Wolseley WEF SIA Scoping Report Needs Final Check by MN TF
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Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting [email protected] Arcus GIBB (PTY) LTD Environmental Impact Assessment for the Establishment of the Wolseley Wind Farm, Western Cape Province Environmental Scoping Report Social Impact Assessment Study by Tony Barbour Date: May 20 12 Environmental Impact Assessment for the Establishment of the Wolseley Wind Farm, Western Cape Province: Social Scoping Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Description Page 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.1.1 Terms of Reference 1 1.1.2 Study area location 1 1.1.3 Project description 2 1.2 Scope and Limitations 4 1.2.1 Assumptions 4 1.2.2 Limitations 5 1.3 Methodology 5 1.3.1 Study Area Sensitivity Analysis 5 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT 7 2.1 Study area context 7 2.1.1 Administrative context 8 2.2 Policy context 8 2.2.1 National Energy Act (Act 34 of 2008) 9 2.2.2 White Paper on Energy Policy for the Republic of South Africa 9 2.2.3 White Paper on Renewable Energy 10 2.2.4 Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (2010-2030) 11 2.2.5 Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for the Western Cape (2008)13 2.2.6 White Paper on Sustainable Energy for the Western Cape 14 2.2.7 Western Cape Regional Methodology for Wind Energy Site Selection 15 2.2.8 Western Cape Provincial Spatial Development Framework 15 2.2.9 Guideline for the Management of Development on Mountains, Hills and Ridges in the Western Cape 16 2.2.10 Western Cape Amended Zoning Scheme Regulations for Commercial Renewable Energy Facilities (2011) 17 2.2.11 Wolseley Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan (2007-2011)19 2.3 Demographic overview of the area and potentially affected communities 20 3 IMPACTS AND ISSUES IDENTIFICATION 23 3.1 Key Planning and Policy Issues 23 3.2 Local and site specific issues 25 3.2.1 Local communities and individuals 25 3.2.2 Farmers on and adjacent to the WEF site 25 3.2.3 Information requirements for the assessment phase 26 4 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT PHASE 27 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 28 6 REFERENCES 29 TABLES Table 1.1. Social Study Scoping Sensitivity analysis Table 2.1. Commitments before next IRP Table 2.2. Cape Winelands DM municipal contributions to GDPR, 2004/05 Table 2.3. Cape Winelands DM educational attainment levels, 2005-2006 FIGURES Figure 1.1. Study area location Figure 1.2. Typical Wind Turbine Figure 2.1. Local of Witzenberg Local Municipality ABBREVIATIONS DEA Department of Environmental Affairs DEA&DP Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (Western Cape) CWDM Cape Winelands District Municipality EIA Environmental Impact Assessment IDP Integrated Development Plan kVA Kilovolt Ampères LM Local Municipality MW Megawatt NEMA National Environmental Management Act PSDF Provincial Spatial Development Framework (Western Cape) SIA Social Impact Assessment WEF Wind Energy Facility WLM Witzenberg Local Municipality DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE I, Tony Barbour as duly authorised representative of Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting, hereby confirm my independence (as well as that of Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting as the Social Assessment specialist for the Wolseley Wind Energy Facility EIA and declare that neither I nor Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting have any interest, be it business, financial, personal or other, in any proposed activity, application or appeal in respect of which Arcus GIBB was appointed as environmental assessment practitioner in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), other than fair remuneration for work performed in terms of the NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 and any specific environmental management Act) for the Wolseley Wind Energy Facility EIA. I further declare that I am confident in the results of the studies undertaken and conclusions drawn as a result of it. I have disclosed, to the environmental assessment practitioner, in writing, any material information that have or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or document required in terms of the NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 and any specific environmental management Act. I have further provided the environmental assessment practitioner with written access to all information at my disposal regarding the application, whether such information is favourable to the applicant or not. I am fully aware of and meet the responsibilities in terms of NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 and any other specific and relevant legislation (national and provincial), policies, guidelines and best practice. Signature: ______________________________ Full Name: Tony Barbour Date: Title / Position: Owner Qualification(s): BSc, BEcon (Hons), MSc (Environmental Science) Experience (years/ months): 23 years Registration(s): IAIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Tony Barbour Environmental Consultants were appointed by Arcus GIBB (Pty) Ltd to undertake a specialist Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as part of the EIA process for the proposed Wolseley wind energy facility (WEF) located ~ 8 km east of the Wolseley in the Western Cape Province. This report contains the findings of the initial scoping level social assessment undertaken as part of the EIA process. The scoping study was based on a review of desktop sources only. These included the development proposal, key policy documents, as well as contextual and demographic sources such as the 2001 Census. The authors further drew on personal experience of the study area and EIAs for other wind farm developments in the Western Cape. SAGIT Energy Ventures is proposing the construction of a 50-110 MW WEF in the Witzenberg Local Municipality (WLM) of the Western Cape. The proposed site is located ~ 8 km east of the small town of Wolseley, which is located between the towns of Tulbagh, to the west, and Worcester, to the east. The entrance to the Bainskloof and Mitchell’s Pass are located ~ 1 km to the south and 5 km to the north of the site. The Breede River runs to the south of the site and the north-eastern boundary of the site is formed by the Wittebrug Nature Reserve. The WLM is essentially a rural area with a sparse settlement pattern. Poverty levels and unemployment levels are high, and education and skills levels low. The local economy is growing at a relatively slow pace, and addressing unemployment has been identified as the key challenge facing the Municipality. Agriculture forms the traditional economic backbone of the area, while tourism is also important to the area. The findings of a review of the relevant policy documents pertaining to the energy sector indicate that wind energy and the establishment of wind energy facilities are supported at national, provincial and local levels. Identified potential social impacts associated with the proposed WEF during the construction phase are largely related the transport of heavy components along local roads (potential road surface degradation) and the presence of construction workers in the area. The management of construction labour – both with regard to recruitment and the adequate management of on-site construction teams – has further been identified as of crucial importance. Potential operational issues largely relate to potential adverse impacts on the visual/ scenic integrity of the landscape and associated scenic routes in the area, specifically the R43 and R303 (Bainskloof and Mitchells Pass), visual impacts on adjacent properties and conservation areas, and potential adverse impacts on the productivity of local farms (compromised diversification into agri-tourism; loss of productive land). The potential adverse operational impacts are largely linked to the wind turbines and the visual impact of these turbines on the rural landscape. The investigation and assessment of social impacts during the EIA phase will be guided by the Guidelines for specialist SIA input into EIAs adopted by DEA&DP in the Western Cape. This approach will include: • Identification of key interested and affected parties; • Meetings and interviews with interested and affected parties; • Identification and assessment of key social issues based on feedback from key interested and affected parties; and • Recommendations regarding mitigation/optimisation and management measures to be implemented. The key conclusions of the Scoping level study are the following: • The establishment of wind energy facilities are supported at national and provincial levels; • Key potential construction phase issues for further investigation during the EIA phase relate to the recruitment and on-site management of construction labour and the management of impacts on local roads; and • Key potential negative operational phase issues relate to the potential negative impacts on the scenic integrity of the landscape and key scenic routes, specifically the specifically the R43 and R303 (Bainskloof and Mitchells Pass); • Key potential positive impacts are linked to the benefits associated with the Community Trust. 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Arcus GIBB (Pty) Ltd (“Arcus GIBB”) have been commissioned as lead consultants by SAGIT Energy Ventures to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in terms of applicable environmental legislation with regards to the proposed establishment of a 50-110 MW wind energy facility (WEF) and associated infrastructure, on a site comprised of a number of farms located ~ 8 km to the east of the town of Wolseley in the Western Cape Province, South Africa