Scoping Assessment for the Proposed Establishment of Two Townships in Leonardville Omaheke Region Report Version – Draft July 2020 Urban Green cc Project Number: 16-0657 Scoping Assessment for the Proposed Establishment of Two Townships in Leonardville Omaheke Region Report Draft July 2020 Urban Green cc 16-0624 PROJECT INFORMATION Report Issue Draft Reference Number 16-0657 Scoping Assessment for the Proposed Establishment of Two Title Townships in Leonardville Omaheke Region Remainder of Portion 26 of the Farm Pretorius No. 15, Project Location Leonardville, Omaheke Region Ministry of Urban and Rural Development NAMPAB/Townships Board Competent Authority Private Bag 13289 Windhoek Directorate of Environmental Affairs Ministry of Environment and Tourism Approving Authority Private Bag 13306 Windhoek Leonardville Village Council Proponent/Client PO Box 56 Leonardville i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Leonardville Village Council, hereafter referred to as the Proponent, intends to establish two new townships within the proclaimed area of the Leonardville Village Public consultation was carried out according to the Environmental Management Act’s EIA Regulations. The main issues arising during the public consultation period prior to the writing of the scoping report are summarised in the table below. Aspect Issue Potable Water “NamWater is concerned about the following issues and you are requested to investigate these issues: 1. Potential increase in potable water demand. 2. Capacity of the water supply scheme and pipe network to meet the increased demand. 3. Risk of pollution to groundwater.” Wastewater “If the average dry weather [wastewater] flow exceeds 87.38 m3/day before the expiry date the permit shall lapse and a new application need to be submitted.” The key potential social and biophysical impacts related to the construction phase can be summarised as follows: • Impact on available water: construction activity will require significant volumes of water. The utilisation of scarce potable water for construction purposes reduces availability of potable water to meet the needs of Namibian citizens within the Omaheke Region. ? • Impact on groundwater: potential contaminants, such as hydrocarbons and wastewater / effluent generated, stored and handled during construction as well as the operation and maintenance of heavy construction vehicles poses a risk to local groundwater. Management of hydrocarbon spills should be implemented as prescribed in the EMP. The mitigation measures laid out in the EMP are however sufficient to reduce the significance of these impacts to acceptable levels. • Road and general safety impacts: The movement and operation of heavy construction vehicles in and around residential areas poses a general safety risk to the town residents. The mitigation measures laid out in the EMP are however sufficient to reduce the significance of these impacts to acceptable levels. It is recommended that an Environmental Control Officer is appointed to monitor the implementation and compliance to the EMP. Specific roles and responsibilities are defined in the EMP. ii It is recommended that this project be granted and Environmental Clearance Certificate subject to the implementation of the EMP. No further specialist studies are required iii CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................... ii 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND MOTIVATION AND LOCALITY................................................................................................. 1 1.2 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT ............................................................................................................................ 4 1.4 STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT ......................................................................................................................... 4 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER AND EXPERTISE ........................................... 5 3 STUDY APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ....................................................................... 5 3.1 NAMIBIAN LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR EIA’S ................................................................................................... 5 3.2 EIA PROCESS: SCOPING STAGE ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (EMP) ............................................................................................ 6 4 LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY .............................. 7 4.1 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA (1990) .......................................................................... 7 4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (2007) .............................................................................................. 7 4.3 OTHER LEGISLATION ...................................................................................................................................... 7 5 THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................. 10 5.1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................. 10 5.1.1 Population Statistics ................................................................................................................................. 10 5.1.2 Economy ................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.1.3 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.1.4 Services Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................. 11 5.1.5 Archaeology and cultural significant sites ................................................................................................ 13 5.2 BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................... 13 5.2.1 Climate ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 5.2.2 Geology and Groundwater ....................................................................................................................... 13 5.2.3 Ecology ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 5.3 IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ................................................................................................... 15 6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION .......................................................................................... 17 6.1 INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES ......................................................................................................... 17 6.2 COMMUNICATION WITH I&APS .................................................................................................................. 18 6.2.1 First Round Public Consultation ................................................................................................................ 18 6.2.2 Second Round of Public Consultation ...................................................................................................... 19 7 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................... 20 7.1 NEED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................................... 20 7.2 LOCATION AND PROPOSED LAYOUT OF TOWNSHIPS ................................................................................. 20 7.3 SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................ 20 7.4 CONSTRUCTION RELATED ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................................... 22 7.5 OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................................... 23 7.6 ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................................. 23 7.6.1 ‘No-Go’ Alternative ................................................................................................................................... 23 8 IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................. 25 8.1 IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 25 8.2 ASSESSMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PHASE IMPACTS .................................................................................... 27 8.2.1 Unemployment in the Omaheke Region ................................................................................................... 28 8.2.2 Impact on Soil and Water Sources ...........................................................................................................