Public Participation Summary Report for the Mount Edgecombe Refuse Transfer Station Relocation A Report for the BA Process: DM/WML/0041/2012 8 August 2013 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Client: Tongaat Hulett Developments Project Name: Waste Management License Application for the Proposed Relocation of the Mount Edgecombe Refuse Transfer Station Royal HaskoningDHV Reference Number: E02.DUR.000484 Authority Reference Number: DM/WML/0041/2012 KZN/WASTE/0000106/2012 Compiled by: Humayrah Bassa Date: 8 August 2013 Location: Durban Review: Prashika Reddy _____________________________ Signature Approval: Malcolm Roods _____________________________ Signature © Royal HaskoningDHV All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission from Royal HaskoningDHV. Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 The Public Participation Process ........................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Purpose of the Report ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.4 Terms of Reference for Public Participation .......................................................................................... 1 1.5 Public Participation Summary ................................................................................................................ 2 2 IDENTIFICATION OF I&APS ....................................................................................................................... 2 3 NOTIFICATION OF PROCESS SEPERATION ........................................................................................... 6 4 SITE NOTIFICATION.................................................................................................................................... 8 5 BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT ........................................................................................... 9 6 ADVERTISEMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 16 7 PUBLIC MEETING ..................................................................................................................................... 17 8 PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE BA Report ...................................................................................................... 39 9 ISSUES TRAIL ........................................................................................................................................... 39 10 WASTE MANAGEMENT LICENCE ........................................................................................................... 39 Appendices Appendix A: Comments and Responses Report 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background As part of the greater Cornubia Mixed-Use Phased Development and the construction of the Cornubia Retail Park specifically, Tongaat Hulett Developments (THD) propose to relocate the existing Durban Solid Waste (DWS) Mount Edgecombe Refuse Transfer Station from it’s existing location on the Cornubia Retail Park site to a new location, 200 metres east of the existing site and within Cornubia (Figure 1). Cornubia is located within the eThekwini Municipality (eTM) and is situated north of Durban. Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV) was appointed by THD to act as an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) for the Waste Management Licence (WML) application for the proposed relocation. This includes the construction of a new Station as well as the decommissioning of the existing Station. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Cornubia Retail Park development assesses the infrastructural requirements for the new Station whilst this separate Basic Assessment (BA) process is underway to address the requirements of the Waste Management Licence (WML) Application. 1.2 The Public Participation Process Public participation is a process that is designed to enable all I&APs to voice their opinion and/ or concerns which enables the practitioner to evaluate all aspects of the proposed development, with the objective of improving the project by maximising its benefits while minimising its adverse effects. I&APs include all interested stakeholders, technical specialists, and the various relevant organs of state who work together to produce better decisions. The public participation process must adhere to the requirements of Regulations (GNR 543) under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No 107 of 1998)(as amended). RHDHV is conducting the Public Participation Process for the Mount Edgecombe Refuse Transfer Station Relocation. In recent years THD has taken a much more participatory approach to their property development projects, with the understanding that the socio-political and economic context of the times invites this more public approach. Communities that surround the developments are invited to “inform and be informed” about developments through the establishment of fora in order to achieve the most positive impacts possible. It is also noted that engaging stakeholders even before developments are built can achieve the best impacts. It is for this reason that the PPP that forms part of the BA becomes the basis of a long-term stakeholder engagement process. 1.3 Purpose of the Report The principal purpose of this Public Participation Summary Report is to: Summarise the public participation processes undertaken for the BA Process; Highlight what has been done to date; Synthesise the issues and concerns identified by Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) and various stakeholders during the public participation process; and Synthesise comments on the proposed development. 1.4 Terms of Reference for Public Participation One of the main aims of the public participation process is to serve as a structure for communication and consultation with I&APs. An outline of the communication efforts that was launched as part of this process are listed below. It should, however, be noted that this plan was adapted throughout the process to ensure successful communication and consultation by the public participation consultants to all I&APs. Royal HaskoningDHV 1 | P a g e The project team recognises successful communication as a relevant, timely, and continuous tool that enables the targeted project team, individual and groups of I&APs. The terms of reference for the implementation of a successful and robust public participation programme, were as follows: Identification of I&APs in the vicinity of the study area; Provision to all I&APs of an opportunity to comment or raise concerns regarding the project; Maintenance of procedures for communication with I&APs and receiving, documenting and responding to relevant communication from I&APs; Identification and elimination of any sources of misunderstandings between the Applicant, Consultants and the I&APs; Always aim to improve the communication between the Consultants, the Applicant and I&APs; Present the project in an objective way by supplying all appropriate, relevant and accurate information and facts in an unbiased manner to ensure a better understanding of the proposed project; and Ensure that the public participation process is an independent and transparent process. 1.5 Public Participation Summary The PPP commenced in November 2012 where site notices were erected at the entrance of the site in Mount Edgecombe. In April 2013, the EIA for the Cornubia Retail Park was separated from the WML Application for the Mount Edgecombe Refuse Transfer Station Relocation and all I&APs were sent written notification informing them of this change. WML specific site notices were erected & Background Information Document (BID) flyers were distributed to neighbouring properties as well as other interested and affected parties (I&APs). An advertisement was placed in the Northglen News newspaper on the 4th June 2013 followed by a comment period which was open for the I&APs to raise their issues and concerns regarding the proposed activity. A draft Basic Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme has been compiled, and distributed to the relevant authorities and to the public for review, for a 40 day comment period in which I&AP’s were afforded the opportunity to raise any further issues and concerns. An advert was placed in the Northglen News newspaper on the 24th of May 2013 notifying I&APs inviting I&APs to attend the EIA Phase Public Meeting. They were further notified of the availability of the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report for public review for a period of 40 days. A public meeting was held on the 13th of June 2013 at Mount Edgecombe Country Club. Following receipt of all comments a Comments and Responses Report as part of the ongoing Issues Trail was updated where all comments were responded to and addressed in the final BAR. I&APs were notified of the availability of the final BAR for further review and comment for a period of 21 days prior to submission to the KZN DAEA for decision-making. 2 IDENTIFICATION OF I&APS Prior to commencement of the PP Process a detailed understanding of the project description was attained from the