IMPROVEMENT OF NATIONAL ROUTE N2 SECTION 14 & 15 FROM GREEN RIVER (KM 60.0) TO ZWELITSHA INTERSECTION (KM 6.00) & THE NEW BREIDBACH INTERCHANGE (KM 9.8) FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT DEA Reference: 14/12/16/3/3/1/1589 Prepared for: On behalf of: GIBB Engineering South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) Prepared by: EOH Coastal & Environmental Services EAST LONDON 25 Tecoma Street East London, 5201 043 726 7809 Also in Grahamstown, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Maputo www.cesnet.co.za | www.eoh.co.za SEPTEMBER 2016 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT (For official use only) File Reference Number: Application Number: Date Received: Basic assessment report in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended. Kindly note that: 1. This basic assessment report is a standard report that may be required by a competent authority in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2014 and is meant to streamline applications. Please make sure that it is the report used by the particular competent authority for the activity that is being applied for. 2. This report format is current as of 08 December 2014. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ascertain whether subsequent versions of the form have been published or produced by the competent authority 3. The report must be typed within the spaces provided in the form. The size of the spaces provided is not necessarily indicative of the amount of information to be provided. The report is in the form of a table that can extend itself as each space is filled with typing. 4. Where applicable tick the boxes that are applicable in the report. 5. An incomplete report may be returned to the applicant for revision. 6. The use of “not applicable” in the report must be done with circumspection because if it is used in respect of material information that is required by the competent authority for assessing the application, it may result in the rejection of the application as provided for in the regulations. 7. This report must be handed in at offices of the relevant competent authority as determined by each authority. 8. No faxed or e-mailed reports will be accepted. 9. The signature of the EAP on the report must be an original signature. 10. The report must be compiled by an independent environmental assessment practitioner. 11. Unless protected by law, all information in the report will become public information on receipt by the competent authority. Any interested and affected party should be provided with the information contained in this report on request, during any stage of the application process. 1 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT 12. A competent authority may require that for specified types of activities in defined situations only parts of this report need to be completed. 13. Should a specialist report or report on a specialised process be submitted at any stage for any part of this application, the terms of reference for such report must also be submitted. 14. Two (2) colour hard copies and one (1) electronic copy of the report must be submitted to the competent authority. 15. Shape files (.shp) for maps must be included in the electronic copy of the report submitted to the competent authority. 2 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT SECTION A: ACTIVITY INFORMATION Has a specialist been consulted to assist with the completion of this section? YES NO If YES, please complete the form entitled “Details of specialist and declaration of interest” for the specialist appointed and attach in Appendix I. 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION a) Describe the project associated with the listed activities applied for 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is proposing the construction, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the National Route N2 road from the Bulembu Airport turnoff to the Breidbach intersection near King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape Province. This will include the following safety improvements on the R63 and the N2: Reconstruction of a section of the N2 from Bulembu Airport to the Buffalo River Bridge in King Williams Town. Major works to the Buffalo River Bridge. Major works to the Tshoxa River bridges and the rail over road bridge at KM 1.89 as well as extensive earth and drainage works, layer works and surfacing. Rehabilitation of the N2 through King Williams Town along a route from the Buffalo River Bridge along Cathcart Street, Buffalo Street; Grey Street and Alexandra Road to the Zwelitsha turn-off, including improvements to drainage, road repairs, and new surfacing. Rehabilitation of the R63 from Alexandra Road in King Williams Town to Bhisho, including improvements to drainage, road repairs and new surfacing. Construction of a new interchange at Breidbach, which includes a reinforced concrete structure with the necessary road works. Formalization of pedestrian, taxi and bus facilities along the route. Figure 1.1: Map of the proposed layout of the N2 Road Upgrade. 3 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT The following table indicates the route where sections of the road deviate from the existing N2 road. The sections that deviate are indicated by a red line. Table 1.1 Road route deviations. Deviation Layout (Google Earth Images) Section 1. Figure 1.2: N2 road re-alignment up to Buffalo River Bridge in King William’s Town. (A) 32°52'42.51" S ; 27°21'41.77" E (B) 32°52'36.67" S ; 27°22'27.47" E (C) 32°52'50.19" S ; 27°22'52.22" E Section 2. Figure 1.3: New clover portion and link road at the N2 turnoff to Zwelitsha. (A) 32°53'17.96" S ; 27°21'41.77" E (B) 32°53'20.64" S ; 27°25'43.35" E (C) 32°53'22.89" S ; 27°25'37.75" E Section 3. Figure 1.4: New Breidbach interchange (quarter links) along the N2 towards East London. (A) 32°53'30.39" S ; 27°26'23.86" E (B) 32°53'37.17" S ; 27°26'21.03" E (C) 32°53'34.07" S ; 27°26'35.16" E (D) 32°53'40.62" S ; 27°26'32.04" E 4 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT 2. BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 2.1 Climate The study area is King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The climatic conditions are therefore assumed uniform throughout King William’s Town. The King William’s Town area primarily receives summer rainfall (Figure 2.1a). This usually amounts to approximately 502mm of rain per year (SA Explorer; 2015). The area receives the majority of its rainfall during the month of March (±74mm), whereas the average rainfall amounts to 8mm in the month of July. The average midday temperature ranges from 19.7°C in winter to 26.7°C during the summer months (Figure 2.1b). The area is coldest during the month of July when the average night-time temperature is 6.5°C (Figure 2.1c). Figure 2.1: (a) Graph of the average monthly rainfall; (b) Graph of the average monthly midday temperature; and (c) Graph of the average monthly night-time temperature (SA Explorer; 2015). 2.2 Geology The King William’s Town region primarily consists of steep slopes of river valleys in highly dissected hills and moderately undulating plains. Mudstones derived from the Beaufort Group of the Karoo Supergroup as well as Jurassic Dolerite Suite intrusions (South Africa Geology II). Figure 2.2: Geology Map of the Proposed N2 Road Upgrade site. 5 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT 2.3 Topography The topography of the King William’s Town region ranges from 360m above sea-level to 560m above sea-level, as indicated in Figure 2.3. The lower-lying areas are indicated by a darker shade of brown, such as the Buffalo River system. On the other hand, the higher-lying areas are a lighter shade brown. Figure 2.3: Topography Map of the Proposed N2 Road Upgrade site. 2.4 Vegetation (as per Ecological Report) The two vegetation types that the project area passes through (Bhisho Thornveld and Buffels Thicket) are both classified by SANBI as ‘least threatened’, as indicated in Figure 2.4. Both these vegetation types in the study area have been transformed and are infested by a large amount of alien vegetation. The area of the study site classified as CBA 2 was found to be infested with numerous aliens and was therefore not considered pristine. The remainder of the study site was classified as CBA 3 or Functional Landscapes (as per ECBCP), this was ground truthed and so the area will be considered low sensitivity. The area had no excessively steep slopes, however stormwater management will play a large role in ensuring the integrity of the area is maintained and that no long-term erosional issues arise in the future. Please refer to the aquatic impact assessment for information regarding all aquatic environments found onsite. Although no animal SSC were observed onsite, there is still a possibility of some SSC being present. This will especially be the case surrounding wetlands, streams and rivers. Due to the fact that the N2 passes through King William’s Town itself and will therefore have an impact on the surrounding residents, it is imperative that these residents are consulted during the EIA Public Participation Process. 6 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Figure 2.4: Vegetation Map of the N2 Road Upgrade site. 2.5 Hydrology Figure 2.5 below indicates the wetlands which occur along the proposed N2 road upgrade route as well as the placement of a 500 metre buffer around the wetlands.