UGU DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT January 2018 TITLE AND APPROVAL PAGE Project Name: Ugu District Municipality Environmental Management Framework Report Title: Strategic Environmental Management Plan Authority Reference: N/A Report Status Draft Client: Prepared By: Nemai Consulting +27 11 781 1730 147 Bram Fischer Drive, +27 11 781 1731 FERNDALE, 2194 [email protected] PO Box 1673, SUNNINGHILL, www.nemai.co.za 2157 Report Reference: 10623–20180116-SEMP R-PRO-REP|20150514 Name Date Author: D. Henning 16/01/2018 Reviewed By: N. Naidoo 16/01/2018 This Document is Confidential Intellectual Property of Nemai Consulting C.C. © copyright and all other rights reserved by Nemai Consulting C.C. This document may only be used for its intended purpose Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) AMENDMENTS PAGE Amendment Date: Nature of Amendment Number: 22/09/2017 First Version for Review by the Project Steering Committee 0 16/01/2018 Second Version for Review by the Public 1 Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ugu District Municipality, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, embarked on a process to develop an Environmental Management Framework for the district. Nemai Consulting was appointed to only compile the Strategic Environmental Management Plan, based on the outcomes of the Status Quo and Desired State phases of the overall Environmental Management Framework process. An Environmental Management Framework is a study of the biophysical and socio-cultural systems of a geographically defined area to reveal where specific activities may best be practiced and to offer performance standards for maintaining appropriate use of such land. In its formal context, the EMF that is adopted by the Minister or MEC will be taken into consideration when reviewing applications for environmental authorisation in or affecting the areas to which the EMF applies. In addition, the EMF informs decision-making regarding land use applications. The Environmental Management Framework development approach, which is outlined in the accompanying figure, is consistent with the requirements stipulated in the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) and the Environmental Management Framework Regulations (Government Notice No. R547 of 18 June 2010). This report represents the Strategic Environmental Management Plan of the Environmental Management Framework and serves to plot the way forward for attaining the desired state. The Strategic Environmental Outline of EMF Development Process Management Plan bridges the divide between the current state of the environment in the district and the desired state. It aims to achieve this by managing the sustainable utilisation of land through Management Guidelines January 2018 i Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) and by controlling the activities that may impact on environmental attributes in specific geographical areas. An Environmental Management Zones, which is also regarded as a ‘geographical area’ in terms of Section 24 of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998), represents a specific demarcated area that requires active control to ensure that its potential is realised and sensitive features are safeguarded. The following Environmental Management Zones were delineated for Ugu DM based on the outcome of the sensitivity analysis: Formally Protected Terrestrial Areas; Terrestrial Biodiversity; Aquatic Biodiversity; Coastal and Estuarine Environment; Agriculture; Heritage; and Urban Areas. To facilitate the attainment of the desired state for these zones, guidelines are required that stipulate compatible activities and specific management requirements and objectives that need to be adhered to when development is proposed in a zone. The SEMP culminates in a strategy for the implementation of the EMF, which consists of the following: A pragmatic approach to the implementation of the UGU DM EMF based on the commonly adopted management system of a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle; Linkages with other Planning and Policy Instruments; Striving towards the Desired State; Giving Effect to the EMF – EMF Enabling Institutional Arrangements; EMF Implementation Duties; EMF Functionality; EMF Review; Cooperative Governance; and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. January 2018 ii Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 Background 2 1.2 EMF Study Area 3 1.3 EMF Objectives 6 1.4 EMF Development Principles 7 1.5 SEMP Development Approach 7 1.6 Gaps, Assumptions and Limitations 7 2 SUMMARY OF STATUS QUO & DESIRED STATE REPORTS 10 2.1 EMF Development Process 10 2.2 Status Quo Report 11 2.2.1 Introduction 11 2.2.2 Biodiversity 11 2.2.3 Agriculture 12 2.2.4 Water Resources 13 2.2.5 Geology 13 2.2.6 Resource Economics 13 2.2.7 Air Quality 14 2.2.8 Heritage 15 2.2.9 Town Planning 15 2.2.10 Landscape Character Assessment 16 2.2.11 Mapping 17 2.3 Desired State Report 17 2.3.1 Introduction 17 2.3.2 Sustainability Objectives 17 2.3.3 Vision and Mission 18 2.3.4 Threats and Opportunities for Achieving the Desired State 18 3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ZONES 20 3.1 Process of Delineating EMZs 20 3.2 Sensitivity Analysis 21 3.2.1 Introduction 21 3.2.2 Determining Sensitivity per Environmental Feature 21 3.2.3 Agriculture 23 3.2.4 Terrestrial Biodiversity 26 3.2.5 Aquatic Biodiversity 31 January 2018 iii Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) 3.2.6 Coastal and Estuarine Environments 35 3.3 Slope 43 3.3.2 Heritage 44 3.4 Environmental Constraint Zones 47 3.5 Threats and Opportunities 48 3.6 Development Pressures 54 3.7 Managing Conflicts between Development and Environmental Features 59 3.8 Ugu DM EMZs 59 4 MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES 62 4.1 Introduction 62 4.2 Formally Protected Terrestrial Areas EMZ 63 4.2.1 Mapped EMZ 63 4.2.2 Expression of Desired State 63 4.2.3 Environmental Features considered 63 4.2.4 Governance Framework 64 4.2.5 Management Guidelines for achieving the Desired State 64 4.2.6 Compatible & Incompatible Activities 65 4.2.7 Performance Management 65 4.3 Terrestrial Biodiversity EMZ 66 4.3.1 Mapped EMZ 66 4.3.2 Expression of Desired State 66 4.3.3 Environmental Features considered 66 4.3.4 Governance Framework 67 4.3.5 Management Guidelines for achieving the Desired State 68 4.3.6 Compatible & Incompatible Activities 71 4.3.7 Performance Management 71 4.4 Aquatic Biodiversity EMZ 72 4.4.1 Mapped EMZ 72 4.4.2 Expression of Desired State 72 4.4.3 Environmental Features considered 72 4.4.4 Governance Framework 73 4.4.5 Management Guidelines for achieving the Desired State 73 4.4.6 Compatible & Incompatible Activities 76 4.4.7 Performance Management 76 4.5 Coastal and Estuarine EMZ 77 4.5.1 Mapped EMZ 77 4.5.2 Expression of Desired State 77 4.5.3 Environmental Features considered 77 4.5.4 Governance Framework 78 January 2018 iv Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) 4.5.5 Management Guidelines for achieving the Desired State 78 4.5.6 Compatible & Incompatible Activities 80 4.5.7 Performance Management 81 4.6 Agriculture EMZ 82 4.6.1 Mapped EMZ 82 4.6.2 Expression of Desired State 82 4.6.3 Environmental Features considered 82 4.6.4 Governance Framework 83 4.6.5 Management Guidelines for achieving the Desired State 83 4.6.6 Compatible & Incompatible Activities 86 4.6.7 Performance Management 86 4.7 Heritage EMZ 87 4.7.1 Mapped EMZ 87 4.7.2 Expression of Desired State 87 4.7.3 Environmental Features considered 87 4.7.4 Governance Framework 88 4.7.5 Management Guidelines for achieving the Desired State 88 4.7.6 Compatible & Incompatible Activities 89 4.7.7 Performance Management 89 4.8 Urban EMZ 90 4.8.1 Mapped EMZ 90 4.8.2 Expression of Desired State 90 4.8.3 Environmental Features considered 90 4.8.4 Governance Framework 91 4.8.5 Management Guidelines for achieving the Desired State 91 4.8.6 Compatible & Incompatible Activities 92 4.8.7 Performance Management 93 5 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY 95 5.1 Cyclical Implementation Approach 95 5.2 Linkages with other Planning and Policy Instruments 96 5.2.1 SDF and IDP 96 5.2.2 BSP 96 5.2.3 IEM Tools 96 5.3 Striving towards the Desired State 99 5.4 Giving Effect to the EMF 101 5.4.1 EMF Enabling Institutional Arrangements 101 5.4.2 EMF Implementation Duties 102 5.4.3 EMF Functionality 103 5.4.4 EMF Review 104 5.4.5 Cooperative Governance 106 5.5 Monitoring and Evaluation Framework 110 January 2018 v Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) 5.6 Cross-boundary Environmental Management 117 5.7 Land under Traditional Authorities 117 5.7.1 Overview 117 5.7.2 Administration of Trust Land 117 5.7.3 Development Pressures and Issues 119 5.7.4 Role of the EMF 120 6 REFERENCES 122 January 2018 vi Ugu DM EMF SEMP (Draft) LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Environmental Sensitivity Scale 22 Table 2: Sensitivity Ratings assigned to Category: Agriculture 25 Table 3: Land Use Management Objectives for Terrestrial and Aquatic Conservation Categories 29 Table 4: Sensitivity Ratings assigned to Category: Terrestrial Biodiversity 30 Table 5: Sensitivity Ratings assigned to Category: Aquatic Biodiversity 34 Table 6: Land Use Management Objectives for Marine and Inshore Conservation Categories 39 Table 7: Sensitivity Ratings assigned to Category: Coastal and Estuarine Environments 40 Table 8: Sensitivity Ratings assigned to Category: Terrain 43 Table 9: Heritage Resources within Ugu (Ugu DM, 2014) 45 Table 10: Sensitivity Ratings assigned to Category: Heritage 46 Table 11: EMF provisions to address threats and opportunities 49 Table 12: Management