Stellenbosch Landfill Closure SIA 3 November
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (DRAFT REPORT) PROPOSED DECOMISSIONING AND REHABILITATION OF THE STELLENBOSCH LANDFILL SITE, STELLENBOSCH, WESTERN CAPE OCTOBER 2014 Prepared for AURECON SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD Prepared by Tony Barbour and Schalk van der Merwe Tony Barbour ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT AND RESEARCHER 4 Oakdale Road, Newlands, 7700, South Africa (Tel) 27-21-683 7085 - (Fax) 27-21-683 7085 - (Cell) 082 600 8266 (E-Mail) [email protected] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“Aurecon”) was appointed by the Stellenbosch Municipality as the lead consultant to manage the integrated Basic Assessment (BA) and Waste Management License (WML) application process for the proposed closure and rehabilitation of the Stellenbosch Municipal Landfill Site. The site is located on the western outskirts of the town of Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands region of the Western Cape. Tony Barbour Environmental Consulting was appointed by Aurecon to undertake a specialist Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as part of the application process. This report contains the findings of the SIA undertaken as part of the integrated BA and WML process. The key focus of the BA is to identify the most acceptable post closure land use for the Stellenbosch Landfill Site. The focus of the SIA is therefore on commenting on the three alternative end uses, namely: • Alternative 1: Open Space green landscaping and community up-liftment project; • Alternative 2: Methane gas extraction of landfill gas for commercial beneficial use; • Alternative 3: No Development Option. However, it should be noted that the no- go alternative does not meet the legal minimum requirements for closure. Alternative 1 and 2 are not mutually exclusive. In order to meet the legal requirements for the closure the final end use plan for the site will include a landfill gas collection system irrespective of whether the extraction of landfill gas is commercially viable or not. The design of the gas management system will however depend on whether or not the extraction of landfill gas is commercially viable or not. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS Policy and planning issues The Stellenbosch IDP lists a number of issues raised at the Ward 11 public meetings in which the landfill site is located that are relevant to the closure and future land use of the site. These include: • Illegal informal settlement; • General safety in Onder-Papegaaiberg; • The development of a walking trail; • Public safety/ law enforcement; • Proper participatory and sensitive planning for developments in the area. The site is also located outside of the Stellenbosch urban edge. No detailed proposals are made for the Devon Valley study area. The Stellenbosch Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP) refers to the closure of the Stellenbosch Landfill Site. However, the IWMP does not address post-closure site rehabilitation and potential land use options for the site. Construction phase impacts The key social impacts associated with the construction related component for Alternative 1 and 2 include: • Creation of employment opportunities; • Loss of job opportunities for waste pickers; and • Impacts associated with construction related activities, specifically noise and dust. No construction impacts are related to Alternative 3. Creation of employment opportunities The total number of employment opportunities associated with the engineering component of the project is estimated to be up to 45. The number of people employed as part of the re-vegetation component would depend on the final land use option selected. It is anticipated that the 80% (36) of the employment opportunities associated with the engineering component will be available to low skilled workers, 15% (7) for semi-skilled workers (drivers, equipment operators etc.) and 5% (2) for skilled personnel (engineers, land surveyors, project managers etc.). Members from the local communities in the area are likely to be in a position to qualify for the majority of the low skilled and semi-skilled employment opportunities. The majority of these employment opportunities are also likely to accrue to Historically Disadvantaged (HD) members from the local area. Over a 10 month construction period the total wage bill is estimated to be in the region of R 7.6 million (2014 rand value). The majority of the wage bill is likely to be spent in the local Stellenbosch area. The significance of the employment opportunities associated with the construction phase is rated as Medium Positive with enhancement. This applies to Alternative 1 and 2. Loss of job opportunities and income for waste pickers The closure and decommissioning of the Stellenbosch Landfill Site will result in loss of the major source of income for the waste pickers who currently operate on the site. The majority of these waste pickers live in the Slabtown information settlement, which is located adjacent to the site. However, the SLM are in the process of relocating the Slabtown community. This relocation will also impact on their access to the site, which in turn, will, in all likelihood mean that they can no longer salvage from the site. Based on the information provided by the SLM the intention is to relocate the Slabtown community before the Stellenbosch Landfill Site is closed. The impact on livelihoods of the waste pickers will therefore occur before the site is closed. As indicated in the assumptions, the scope of the SIA does not include an assessment of the social issues associated with the relocation of the Slabtown community. The potential social impacts associated with the relocation of the Slabtown community, including the impact on current livelihood strategies, should therefore form part of the relocation study. However, it is recognised that the loss of Stellenbosch Landfill Decommissioning: Social Impact Assessment (Draft) October 2014 ii access to the landfill site for waste pickers as a result of either relocation and or closure will represent a significant impact for affected households in Slabtown. This impact is rated as High Negative without mitigation. With mitigation the impact is rated as Low Negative . This applies to Alternative 1 and 2. Impacts associated with construction related nuisance activities, specifically noise, dust and safety impacts The findings of the SIA indicate that the potential noise, dust and safety impacts associated with the reworking and shaping of the final landform, followed by final capping of the site and the establishment of the gas management system can be effectively mitigated. The significance of the potential noise, dust and safety impacts associated with the construction phase is rated as Low Negative with mitigation. This applies to Alternative 1 and 2. Assessment of Alternative 1 Based on the findings of the SIA the following activities were identified as compatible with the development of the area as Public Green Open Space: • Walking (people and dogs) and jogging trails; • Cycling paths (as opposed to Mountain bike trails). The cycle paths will provide a safe environment for cycling for young children; • View point on the highest point. This would be linked to the trails. The lookout point could also incorporate educational signage indicating location of historic farms and features in the area etc. The significance of developing a Green Public Open Space on the site that incorporates these land uses was rated as Medium Positive with enhancement. However, in order for the area to be used by the public the issue of safety and access would need to be addressed by the SLM. The establishment of a seasonal flower garden into the design of the landscaping and re-vegetation programme will involve higher establishment and maintenance costs. These additional costs are difficult to justify given the pressing social needs in the SLM. This proposed land use is therefore not recommended. The findings of the SIA also indicate that the potential for bee keeping as a community venture is likely to be limited. The establishment of a bee keeping operation on the site as part of the post landfill land use plan is therefore not recommended. While the establishment of a Community Garden is supported in principle, concerns were raised regarding the viability and long term sustainability of the proposal. In addition, the SLM is in the process of relocating the residents of Slabtown. Depending on where they are relocated to it may be difficult and costly (taxi and bus fare) for the current residents of Slabtown to access the proposed Community Garden. This would undermine the objective of providing an alternative livelihood strategy for the current waste pickers. These issues would need to be assessed in more detail by the SLM before a decision is taken with regard to the establishment of a Community Garden. The issue of land invasions was raised by all of the adjacent land owners as a key issue. This would compromise use of the area as Public Green Open Space and Stellenbosch Landfill Decommissioning: Social Impact Assessment (Draft) October 2014 iii create safety and security problems in the area. This issue will need to be addressed by the SLM. Assessment of Alternative 2 Until more detailed tests are undertaken it is not possible to comment on the significance of the potential impact associated with the use of landfill gas as an alternative energy source. An assessment of significance would require information on the volume of landfill gas available for extraction, how the gas will be utilised and for how long. This would in turn provide information of potential for the SLM to use the landfill gas as an alternative energy source and the associated benefits. This information is not available. In the event that the extraction of landfill gas is economically viable the potential impacts would be Positive . Assessment of no-development option The no-development option would result in a number of negative social impacts, including continued odours, dust and windblown litter. The site would also pose a negative visual impact on an important gateway entrance to Stellenbosch and continue to attract waste pickers.