PROPOSED WESKUSFLEUR SUBSTATION IN THE VICINITY OF KOEBERG SUBSTATION: FAUNA & FLORA SPECIALIST IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT PRODUCED FOR LIDWALA CONSULTING ENGINEERS BY [email protected] JUNE 2015 Fauna & Flora Specialist EIA Report CONTENTS Declaration of Consultants’ Independence .............................................................................................. 4 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Scope of Study............................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Assessment Approach & Philosophy............................................................................................. 7 1.3 Site Visit.......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Data Sourcing and Review ............................................................................................................ 9 2.2 Site Visits & Field Assessment ..................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Sensitivity Mapping & Assessment ............................................................................................. 12 2.4 Limitations & Assumptions ......................................................................................................... 13 2.5 Relevant Aspects of the Development........................................................................................ 13 3 Description of the Affected Environment- Baseline ........................................................................... 15 3.1 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.1 Broad-Scale Vegetation Patterns ........................................................................................ 15 3.1.2 Site Descriptions ................................................................................................................. 16 3.1.3 Threatened Ecosystems ...................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Listed and Protected Plant Species ............................................................................................. 20 3.3 Critical Biodiversity Areas & Broad-Scale Ecological Processes .................................................. 21 3.4 Faunal Communities ................................................................................................................... 22 3.4.1 Mammals ............................................................................................................................ 22 3.4.2 Reptiles ................................................................................................................................ 23 3.4.3 Amphibians ......................................................................................................................... 25 3.4.4 Avifauna .............................................................................................................................. 25 4 Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 27 4.1 Substation ................................................................................................................................... 27 4.1.1 Alternative 1. ....................................................................................................................... 27 4.1.2 Alternative 4. ....................................................................................................................... 29 4.1.3 No-Go Alternative ............................................................................................................... 31 4.2 Transmission Lines ...................................................................................................................... 32 4.2.1 Alternative 1 Corridor. ........................................................................................................ 32 4.2.2 Alternative 4 Corridor ......................................................................................................... 32 5 Assessment of Impacts ....................................................................................................................... 35 6 Mitigation & Impact Management Measures .................................................................................... 36 6.1 Construction Phase ..................................................................................................................... 36 2 Weskusfleur Substation Fauna & Flora Specialist EIA Report 6.2 Operational Phase ....................................................................................................................... 37 6.3 Decommissioning ........................................................................................................................ 38 7 Conclusion & Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 39 8 References .......................................................................................................................................... 41 9 List of Mammals .................................................................................................................................. 42 10 List of Reptiles ................................................................................................................................. 45 11 List of Amphibians ........................................................................................................................... 47 12 List of Birds ...................................................................................................................................... 48 3 Weskusfleur Substation Fauna & Flora Specialist EIA Report DECLARATION OF CONSULTANTS ’ INDEPENDENCE I Simon Todd, as the appointed independent specialist hereby declare that I: • act/ed as the independent specialist in this application; • regard the information contained in this report as it relates to my specialist input/study to be true and correct, and • do not have and will not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity, other than remuneration for work performed in terms of the NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 and any specific environmental management Act; • have and will not have no vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding; • have disclosed, to the applicant, EAP and competent authority, any material information that have or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or document required in terms of the NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 and any specific environmental management Act; • am fully aware of and meet the responsibilities in terms of NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010 (specifically in terms of regulation 17 of GN No. R. 543) and any specific environmental management Act, and that failure to comply with these requirements may constitute and result in disqualification; • have provided the competent authority with access to all information at my disposal regarding the application, whether such information is favourable to the applicant or not; and • am aware that a false declaration is an offence in terms of regulation 71 of GN No. R. 543. Note: The terms of reference must be attached. Simon Todd Pr.Sci.Nat 400425/11. June 2015 This report has been prepared by Simon Todd, but includes some input on avifauna contributed by Dr. Andrew Jenkins of Avisense Consulting. 4 Weskusfleur Substation Fauna & Flora Specialist Study 1 INTRODUCTION Eskom Holdings SOC Limited intends to develop a new substation in order to service the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. The current 400kV GIS substation has been in operation for almost 30 years and there are concerns regarding its reliability as it is difficult to repair as a result of discontinued technology. There is also no space for additional 132 kV feeder bays at Koeberg Substation to accommodate future requirements for new lines. In order to overcome these problems and limitations Eskom has proposed the construction of a new substation to be known as the Weskusfleur Substation. The stated objectives of the new substation are as follows: • Improve the existing 400kV reliability • Cater for load growth on the 132 kV network for the 20-year horizon. • Prevent overloading of existing 400kV busbar • Replace 30 year old technology/equipment Before Eskom can proceed with the development of the above proposed Weskusfleur Substation, environmental authorization from the Department of Environmental Affairs is required. Lidwala Consulting Engineers is conducting the EIA process on behalf of Eskom and has appointed Simon Todd Consulting to provide specialist ecological input for the EIA process. This ecological specialist study details the ecological characteristics of the affected areas and provides an assessment of the likely ecological impacts