Heritage Impact Assessment of King William’S Town Bulk Regional Sewage Scheme: Phases 2 - 7, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
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HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF KING WILLIAM’S TOWN BULK REGIONAL SEWAGE SCHEME: PHASES 2 - 7, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA Prepared for TERRECO cc Geotechnical, Environmental and Waste Management Services Box 19829 TECOMA 5214 Telephone Louise Jupp 043 721 1502 [email protected] Prepared by eThembeni Cultural Heritage Box 20057 Ashburton 3213 Pietermaritzburg Telephone 033 326 1136 / 082 655 9077 / 082 529 3656 Facsimile 086 672 8557 [email protected] 16 August 2010 HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF KING WILLIAM’S TOWN REGIONAL SEWAGE SCHEME, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE Management summary eThembeni C ultural H eritage w as a ppointed b y T ERRECO t o u ndertake a h eritage i mpact assessment o f a s ewage s cheme in t he Ea stern C ape P rovince, i n t erms of t he N ational Heritage Resources Act No 25 of 1999. Two eThembeni staff members inspected the area on 10, 1 1 a nd 12 Au gust 2010, a nd c ompleted a c ontrolled-exclusive s urface survey a nd a database and literature search. Observations We observed no heritage resources within the proposed development area. Recommended mitigation measures None. Recommended monitoring None. Conclusion We recommend that the development proceed with no further heritage mitigation and have submitted this report to the South African Heritage Resources Agency in fulfilment of the requirements of the National Heritage Resources Act. If permission i s granted for the development to proceed, the client is reminded that the Act requires t hat a d eveloper cease a ll w ork i mmediately a nd n otify S AHRA s hould a ny h eritage resources, as defined in the Act, be discovered during the course of development activities. eThembeni Cultural Heritage for TERRECO cc Page 2 HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF KING WILLIAM’S TOWN REGIONAL SEWAGE SCHEME, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE Contents Page 1. Introduction 4 2. Terms of reference 4 3. Project description 5 4. Project location 5 5. Observations 8 6. Recommended mitigation measures 8 7. Recommended monitoring 8 8. Summary of findings in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act 1999 Section 38(3) 9 9. Conclusion 9 Appendix A. Statutory requirements 10 Appendix B. Methodology 13 Appendix C. Photographs 18 Appendix D. Specialist competency and Declaration of independence 20 List of figures Figure 1. The location of the proposed King William’s Town bulk regional sewage scheme: phases 2 to 7, in the Eastern Cape Province. 7 List of tables Table 1. Heritage resources and observations: King William’s Town regional sewage scheme. 8 eThembeni Cultural Heritage for TERRECO cc Page 3 HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF KING WILLIAM’S TOWN REGIONAL SEWAGE SCHEME, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE 1. Introduction eThembeni C ultural H eritage w as a ppointed b y T ERRECO t o u ndertake a h eritage i mpact assessment o f a s ewage s cheme in t he Ea stern C ape P rovince, i n t erms of t he N ational Heritage Resources Act No 25 of 1999 (refer to Appendix A). South Africa’s heritage resources are both rich and widely diverse, encompassing sites from all periods of hu man hi story. R esources m ay b e t angible, such a s b uildings a nd archaeological artefacts, or intangible, such as landscapes and living heritage. Their significance is based upon their aesthetic, architectural, historical, scientific, social, spiritual, linguistic, economic or technological values; their representivity of a particular time period; their rarity; and their sphere of influence. The i ntegrity a nd s ignificance o f h eritage r esources c an b e j eopardized by n atural (e .g. erosion) and human (e.g. development) activities. In the case of human activities, a range of legislation exists to ensure the timeous identification and effective management of heritage resources for present and future generations. This report represents compliance with a full Heritage Impact Assessment for the proposed development, excluding a palaeontological assessment, which we do not deem necessary given the nature of the project and its location. 2. Terms of reference A Heritage Impact Assessment must address the following key aspects: − the identification and mapping of all heritage resources in the area affected; − an a ssessment of t he s ignificance of such r esources i n t erms o f heritage a ssessment criteria set out in regulations; − an assessment of the impact development on heritage resources; − an evaluation of the i mpact of the d evelopment on heritage resources relative to t he sustainable social and economic benefits to be derived from the development; − the results of consultation with communities affected by the proposed development and other interested parties regarding the impact of the development on heritage resources; − if heritage resources will be adversely affected by the proposed development, the consideration of alternatives; and − plans for mitigation of any adverse effects during and after completion of the proposed development. eThembeni Cultural Heritage for TERRECO cc Page 4 HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF KING WILLIAM’S TOWN REGIONAL SEWAGE SCHEME, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE 3. Project description Buffalo City Municipality is developing proposals to upgrade the bulk regional sewage system in the King William’s Town area to cater for both current and future sanitation demands to 2030. Collectively, the KWT Bulk Regional Sewage Scheme upgrade provides for the transfer of sewerage flows from existing treatment works within the focus area which are operating over capacity to a central works; for unlocking development in areas which are restricted by a lack of s ewage treatment; and, providing bulk sewerage infrastructure f or t he reticulation of towns w ithin the focus area. The Zwelitsha wastewater treatment works (WWTW) will be upgraded over time to function as the central treatment works for the region. The Scheme is to be implemented in a sequential phased approach, a s funding becomes available, with each of the phases representing a standalone component of the total upgrading scheme. In short, the phases will broadly comprise the following: Phase 1 Connecting the Schornville WWTW in KWT to the Zwelitsha WWTW via a bulk gravity sewer main. Phase 2 Upgrading the treatment capacity of the Zwelitsha WWTW from 9.1 megalitres (Mℓ) per day to 17.5 Mℓ per day (Stage 1 upgrade). Phase 3 Connecting Breidbach WWTW to the Zwelitsha WWTW via a bulk sewer main. Phase 4 Connecting Bhisho WWTW to the Zwelitsha WWTW via the Breidbach connection and decommissioning the Bhisho WWTW. Phase 5 Upgrading the treatment capacity of the Zwelitsha WWTW from 17.5 to 35 Mℓ per day (Stage 2 upgrade). Phase 6 Decommissioning the Breidbach and Schornville WWTWs. C onnecting Phakamisa t o Zwelitsha WWTW via the Zwelitsha pipe bridge. Phase 7 Providing bulk infrastructure to enable the reticulation of KwaTshatshu, Ndevana and part of Phakamisa. Phases 2-7 of the Scheme are the focus of this Environmental Impact Assessment. 4. Project location The WWTW that will be affected by the Scheme are located as follows: − Zwelitsha WWTW S32° 55’ 56.0”, E27° 26’ 28.3”. Situated on the left bank of the Buffalo River upstream of its confluence with the Yellowwoods River. − Schornville WWTW S32° 53’ 59.5”, E27° 24’ 14.2”. Situated on the left bank of the Buffalo River upstream of Zwelitsha WWTW and the confluence between the Buffalo River and Ngqokweni River. − Breidbach W WTW S3 2° 5 4’ 0 0.9”, E 27° 2 6’ 2 1.1”. Situated o n t he l eft b ank o f th e Yellowwoods River. − Bhisho WWTW S32° 50’ 49.4”, E27° 27’ 36.2”. Situated on the right bank of the Yellowwoods River. These WWTW currently comprise a selection of wastewater treatment processes including the use of oxidation ponds at Breidbach and Bhisho, activated sludge with biofiltration at Schornville and biofiltration at Zwelitsha. eThembeni Cultural Heritage for TERRECO cc Page 5 HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF KING WILLIAM’S TOWN REGIONAL SEWAGE SCHEME, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE The proposed pipelines effectively radiate from Zwelitsha WWTW located on the southeastern edge of Zwelitsha towards Bhisho and Breidbach to the north and north east respectively, Sweetwaters and Kwatshatshu to the north east and Phakamisa and Ndevana to the east (refer to Figure 1). Approximate locations for the start and end of each proposed pipeline are listed below: Start End Breidbach WWTW S32° 54’ 00.87”, E27° 26’ 21.08” S32° 54’ 47.85”, E27° 24’ 41.49” Bhisho WWTW S32° 50’ 52.18”, E27° 27’ 31.45” S32° 54’ 03.50”, E27° 26’ 00.34” KwaTshatshu North S32° 54’ 19.89”, E27° 26’ 51.68” S32° 55’ 51.93”, E27° 28’ 18.60” KwaTshatshu South S32° 54’ 29.68”, E27° 25’ 58.47” S32° 55’ 39.84”, E27° 27’ 06.74” Phakamisa S32° 55’ 57.07”, E27° 27’ 57.89” S32° 55’ 56.33”, E27° 26’ 28.17” Ndevana North S32° 55’ 21.67”, E27° 28’ 51.43” S32° 55’ 51.56”, E27° 28’ 17.99” Ndevana South S32° 55’ 21.67”, E27° 28’ 51.43” S32° 55’ 50.06”, E27° 28’ 23.51” The proposed pipeline routes run through and adjacent to a variety of land uses comprising a mixture of the following, based on site observations, a review of Google images and 1:50 000 map sheet 3227CD): − Vacant u ndeveloped a nd/or a gricultural land m ost l ikely u sed f or s ubsistence a nd/or grazing. − Formal and informal settlements. − Yellowwoods River and various unnamed largely non-perennial drainage lines. − Railway line. − Surfaced and un-surfaced roads, including the N2 and R346, and/or their servitudes.