BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT – DRAFT 1 For the White Umfolozi River Causeway Crossing (Babanango Valley), Zululand, KwaZulu- Natal Prepared for Prepared by Emcakweni Community Trust Representative - Mr. Eric Buthelezi 19 Wilson Street, Babanango, 3850 Northern KwaZulu-Natal 1 Flamboyant Cl, Glen Anil, Durban North, KwaZulu-Natal 0747460330 031 566 2858 [email protected] [email protected] EDTEA EIA Reference Number: DC26/0009/2019 and KZN/EIA/0001215/2019 August 2019 DETAILS OF THE INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER (EAP) FOR THE BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Compiled by: EAP: Justin Ellero (ID 9001305086083) Qualifications: MSc (Geography) (UKZN) • BSSH (Environmental Science – Cum Laude) (UKZN) • BSS (Geography and Environmental Management) (UKZN) • Advanced Course (Environmental Law) (UNISA) Work Experience: Justin Ellero is an Environmental Assessment Practitioner with four and a half years’ experience in conducting Environmental Impact Assessments, Water Use License Applications, Mining applications and Waste Management Licensing. His project experience list includes municipal pipelines, Eskom powerlines, Eco-Lodge developments, residential estates, industrial parks, mining permits and development at the King Shaka International Airport. I, Justin Pietro Ellero confirm: The correctness of all information within the BAR and EMP; All I&APs comment and inputs have been included in this Report; The inclusion of inputs and recommendations from the specialist reports where relevant; and I do not have and will not have any vested interest (either business, financial, personal or other) in the proposed activity proceeding other than remuneration for work performed in terms of the NEMA Regulations. An undertaking of oath can be found at the end of this application. 2 Basic Assessment Report (Draft 1) Umfolozi River: causeway crossing (Babanango Valley) Project Team for the proposed White Umfolozi Causeway Crossing Application: Name Role Company Qualifications IDM Environmental Project Team Mr. Justin Ellero Environmental IDM Environmental – MSc Geography (UKZN) Assessment EAP Practitioner Mr. Karl Wiggishoff Internal Reviewer of Managing Director of Masters in Environmental, all Reports IDM Environmental Planning and Development Law (Stel) Public Participation Consultant Ms. Rose Owen Public Participation Phelamanga Masters in Social Science Officer Environmental Specialists Ms. Louise Zdnaw Botanical and Managing Director of BSC Honours Botany (UCT) Freshwater Specialist EnviroSwift KZN (Pty) Ltd. SACNASP Registered (114072) Dr. Bruce Scott- Floodline Assessment Naturestamp (Pty) Ltd PHD Hydrology Shaw Specialist SACNASP Registered Mr. Alex Whitehead Ichthyofaunal (fish) Sustainable BSc Honours Specialist Development Projects cc SACNASP Registered Mr. M. Hadlow Geotechnical Drennan Maud (Pty) B.Sc (Honours) MSAIEG Specialist Ltd SACNASP Registered Engineering Team Dr. Shian Saroop Engineering Report UNDASA Project Pr Tech Eng: Civil and Designs Partners 3 Basic Assessment Report (Draft 1) Umfolozi River: causeway crossing (Babanango Valley) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION .......................................................................... 11 1.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 11 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE BABANANGO GAME RESERVE FORMATION ...... 11 1.3 LOCATION OF THE PROJECT ........................................................................ 15 1.4 EIA REGULATIONS OF 2014 (AS AMENDED) TRIGGERED ACTIVITIES..... 18 1.5 TERMS OF REFERENCE ................................................................................. 19 1.6 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................ 19 1.7 OBJECTIVE OF THE BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS ................................... 19 1.8 REPORT STRUCTURE ..................................................................................... 20 1.9 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND GUIDELINES ........................ 21 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY ....................................................... 25 2.1 ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 25 Background to causeway crossing ................................................................................... 25 Design of the causeway crossing ..................................................................................... 25 2.2 SERVICE PROVISION ...................................................................................... 28 Solid waste disposal.......................................................................................................... 28 Water borne waste ............................................................................................................ 28 Water provision ................................................................................................................. 28 Electricity Provision ........................................................................................................... 28 Stormwater Management and erosion control .................................................................. 28 2.3 ACCESS ROADS TO THE UMFOLOZI RIVER CAUSEWAY CROSSING ....... 29 2.4 DEVELOPMENT PHASES OF THE PROPOSED CAUSEWAY CROSSING .... 30 Site Planning ..................................................................................................................... 30 4 Basic Assessment Report (Draft 1) Umfolozi River: causeway crossing (Babanango Valley) Site preparation and establishment .................................................................................. 30 Construction ...................................................................................................................... 31 Operation .......................................................................................................................... 31 Maintenance and Decommissioning ................................................................................. 32 Rehabilitation .................................................................................................................... 32 2.5 NEED AND DESIRABILITY OF THE PROPOSED CAUSEWAY ...................... 32 2.6 CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES .......................................................... 34 Activity alternatives ........................................................................................................... 35 Location alternatives ......................................................................................................... 35 Layout Alternatives............................................................................................................ 39 Scheduling alternatives ..................................................................................................... 40 Infrastructure alternatives ................................................................................................. 40 “No-go” alternative ............................................................................................................ 40 3 PUBLIC PARTICPATION ...................................................................................... 42 3.1 REQUIREMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS OF 2014 (AS AMENDED) ........................................................ 42 3.2 COMMENTS AND RESPONSE REPORT .......................................................... 43 4 BASELINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE PROPOSED SITE ................................ 45 4.1 CLIMATE.......................................................................................................... 45 4.2 LANDSCAPE CHARACTERISTICS/EXISTING SITUATION ........................... 45 4.3 GEOLOGY AND SOILS .................................................................................... 46 4.4 FLORA .............................................................................................................. 49 4.5 FAUNA .............................................................................................................. 52 4.6 FRESHWATER CHARACTERISTICS .............................................................. 53 The Present Ecological State and Ecological Importance and Sensitivity scores ............ 56 4.7 ICHTHYOLOGICAL OF THE WHITE UMFOLOZI RIVER ............................. 56 5 Basic Assessment Report (Draft 1) Umfolozi River: causeway crossing (Babanango Valley) 4.8 SITES WITH ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST ............................................... 58 4.9 SOCIAL-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ........................................................... 59 The surrounding Local social environment ....................................................................... 59 Ulundi Local Municipality .................................................................................................. 60 Zululand District Municipality ............................................................................................ 61 4.10 LOCAL AND REGIONAL SITE SENSITIVITY ................................................. 61 5 IMPACT ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................... 63 5.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 63 5.2 IMPACT ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ................................................................. 63 Nature of impact