EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614
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EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT MODDERFONTEIN RESIDENTIAL TOWNSHIP TO BE KNOWN AS FOUNDERS HIIL EXT. 19 - 21 TOWNSHIPS REMAINDER OF PORTION 36 OF THE FARM MODDERFONTEIN NO.35 IR: CITY OF JOHANNESBURG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY REFERENCE: GAUT 002/20-21/E2614 Central Property Development Johannesburg (Pty) Ltd NOVEMBER 2020 Nali Sustainability Solutions November 2020 Page 1 EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 11 2.0 LEGAL AND POLICY CONTEXT ................................................................................... 19 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT ................................................... 25 4.0 INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES .................................................................................... 42 Nali Sustainability Solutions November 2020 Page 2 EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614 5.0 MOTIVATION FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ................................................. 51 6.0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ............................................................................ 55 7.0 KEY FINDING FROM SPECIALIST STUDIES ................................................................. 58 Nali Sustainability Solutions November 2020 Page 3 EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614 8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................. 62 9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT .................................................................. 85 10.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................ 90 11.0 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................. 93 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Context of the project site .................................................................................... 12 Figure 2: Surrounding Land Uses ......................................................................................... 13 Figure 3: Process Mapping .................................................................................................. 14 Figure 4: Proposed layout for Founders Hill Ext 19 - 21 ....................................................... 17 Figure 5: Average Temperature and Precipitation ............................................................... 25 Figure 6: Minimum, Maximum and Average Temperature .................................................. 26 Figure 7: Soil Map ............................................................................................................... 28 Figure 8: Wetland and proposed buffer zone ...................................................................... 31 Figure 9: Habitat Units ........................................................................................................ 34 Figure 10: Faunal sensitivity of the site ............................................................................... 38 Figure 11: Demographic information .................................................................................. 40 Figure 12: Cultural and Heritage Resources in the Modderfontein Area .............................. 41 Figure 13: Proposed Access Points ...................................................................................... 46 Figure 14: Proposed Site Access Intersections ..................................................................... 47 Figure 15: Proposed Roads Upgrades .................................................................................. 48 Figure 16: Electrical Feeder Route ....................................................................................... 50 Figure 17: Alternative Layout ............................................................................................. 53 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Property information ............................................................................................. 11 Table 2: Details of the applicant .......................................................................................... 13 Table 3: Details of the EAP .................................................................................................. 14 Nali Sustainability Solutions November 2020 Page 4 EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614 Table 4: Propose Land Uses ................................................................................................. 16 Table 5: Listed activities triggered ....................................................................................... 18 Table 6: Geotechnical Sub-Areas ......................................................................................... 27 Table 7: Geotechnical Categories and Site Classification ..................................................... 27 Table 8:Summary of the findings ......................................................................................... 30 Table 9: Phasing of Roads Upgrades .................................................................................... 49 Table 10: Nature, extent, duration, probability and significance of impact .......................... 62 Table 11: Criteria for rating of impacts ................................................................................ 63 Table 12: Assessment of Impacts during the Construction Phase ........................................ 64 Table 13: Assessment of Impacts during the operation phase ............................................. 78 Table 14: Assessment of the No-Go option ......................................................................... 83 Table 14: Comparison of the different alternatives ............................................................. 84 Table 15: Summary of key findings in specialists’ reports .................................................... 85 Table 16: Key positive and negative impacts ....................................................................... 89 Nali Sustainability Solutions November 2020 Page 5 EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614 GLOSSARY Activity- An action either planned or existing that may result in environmental impacts through pollution or resource use. For the purpose of this report, the terms ‘activity’ and ‘development’ are freely interchanged. Alternatives- Different means of meeting the general purpose and requirements of the activity, which may include site or location alternatives; alternatives to the type of activity being undertaken; the design or layout of the activity; the technology to be used in the activity and the operational aspects of the activity. Applicant- The project proponent or developer responsible for submitting an environmental application to the relevant environmental authority for environmental authorisation. Biodiversity- The diversity of animals, plants and other organisms found within and between ecosystems, habitats, and the ecological complexes. Construction- The building, erection or establishment of a facility, structure or infrastructure that is necessary for the undertaking of a listed or specified activity but excludes any modification, alteration or expansion of such a facility, structure or infrastructure and excluding the reconstruction of the same facility in the same location, with the same capacity and footprint. Cumulative impact- The impact of an activity that in itself may not be significant but may become significant when added to the existing and potential impacts eventuating from similar or diverse activities or undertakings in the area. Decommissioning- The demolition of a building, facility, structure or infrastructure. Direct Impact- Impacts that are caused directly by the activity and generally occur at the same time and at the same place of the activity. These impacts are usually associated with the construction, operation or maintenance of an activity and are generally quantifiable. Ecosystem- A dynamic system of plant, animal (including humans) and micro-organism communities and their non-living physical environment interacting as a functional unit. The basic structural unit of the biosphere, ecosystems are characterised by interdependent interaction between the component species and their physical surroundings. Each ecosystem occupies a space in which macro-scale conditions and interactions are relatively homogenous. Environment- In terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No 107 of 1998) (as amended), “Environment” means the surroundings within which humans exist and that are made up of: a) the land, water and atmosphere of the earth. b) micro-organisms, plants and animal life. c) any part or combination of (i) of (ii) and the interrelationships among and between them. Nali Sustainability Solutions November 2020 Page 6 EIA Report: Founders Hill Extensions 19 - 21: Gaut 002/20-21/E2614 d) the physical, chemical, aesthetic and cultural properties and conditions of the foregoing that influence human health and wellbeing. Environmental Assessment- The generic term for all forms of environmental assessment for projects, plans, programmes or policies and includes methodologies or tools such as environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments and risk assessments. Environmental Authorisation- An authorisation issued