REC ESTABLISHERS (PTY) LTD BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT IN TERMS OF NEMA PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOOL ON PORTION 62 OF THE FARM COMMISSIESDRIFT 327JQ, OLIFANTSNEK, RUSTENBURG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, NORTH WEST PROVINCE NWP/EIA/26/2019 NOVEMBER 2019 (FINAL) Address: P.O. Box 1322, Ruimsig, 1732 Tel: 082 850 5482 Fax: 086 692 8820 [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER (EAP) .............................................. 1 1.1 Details ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Experience and expertise ......................................................................................... 1 1.3 Supporting information .............................................................................................. 2 1.4 Assumptions, limitations, disclaimer and copyright ................................................... 2 1.5 Declaration of independence .................................................................................... 3 APPLICANT / PROPONENT ................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Details ...................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Supporting information .............................................................................................. 4 PROPERTY .......................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Locality details .......................................................................................................... 5 3.2 Property details ......................................................................................................... 6 3.3 Supporting information .............................................................................................. 7 PROJECT ........................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 Details .................................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Screening and specialist input ................................................................................ 16 4.3 Need and desirability .............................................................................................. 17 4.4 Service provision .................................................................................................... 21 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................... 23 5.1 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (CRSA) ............................................... 23 5.2 National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) .................................................. 23 5.2.1 Sustainable development ................................................................................. 23 5.2.2 NEMA regulations ............................................................................................ 24 5.2.3 Listed activities applicable ................................................................................ 25 5.3 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) ........................... 26 5.3.1 Commitment to biodiversity conservation ......................................................... 26 5.3.2 Protection of threatened ecosystems and species ............................................ 26 5.3.3 Control of alien invasive species ...................................................................... 27 5.4 National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA) .................. 27 5.5 National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEMWA) .................................. 27 November 2019 Page ii BAR: School REC Establishers 5.6 National Water Act (NWA) ...................................................................................... 28 5.6.1 Water uses ....................................................................................................... 28 5.6.2 Legal requirements ........................................................................................... 28 5.6.3 Applicability ...................................................................................................... 28 5.7 Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) ............................................... 29 5.8 National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) ............................................................... 29 5.8.1 Legislation ........................................................................................................ 29 5.8.2 Requirements ................................................................................................... 30 5.9 Other documents .................................................................................................... 30 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ............................................................................................ 32 6.1 Socio-economic Environment ................................................................................. 32 6.1.1 Overview .......................................................................................................... 32 6.1.2 Population ........................................................................................................ 32 6.1.3 Land use .......................................................................................................... 35 6.1.4 The project ....................................................................................................... 35 6.2 Biophysical environmental overview ....................................................................... 37 6.3 Supporting information ............................................................................................ 44 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ....................................................................................... 47 7.1 Site alternative ........................................................................................................ 47 7.1.1 Preferred site .................................................................................................... 47 7.1.2 Alternative properties........................................................................................ 47 7.1.3 Alternative project area ..................................................................................... 48 7.2 Land use alternative ............................................................................................... 49 7.2.1 Preferred land use – School with associated sports fields and support structures ....................................................................................................................... 49 7.2.2 Agricultural ....................................................................................................... 49 7.2.3 Other - Residential ........................................................................................... 49 7.3 Layout alternatives .................................................................................................. 49 7.3.1 Preferred layout ................................................................................................ 49 7.4 Waste removal services .......................................................................................... 50 7.4.1 Municipal .......................................................................................................... 50 7.4.2 Contractor ........................................................................................................ 50 November 2019 Page iii BAR: School REC Establishers 7.5 Water supply ........................................................................................................... 50 7.5.1 Municipal .......................................................................................................... 50 7.5.2 Groundwater .................................................................................................... 50 7.6 Sewage management ............................................................................................. 51 7.6.1 Municipal .......................................................................................................... 51 7.6.2 Septic tanks and French drains ........................................................................ 51 7.6.3 Conservancy tanks ........................................................................................... 52 7.6.4 Preferred option - Package STP ....................................................................... 52 7.7 STP effluent ............................................................................................................ 53 7.7.1 Disposal of treated sewage from STP .............................................................. 53 7.7.2 Reuse of treated sewage from the STP ............................................................ 53 7.8 No-go alternative .................................................................................................... 54 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ............................................................................... 55 8.1 Summary ................................................................................................................ 55 8.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................