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Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Portion 33 of the farm Braamfontein 53 IR, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province. Heritage Impact Assessment Issue Date: 6 January 2015 Revision No.: 2 Client: Newtown Landscape Architects Professional Grave Solutions (Pty) Ltd T/A PGS Heritage & Grave Relocation Consultants PO Box 32542 Totiusdal 0134, T +27 12 332 5305 F: +27 86 675 8077 Reg No 2003/008940/07 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE The report has been compiled by PGS Heritage, an appointed Heritage Specialist for Newtown. The views stipulated in this report are purely objective and no other interests are displayed in the findings and recommendations of this Heritage Impact Assessment. HERITAGE CONSULTANT: PGS Heritage CONTACT PERSON: Polke Birkholtz Tel: +27 (012) 332 5305 Fax: +27 (012) 332 2625 Email: [email protected] SIGNATURE: ______________________________ APPLICANT DETAILS: CLIENT: Newtown Landscape Architects CONTACT PERSON: Johan Barnard Tel: 011 462 6967 Email: [email protected] HIA – Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Page ii of vii Report Title Heritage Impact Assessment for Proposed Development at Westdene Dam located on Portion 33 of the Farm Braamfontein 53 IR, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province. Control Name Signature Designation Authors Polke Birkholtz Heritage Specialist / PGS Heritage Reviewed Johan Barnard Client / Newtown HIA – Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Page iii of vii EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT Abbreviations Description AIA Archaeological Impact Assessment ASAPA Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists CMP Conservation Management Plan CRM Cultural Resource Management EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMPR Environmental Management Programme Report ESA Early Stone Age GPS Global Positioning System HIA Heritage Impact Assessment LIA Late Iron Age LSA Later Stone Age MSA Middle Stone Age NEMA National Environmental Management Act NHRA National Heritage Resources Act PGS PGS Heritage PHRA Provincial Heritage Resources Authority SAHRA South African Heritage Resources Agency SAHRIS South African Heritage Resources Information System HIA – Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Page iv of vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PGS Heritage was appointed by Newtown Landscape Architects to conduct a Heritage Impact Assessment for a proposed development at the Westdene Dam that is aimed at enhancing the dam and its use. The dam is located on Portion 33 of the farm Braamfontein 53 IR, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province. The present study entails all components of the proposed enhancement of the Westdene Dam located within the park at only. Associated development activities proposed outside of the Westdene Dam boundaries were not included in this heritage impact assessment. This is due to the fact that the respective landowners of these associated areas had at the time of the fieldwork not yet been informed of the proposed development. An archival and historical desktop study was undertaken which was used to compile a historical overview of the study area. This component indicated that the study area has a unique history which included its use as a brickfield by the Wells Bros. during the period from c. 1902 to c. 1943 as well as the tragic events of the bus disaster of 27 March 1985. The history of the development of the park is also discussed in this report. The desktop study work was followed by fieldwork which comprised a walkthrough of the study area. Three heritage sites were identified namely a brick structure which may have been a furnace associated with the old brickfield, the dam wall as well as the bus disaster memorial. Impact risk calculations were undertaken on the expected impact of the proposed development on Site 1 and Site 2, which indicated that the proposed development poses a Low Impact Risk on Site 1 and a Moderate Impact Risk on Site 2. As a result, the following mitigation measures are proposed for Site 2: The dam wall must be recorded in detail by using measured drawings and photographs. The recorded plans and photographs must be compiled in a document set. A permit application must be submitted to the Provincial Heritage Resources Agency – Gauteng to allow for disturbances to a structure that is older than 60 years. The application must be accompanied by the documentation set. The following general requirements must also be adhered to: HIA – Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Page v of vii The unique history of the Westdene Dam must be memorialized as part of the present development. Such memorializing should include the design and placement of information plaques at key points across the study area. These plaques must contain information on a specific section of the study area, and where possible should also depict old photographs of certain aspects of the study area. For example, photographs depicting the bus disaster can be placed on plaques which are erected in roughly the same position where those photographs were originally taken on that fateful day. This would provide those visiting the park with a glimpse into its history. The possible historic brick furnace at Site 1 must be further researched and investigated. The aim of this additional work would be to confirm whether a furnace is located here or not. Non-destructive activities such as the careful excavation of the structure from its current earth and grass covered state would greatly assist in this task. Such research and excavation work can only be undertaken by a suitably qualified heritage specialist. Should the original interpretation of the site be proved correct, it can also be memorialized with a plaque providing information on the history of the Wells Bros. brickfields and its association with the study area. In terms of the proposed movement of the bus disaster memorial that was erected in 2009, it is recommended that the relatives of the deceased individuals must be contacted and the proposed relocation of the memorial discussed with them. This public participation process would also be a good opportunity to discuss the more detailed memorializing of the tragic accident with plaques and historic photographs. Once the respective landowners of the proposed development areas located outside of the present study area have been informed of the proposed development, a second heritage impact assessment report must be compiled to address these developments. This second study must include the specialist input of an experienced architectural historian who would be responsible for assessing each building and structure from within those development areas and providing recommendations on the way to proceed with those structures and buildings deemed to be of significance. On the condition that the proposed mitigation measures and general recommendations outlined above are adhered to, the development is not expected to have any detrimental impact on heritage sites. From a heritage point of view the proposed development may be allowed to continue. HIA – Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Page vi of vii CONTENTS PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 2 2 TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................ 7 3 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 10 4 CURRENT STATUS QUO ............................................................................................ 16 5 DESKTOP STUDY FINDINGS ...................................................................................... 18 6 FIELDWORK FINDINGS ............................................................................................. 40 7 IMPACT OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON HERITAGE RESOURCES ....................... 50 8 MITIGATION MEASURES AND GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS .............................. 52 9 CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................... 53 10 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 56 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A Legislative Requirements – Terminology and Assessment Criteria HIA – Proposed Development at Westdene Dam Page vii of vii 1 INTRODUCTION PGS Heritage was appointed by Newtown Landscape Architects to undertake a Heritage Impact Assessment for the proposed enhancement of the Westdene Dam located on Portion 33 of the farm Braamfontein 53 IR, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province. 1.1 Scope of the Study The aim of the study is to identify possible heritage sites and finds that may occur in the proposed development area. The Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) aims to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the development of a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to assist the developer in managing the identified heritage resources in a responsible manner in order to protect, preserve, and develop them within the framework provided by the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999 (Act 25 of 1999) (NHRA). 1.2 Specialist Qualifications This Heritage Impact Assessment was compiled by PGS Heritage, the staff of which has a combined experience of nearly 40 years in the heritage consulting industry and have extensive experience in managing Heritage Impact Assessment processes. Mr. Polke Birkholtz, project manager and heritage
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