AVIFAUNAL SPECIALIST REPORT PROPOSED NEW 132KV OLIFANTSHOEK POWER LINE August 2017 Prepared by: Prepared for: Gerhard Botha (Pr Sci Nat: Ecology & Botany) Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd 1st Floor, Block 2, 5 Woodlands Drive Office Park PO Box 12500, Brandhof, 9324 Cnr Woodlands Drive & Western Service Road Cell: 084 2073454 Woodmead Email: [email protected] PROPOSED NEW OLIFANTSHOEK 132KV POWER LINE Avifaunal Assessment Report August 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration of Consultant’s Independence .................................................... iii 1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Applicant .................................................................................................................1 1.2 Project .....................................................................................................................1 1.3 Proposed Activity...................................................................................................1 1.4 Location...................................................................................................................3 1.5 Terms of reference ...............................................................................................8 1.6 Conditions of this report......................................................................................8 1.7 Assumptions and Limitations..............................................................................9 2 Methodology........................................................................................ 9 2.1 Data scouring and review....................................................................................9 2.2 Field sampling and assessment methodology ..............................................10 3 Study Area ........................................................................................ 12 3.1 Climate and rainfall ............................................................................................12 3.2 Existing Land Use................................................................................................13 3.3 Vegetation overview...........................................................................................13 3.4 Topography and drainage .................................................................................14 3.5 Avian micro-habitats ..........................................................................................15 3.6 Important Bird Areas (IBA) ..............................................................................29 3.7 Avifauna species composition...........................................................................29 3.8 Avifauna species composition...........................................................................30 4 Sensitvity assessment ........................................................................ 32 5 impact assessment............................................................................. 36 5.1 Methodology used to assess the potential impacts .....................................36 5.2 Impact Statement...............................................................................................37 5.3 Preferred VS alternative power line and substation optionsError! Bookmark not defined.51 6 Discussion and Conclusion................................................................... 52 7 References ........................................................................................ 56 Avifaunal Impact Assessment Report Page i PROPOSED NEW OLIFANTSHOEK 132KV POWER LINE Avifaunal Assessment Report August 2017 FIGURES Figure 1: Layout of the power line and substation alternatives......................... 7 Figure 2: Climate graph of Olifantshoek/Kathu region (https://en.climate- data.org/location/27075/). .......................................................... 12 Figure 3: Climate table of Olifantshoek/Kathu region (https://en.climate- data.org/location/27075/). .......................................................... 12 Figure 4: Acacia erioloba woodland. .......................................................... 17 Figure 5: Acacia mellifera – Tarchonanthus camphoratus shrub veld. ............ 19 Figure 6: Acacia tortilis – Acacia mellifera habitat........................................ 20 Figure 7: The Olifantsloop river (above) and the Ga-magara River (below)..... 22 Figure 8: The depression wetland inundated with water following recent rainfall events. ..................................................................................... 24 Figure 9: The dense Acacia karroo thicket. .................................................. 25 Figure 10: The 275kV power line as well as service road crossing the Ga-magara river. ........................................................................................ 27 Figure 11: Sociable weavers utilizing the power line tower structures for the construction of their nest. ........................................................... 28 Figure 12: White-backed Vultures using the tower for perching as well as roosting. ................................................................................................ 28 Figure 13: Marshal Eagle that was disturbed from its perching site (275kV power line). ........................................................................................ 29 Figure 14: Avifaunal sensitivity map for the Olifantshoek 132kV power line as well as proposed substation options. ................................................... 35 Avifaunal Impact Assessment Report Page ii PROPOSED NEW OLIFANTSHOEK 132KV POWER LINE Avifaunal Assessment Report August 2017 DECLARATION OF CONSULTANT’S INDEPENDENCE I, Gerhard Botha, as the appointed 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, » act as an independent specialist, in line with the definitions in the Regulations; » 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, 2014 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, 2014 and any specific environmental management Act; » am fully aware of and meet the responsibilities in terms of NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 (specifically in terms of regulation 13 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 48 of GN No. R. 982. Gerhard Botha Pr.Sci.Nat 400502/14 (Ecological Science) August 2017 Avifaunal Impact Assessment Report Page iii PROPOSED NEW OLIFANTSHOEK 132KV POWER LINE Avifaunal Assessment Report August 2017 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Applicant Eskom Holdings SOC Limited 1.2 Project The project will be referred to as the 132kV Olifantshoek power line. 1.3 Proposed Activity The Olifantshoek power line will be comprised of the following: » A new overhead 132 kV power line approximately 31-35 km long to connect the Emil switching station to a new Olifantshoek substation. The majority of the new power line route will follow the existing Ferrum/Nieuwehoop 400kV and Ferrum/Lewensaar 132kV power lines. The possible development corridor of the new power line is 300m in width within which the power line will have a servitude of 32 m wide. There are 3 alternative power line corridors proposed, of which all options will transect the Olifantsloop non-perennial river and the Ga-mogara perennial river. The table below (Table 1) provides an overview of the power line components to be constructed: Table 1: Summary of the different components associated with the proposed power line. Project Component Specification Additional Information Pylon Type Steel monopoles Poles are established in a and/or self- vertically staggered supporting towers configuration, and are kept upright by stays. Line Capacity 132 kilovolts Pylon Height 23m – 28m on average Pylon Separation Distance 200m - 400m Distance can exceed 500m depending on the topography and terrain to be spanned. Avifaunal Impact Assessment Report Page 1 PROPOSED NEW OLIFANTSHOEK 132KV POWER LINE Avifaunal Assessment Report August 2017 Project Component Specification Additional Information Pylon foundation footprint 10mx10m (100m²) Conductor attachment 25-28 m height Conductor Type Tern Conductor Corridor assessed in this BA 300m Report Servitude 32m Minimal Distances High voltage power lines require a large clearance (a) Vertical Distance of >3.8m area for safety precautions. structures not forming part The Occupational Health of the power line and Safety Act, 1993 (Act (b) Vertical distance of No. 85 of 1993) provides