SOCIAL SCOPING REPORT FOR JUNO WIND ENERGY FACILITY WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE MAY 2018 Prepared for ARCUS CONSULTING By Tony Barbour Tony Barbour ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING AND RESEARCH 10 Firs Avenue, Claremont, 7708, South Africa (Tel) 27-21-797 1361 - (Fax) 27-21-797 1361- (Cell) 082 600 8266 (E-Mail) [email protected] Regulation GNR 326 of 4 December 2014, as amended 7 April Section of Report 2017, Appendix 6 (a) details of the specialist who prepared the report; and the expertise Section 1.6, p6, of that specialist to compile a specialist report including a curriculum Annexure C, p101 vitae; (b) a declaration that the specialist is independent in a form as may Section 1.7, p7, be specified by the competent authority; Annexure D, p102 (c) an indication of the scope of, and the purpose for which, the report Section 1.2, p1 was prepared; (cA) an indication of the quality and age of base data used for the Section 1.2, p1, specialist report; Section 2, p7 (cB) a description of existing impacts on the site, cumulative impacts Section 4, p66 of the proposed development and levels of acceptable change; (d) the duration, date and season of the site investigation and the N/A for SIA relevance of the season to the outcome of the assessment; (e) a description of the methodology adopted in preparing the report Section 1.3, p2, or carrying out the specialised process inclusive of equipment and Annexure B, p95 modelling used; (f) details of an assessment of the specific identified sensitivity of the Section 1.3 and site related to the proposed activity or activities and its associated 1.4,p3 and 4 structures and infrastructure, inclusive of a site plan identifying site alternatives; (g) an identification of any areas to be avoided, including buffers; N/A (h) a map superimposing the activity including the associated N/A for SIA structures and infrastructure on the environmental sensitivities of the site including areas to be avoided, including buffers; (i) a description of any assumptions made and any uncertainties or Section 1.5, p5 gaps in knowledge; (j) a description of the findings and potential implications of such Section 4, p66 findings on the impact of the proposed activity, including identified alternatives on the environment, or activities; (k) any mitigation measures for inclusion in the EMPr; Will be undertaken during Assessment Phase (l) any conditions for inclusion in the environmental authorisation; Will be undertaken during Assessment Phase (m) any monitoring requirements for inclusion in the EMPr or N/A environmental authorisation; (n) a reasoned opinion— Will be undertaken i. as to whether the proposed activity, activities or portions thereof during Assessment should be authorised; Phase iA. Regarding the acceptability of the proposed activity or activities; and ii. if the opinion is that the proposed activity, activities or portions thereof should be authorised, any avoidance, management and mitigation measures that should be included in the EMPr or Environmental Authorization, and where applicable, the closure plan; (o) a summary and copies of any comments received during any Will be undertaken consultation process and where applicable all responses thereto; and during Assessment Phase (p) any other information requested by the competent authority N/A Where a government notice gazetted by the Minister provides for any protocol or minimum information requirement to be applied to a specialist report, the requirements as indicated in such notice will apply. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION Arcus Consulting was appointed by AMDA Developments to manage the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the establishment of a proposed 140 MW Juno Wind Farm (WF) and associated infrastructure in an area to the east of the small coastal town of Strandfontein in the Matzikama Local Municipality (MLM) in the Western Cape Province. Tony Barbour has been appointed by Arcus Consulting to undertake a specialist Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as part of the EIA process. This report contains the findings of the Social Scoping Report undertaken as part of the EIA process. APPROACH TO THE STUDY The approach to the SIA study is based on the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Guidelines for Social Impact Assessment (February 2007). These guidelines are based on international best practice. The key activities in the SIA process embodied in the guidelines include: Collection and review of baseline socio-economic data; Review of relevant planning and policy frameworks for the area; Site specific information collected during the site visit to the area and interviews with key stakeholders; Review of information from similar projects; and Identification of social issues associated with the proposed project. ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS Assumptions The identification and initial assessment is based on the author’s experience with renewable energy projects, including wind energy projects. In this regard it is assumed that the key social issues are likely to be similar. However, it should be noted that the comments on the social impacts contained in the Social Scoping Report are preliminary and will be confirmed during the Assessment Phase. Detailed enhancement and mitigation measures will also be identified during the Assessment Phase. Limitations No site visit was undertaken in preparing the Social Scoping Report. In this regard it is only possible to effectively interact with key stakeholders once they are fully aware of the new project, which is typically once the Scoping Report has been circulated for comment. However, the author has undertaken in the region of 50 SIAs for WFs and is therefore familiar with the social issues associated with the establishment of WFs. A site visit and follow-up interviews with key stakeholders will be undertaken as part of the assessment phase. The assessment of key social issues will also be informed by other key specialist studies, including the Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) and Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA). ii Juno WEF: SIA Scoping Report May 2018 SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS The key social issues are associated with: Compatibility with relevant policy and planning context (“planning fit”); Social issues associated with the construction phase; Social issues associated with the operation phase; Social issues associated with “no development” alternative; Social issues associated with cumulative impacts. FIT WITH POLICY AND PLANNING The findings of the review indicated that renewable energy is strongly supported at a national, provincial and local level. The development of and investment in renewable energy is supported by the National Development Plan (NDP), New Growth Path Framework and National Infrastructure Plan, which all make reference to renewable energy. At a provincial level the development of renewable energy is supported by the Western Cape Provincial Strategic Plan, Western Cape Provincial Spatial Development Framework (SDF), West Coast District Municipality Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and SDF and the Matzikama Municipality IDP and SDF. However, while these documents all support the development of renewable energy in principle, some also provide guidance on the location of renewable energy facilities. These issues will need to be considered by the relevant authorities when considering the application. CONSTRUCTION PHASE The key social issues associated with the construction phase include: Potential positive impacts Creation of employment and business opportunities, and the opportunity for skills development and on-site training; The construction phase for a single 140 MW WF is expected to extend over a period of ~two years and create approximately ~200-250 employment opportunities. It is anticipated that approximately 55% (136) of the employment opportunities will be available to low skilled workers, 30% (76) to semi-skilled workers and 15% (38) for skilled personnel. The majority of the low and semi-skilled employment opportunities will be available to local residents in the area, specifically residents from Vredendal, Doringbaai and Strandfontein. The majority of the beneficiaries are likely to be historically disadvantaged (HD) members of the community. This would represent a significant positive social benefit in an area with limited employment opportunities. In order to maximise the potential benefits the developer should commit to employing local community members to fill the low and medium skilled jobs. The capital expenditure associated with the construction phase for a 140 MW WF will be in the region of R 2.5 billion (2017 Rand value). The total wage bill for a 140 MW WF will be in the region of R69 million (2017 Rand value). A percentage of the wage bill will be spent in the local economy which will create opportunities for local businesses in the towns of Vredendal, Doringbaai and Strandfontein. The sector of the local economy that is most likely to benefit from the proposed development is the local service industry. The potential opportunities for the local service sector iii Juno WEF: SIA Scoping Report May 2018 would be linked to accommodation, catering, cleaning, transport and security, etc. associated with the construction workers on the site. The benefits to the local economy will be confined to the construction period (2 years). Potential negative impacts Impacts associated with the presence of construction workers on site and in the area; Influx of job seekers to the area; Increased safety risk to farmers,