PROPOSED LAGUNA BAY RESORT AND VISITORS CENTRE JEFFREYS BAY, EASTERN CAPE SPECIALIST REPORT - ECOLOGICAL Prepared for: Berkowitz & Associates 100 William Road Norwood 2192 Prepared by: Coastal & Environmental Services GRAHAMSTOWN P.O. Box 934 Grahamstown, 6140 046 622 2364 Also in East London www.cesnet.co.za DECEMBER 2010 This Report should be sited as follows: Coastal & Environmental Services, December 2010: Laguna Bay Resort and Visitors Centre, Jeffrey’s Bay, Eastern Cape, Ecological Assessment, CES, Grahamstown. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION This document contains intellectual property and propriety information that is protected by copyright in favour of Coastal & Environmental Services and the specialist consultants. The document may therefore not be reproduced, used or distributed to any third party without the prior written consent of Coastal & Environmental Services. This document is prepared exclusively for submission to Berkowitz & Associates, and is subject to all confidentiality, copyright and trade secrets, rules intellectual property law and practices of South Africa. Specialist Ecological Report – December 2010 THE PROJECT TEAM Prof Roy Lubke, Botanical Specialist, been involved in the study and research of coastal dune systems in South Africa, specialising in the rehabilitation of dune systems. These studies include availability of plant pathogens and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza in dune systems and on dune plants; plant succession and dynamics of dune systems; the effects of potentially invasive species on dune systems and the restoration of dune systems. Professor Lubke has held CSIR and FRD national programme funded projects in South Africa, and has managed European Union-funded projects on marram grass and the use of indigenous species for dune rehabilitation, in association with colleagues from the Netherlands, the United Kingom and Botswana. He has travelled widely in Europe and North America and visited and consulted on similar projects in the USA and the Netherlands. Roy has published in excess of 50 scientific publications, many of which are in the field of restoration ecology. Mr Nic Davenport, Environmental consultant, holds a BSc (Env Sci and Zoology), BSc (Hons) and MSc (with distinction) in Environmental Science from Rhodes University. His MSc dealt with valuing the tangible contributions of natural resources to urban households’ livelihoods from the surrounding municipal commonage of three different towns in South Africa. Nic’s experience in the consulting field relates to ecological studies, but also incorporates facilitating sustainable development, public participation and budget management. He also has GIS and mapping experience with the ArcView 3 programme. His interests include natural resource management, ecological studies dealing with indigenous fauna (including avifauna) and flora, as well as environmental economics (valuation) and livelihood studies. Mr Colin Fordham, Environmental Consultant\Botanical Specialist, completed his BSc in Botany and Biochemistry, as well as a BSc Botany Honours degree, specializing in Environmental Management at NMMU. He conducts vegetation sensitivity assessments, which in turn aid to guide developments and thereby minimise their impacts sensitive vegetation. Besides his botanical expertise, Colin has extensive GIS mapping skills. These skills allow for the projection and remote analysis of data, which when coupled with vegetation sensitivity assessment, aids decision making, with regard to any proposed development. Ms Christelle de Klerk environmental consultant, holds a BSc (Zoology, with distinction), BSc (Hons) and MSc (with distinction) from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Her interest and experience lies in the field of ecology, and she has assisted on various environmental impact assessment studies. Ms Leigh-Ann de Wet, Environmental Consultant\Botanical Specialist. Leigh-Ann holds a BSc (Botany and Entomology) as well as a BSc (Hons) and MSc in Botany from Rhodes University. She conducts vegetation sensitivity assessments, in turn aid to guide developments and thereby minimising their impacts sensitive vegetation. Ms Samantha Bodill, Environmental Consultant, holds a BSc in Zoology and Ichthyology as well as a BSc (Hons) in Zoology. She is currently employed as an Environmental Consultant at Coastal and Environmental Services, working and assisting on various environmental projects, of which seven are wind energy projects. Sam also provides general assistance with regard to administration, co-ordination, budget control, public participation, proposal writing, report production and field work. Coastal & Environmental Services iii Laguna Bay Resort and Visitors Centre Specialist Ecological Report – December 2010 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The proposed project entails the development of a Resort and Visitors Centre. Public amenities within the development will include bird-watching hides; a trail consisting of wooden boardwalks along the estuary; a visitor’s centre with tourist information and displays; a restaurant, pub and a swimming pool. For residential visitors, the proposed resort will include accommodation in the form of hotel rooms and apartments, private and secluded chalets and cabins at various scenic sites, spa and gym and private swimming pools. The description of the features is given in detail below. The impacts of the proposed development will result in four impacts of HIGH significance, and seven impacts of MODERATE significance. All impacts, with mitigation, are reduced to either moderate negative or low negative, (Table 1). The impact of the introduction of alien plant species is a LOW positive with mitigation. Table 1: A summary of the impacts of the proposed development. Impacts Without mitigation With mitigation Construction Operation No-Go Construction Operation No-Go phase phase phase phase Flora and Vegetation 1: Loss of Coastal thicket HIGH - N/A LOW - MODERATE - N/A N/A 2: Loss of salt marsh HIGH - N/A LOW - LOW - N/A N/A vegetation 3: Loss of Renosterveld HIGH - N/A LOW - MODERATE - N/A N/A vegetation 4: Loss of Coastal MODERATE - N/A LOW - MODERATE - N/A N/A Grassland vegetation 5: Loss of Bushclump MODERATE - N/A LOW - MODERATE - N/A N/A vegetation 6: Loss of habitat through HIGH - N/A LOW - MODERATE - N/A N/A removal of vegetation 7: Loss of plant species of MODERATE - N/A LOW - LOW - N/A N/A special concern 8: Introduction of alien plant MODERATE - HIGH - MODERATE – LOW LOW - MODERATE + species + Fauna 4: Loss of faunal biodiversity MODERATE - N/A MODERATE - MODERATE - N/A N/A 5: Loss of species of special MODERATE - N/A LOW - LOW - N/A N/A concern Disturbance of fauna caused MODERATE - N/A LOW - MODERATE - N/A N/A by removal of vegetation Overall, this report found that the proposed development of the Laguna Bay Resort and Visitor Centre should not pose any significant threat to the surrounding ecological environment if all the mitigation measures and recommendations are undertaken. On the contrary, if the development goes ahead with mitigatory measures put in place, there should be some moderate positive impacts on the surrounding biological environment. These would include the protection of the indigenous vegetation, particularly the thicket and the saltmarsh, protection of animal habitats and linkages with surrounding ecological corridors. Coastal & Environmental Services iv Laguna Bay Resort and Visitors Centre Specialist Ecological Report – December 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Limitations and assumptions .................................................................................................................. 2 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.1. Holiday resort of 200 units ..................................................................................................................... 3 2.2. Reception and Visitor’s Centre Building ................................................................................................. 3 2.3. Paved Parking and Manoeuvring Area .................................................................................................. 3 2.4. Spatial form ........................................................................................................................................... 3 2.5. Style & Building Materials ...................................................................................................................... 4 3. METHODOLOGY USED FOR ASSESSING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACTS ........................................ 7 3.1. Limitations of this Methodology .............................................................................................................. 7 3.1.1. Value Judgements ......................................................................................................................... 7 3.1.2. Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................................................................... 7 3.1.3. Seasonality .................................................................................................................................... 8 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................... 10 4.1. The project site ...................................................................................................................................