCLUDES INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROADS. 26 September 2017 Conducted on behalf of: MANGAUNG METRO MUNICIPALITY P O Box 3704, Bloemfontein 9300 Attention: ME Mohlahlo Tel. No: 051 – 405 8523 COMPILED BY: Mr M van Wyk B.Sc & M .Sc . Env ironmental Management MvW Environmental Services Stock Crescent 9 Bloemfontein 9301 Tel. No: 082 697 7073 Fax No: 086 658 6641 Email: [email protected] MvW Environmental Services - 2017 2 Draft EIA Report – Proposed Rodenbeck Township Establishment EXUCUTIVE SUMMARY A. INTRODUCTION The developer, being Mangaung Metro Municipality, who is the owner of the Farm Rodenbeck 2972, decided to embark on the development of the property as a measure to eradicate informal settlements currently situated on the farm portion as well as in the vicinity of the application site by establishing a residential township that will cater for the lower end of the bankable housing market. The proposed development will consist of the following zonings: Low density residential units which are single residential erven (ruling erf size of 336m²); Community facilities (including church and crèche land uses); Street erven; Municipal; and Business erven. The initial application and appointment is based on a Township Establishment of 2400 erven with a ruling erf size of 340m². However, due to various constraints, of which geotechnical constraints played the most vital role, only 983erven could be provided. The latter will be discussed within the relevant sections to follow. MvW Environmental Services, as an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP), has been appointed by Mangaung Metro Municipality to facilitate the EIA process for the proposed Township Establishment at Rodenbeck, Bloemfontein in the Free State Province. See the Proposed Township Establishment’s Breakdown in the table below. MvW Environmental Services - 2017 3 Draft EIA Report – Proposed Rodenbeck Township Establishment LAND USE NUMBER OF AREA/HA % OF DEVELOPMENT ERVEN Single Residential 942 35.11 41.27 Business 2 0.26 0.31 Community Facility – Education 2 0.52 0.61 Community Facility – Worship 3 2.41 2.83 CENTLC 1 0.34 0.39 Municipal 10 0.83 0.98 Streets 16 14.70 17.28 Undetermined 5 27.33 32.13 Public Open Space 3 4.18 4.91 TOTAL 983 85.06 100.00 The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process followed is in compliance with the National Environmental Management Act: NEMA, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 4 December 2014 (Government Notice No’s R982, 983 and 984 & 985 of 2014). The proposed development involves ‘listed activities’, as defined by the NEMA, 1998. Listed activities are activities, which may potentially have detrimental impacts on the environment and therefore require environmental authorisation from the relevant authorising body. The proposed development occurs inside the Free State Province and therefore are DESTEA the responsible decision making authority. The proposed development will possibly involve the following listed activities as stipulated in the amended EIA Regulations of 4 December 2014: As per Government Notice Number R. 983 of 2014, the following listed activities are included for the above application: 28. Residential, mixed, retail, commercial, industrial or institutional developments where such land was used for agriculture or afforestation on or after 01 April 1998 and where such development: (i) Will occur inside an urban area, where the total land to be developed is bigger than 5 hectares; or Excluding where such land has already been developed for residential, mixed, retail, commercial, industrial or institutional purposes. The above activities are all Basic Assessment activities. However, we confirm that the application will remain a Scoping and EIA application, due to the following listed activities as per Government Notice Number 984 of 2014: 15. The clearance of an area of 20 hectares or more of indigenous vegetation, excluding where such clearance of indigenous vegetation is required for- (i) The undertaking of a linear activity; or (ii) Maintenance purposes undertaken in accordance with a maintenance management plan. MvW Environmental Services has been appointed to act as independent environmental assessment practitioners responsible for: The public participation process for both the Scoping and EIA phases; The compilation of this Scoping Report and the EIR (and site specific EMP) and its submission to the relevant environmental authority. MvW Environmental Services - 2017 4 Draft EIA Report – Proposed Rodenbeck Township Establishment B. GENERAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project site of the proposed Rodenbeck Township Development is situated on the farm Rodenbeck 2972 south-east of Bloemfontein city centre along the old Dewetsdorp road. The project site falls within the quarter degree square 2926AB. The following farm portions are applicable: Remainder of the farm Rodenbeck 2972, Bloemfontein District. The project site is situated on an undeveloped portion of the farm Rodenbeck 2972. The project site is completely surrounded by residential developments. Large areas of the site have been covered by spoil material from excavations of unknown origin as well as areas where soil and gravel have been excavated to be used elsewhere. A number of footpaths and vehicle tracks occur in a criss- cross manner within the project site. The responsible municipality in the proposed area is the Mangaung Metro Municipality. C. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The principles of NEMA govern many aspects of EIA’s, including consultation with interested and affected parties (I&AP’s). These principles include the provision of sufficient and transparent information to I&AP’s on an on-going basis, to allow them to comment, and ensuring the participation of historically disadvantaged individuals, including women, the disabled and the youth. Company / Organization / Ward Contact Person to be Notified of Proposed Rodenbeck Township Establishment and Draft Reports Mangaung Metro Municipality – Acting Adv Mea Municipal Manager Mangaung Metro Municipality - Environmental Mpolokeng Kolobe Section Mangaung Metro Municipality – Town Planning Collin Dihemo Section Mangaung Metro Municipality – SDF Section George Masuabi Mangaung Metro Municipality – Air Quality Neo Shapu Section Mangaung Metro Municipality – Environmental Jaco Lambrecht Health Section Mangaung Metro Municipality – Water and Mosiuoa Tsomela Sanitation Mangaung Metro Municipality – Roads and Jeff Letsi Stormwater Mangaung Metro Municipality – Infrastructure Gerhard Fritz Department of Water Affairs Vernon Blair G Janse van Noordwyk Ward councilor Department of Health Dr. David Motau Mr Leshabanetl SANRAL Casper Landman Free State Department: Police, Roads and HOD & Hannes Maree Transport Department of Economic, Small Business Ms. Grace Mkhosana Development, Tourism and Environmental Nacelle Collins Affairs Free State Department: Public Works Mr. Maditse Wessels Seoke (HOD) Free State Department: Social Development Ms Mokone Nthongoa (HOD) [email protected] MvW Environmental Services - 2017 5 Draft EIA Report – Proposed Rodenbeck Township Establishment Free State Department: Sport, Arts, Culture Mr Molapo (HOD) and Recreation Heritage Free State Ntando PZ Mbatha (Heritage Coordinator) SAHRA A Solomon Centlec Mamello Mpholo Landowner Mangaung Metro Municipality Department of Agriculture Ndumo Nosisa Jack Morton Department of Education Mr RS Malope Telkom Willem Voight The surrounding landowners were informed of the project via maildrop and afforded the opportunity to comment on the project by means of an Interested and Affected Parties Comment Form: Please refer to the comments and response report attached as Annexure E for comments received and responses from the EAP. Public Participation on Draft Scoping Report and Plan of Study if EIR: The project and availability of the Draft Scoping Report was announced by means of the following: • Publication of a media advertisement in the local/regional newspaper, the Express on the 26 th April 2017. • On-site notices advertising the EIA have been placed at the following public locations on 24 th May 2017: o At the proposed site next to the Dewetsdorp road; • Mail drop to all directly adjacent landowners; All the issues raised on the proposed development as well as on the Draft Scoping Report and Plan of Study of EIR was captured in the Final Scoping Report and Plan of