Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107 -JR, Gauteng: FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Basic Assessment Process Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107-JR, Gauteng FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT October 2016 Prepared for: Pacific Ora (Pty) Ltd Prepared by: CSIR P O Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599 Tel: +27 21 888 2432 Fax: +27 21 888 2473 Lead Authors: Kelly Stroebel and Minnelise Levendal © CSIR 2016. All rights to the intellectual property and/or contents of this document remain vested in the CSIR. This document is issued for the sole purpose for which it is supplied. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the CSIR. It may also not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover than that in which it is published. Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107 -JR, Gauteng: FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Title: Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107-JR, Gauteng Purpose of this report: The purpose of this BA Report is to: Present the proposed project and the need for the project; Describe the affected environment at a sufficient level of detail to facilitate informed decision-making; Provide an overview of the BA Process being followed, including public consultation; Assess the predicted positive and negative impacts of the project on the environment; Provide recommendations to avoid or mitigate negative impacts and to enhance the positive benefits of the project; Provide an Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) for the proposed project. This BA Report is the Final Version submitted to GDARD for decision making. Prepared for: Pacific Ora (Pty) Ltd Prepared by: CSIR P O Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599 Tel: +27 21 888 2432 Fax: +27 21 888 2473 Authors: Kelly Stroebel and Minnelise Levendal Date: October 2016 To be cited as: CSIR, 2016. Draft Basic Assessment Report for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107-JR, Rooiwal, Gauteng. CSIR Report Number. Page 1 Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107 -JR, Gauteng: FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT SECTION A ACTIVITY INFORMATION SECTION B DESCRIPTION OF RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT SECTION C PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SECTION D RESOURCE USE AND PROCESS DETAILS SECTION E IMPACT ASSESSMENT SECTION F APPENDICES APPENDICES Appendix A Site plan(s) Appendix B Photographs Appendix C Facility Illustrations Appendix D Route position information Page 2 Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107 -JR, Gauteng: FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Appendix E Public Participation information E1: Proof of site notice E2: Written notices issued as required in terms of the regulations E3: Proof of newspaper advertisements E4: Communications to and from interested and affected parties E5: Comments and Responses Report E6: Copy of the register of I&APs Appendix F F1: Waste License(s) application F2: SAHRA information Appendix G Specialist report Appendix H EMPr Appendix I Other information (CV’s of the project team (EAPs who prepared the report)) Page 3 Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107 -JR, Gauteng: FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Table S1: Listed activities relating to the proposed project 5 Table 1: Listed activities relating to the proposed project 21 Table 2: Gender percentage of the population 38 Table 3: Population by racial group 39 Table 4: Employees by monthly income 39 Figure 1: Site location and layout of the preferred alternative (proposal) 23 Figure 2: Spatial representation of Conservation Important Species and areas of concern. 32 Figure 3: Population density per ward for Region 2 of the CoT 38 Figure 4: Employment status for Region 2 40 Figure 5: Guide to assessing risk/impact significance as a result of consequence and probability. 51 Figure 6: Schematic diagram indicating an example of a cumulative impact 73 Figure 7: Planning region and wards of Region 2 (City of Tshwane Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework, June, 2012). 78 Figure 8: Key priorities as identified by the public for Region 2 of CoT (Tshwane Regional Integrated Development Plan, 2014-15) 79 Figure 9: Regional Developmental Overview for Region 2 (Tshwane Regional Integrated Development Plan, 2014-15) 80 Page 4 Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107 -JR, Gauteng: FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS In terms of the NEMA EIA Regulations 2014, the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107-JR, Gauteng, requires a Basic Assessment (BA) process, and an application for Environmental Authorisation has been submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) as the competent Authority. GDARD Ref No: 002/16-17/I0002 In terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) EIA Regulations published in GNR 983, 984 and 985 on the 4 December 2014 Government Gazette Number 38282, and NEM:WA Regulations published in GNR 921 on the 29 November 2013 Government Gazette No 37083, a Basic Assessment (BA) process and a Waste Management License is required as the project applies to the following listed activities (detailed in Table S1 below). Table S1: Listed activities relating to the proposed project Activity No (s) Description of each listed activity as per the Relevant notice: (in terms of the Government Notice: relevant notice) GN. R 983, 4 4 The development and related operation of facilities or December 2014 infrastructure for the concentration of animals for the purpose of commercial production in densities that exceed- (i) 20 square metres per large stock unit and more than 500 units per facility; (ii) 8 square metres per small stock unit and; a. More than 1000 units per facility excluding pigs where (b) applies; b. More than 250 pigs per facility excluding piglets that are not yet weaned. GN. R 983, 4 27 The clearance of an area of 1 hectare or more, but less than 20 December 2014 hectares, of indigenous vegetation, except where such clearance of indigenous vegetation is required for- (i) The undertaking of a linear activity; or (ii) Maintenance purposes undertaken in accordance with a maintenance management plan. GN. R 921, 29 Category A (1) The storage of general waste in lagoons. November 2013 Page 5 Basic Assessment for the proposed Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd Pig and Vegetable Production facility on farm Bultfontein 107 -JR, Gauteng: FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd is proposing a small-scale pig and vegetable production endeavour on 8 hectares of the farm 120 Bultfontein 107-JR, located in the Rooiwal/Onderstepoort area of Pretoria North, Gauteng Province. This area falls under the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, and is approximately 35 km north of Pretoria. The proposed project will include the following components: Office building and employee facilities; 40 cubic metre slurry dam to store pig waste for use as fertilizer; Approximately 5 hectares of granadilla and spinach crop; Approximately 12 pig houses holding a total of 910 pigs; and Already existing municipal infrastructure (roads and electricity connection). South African pork industry is relatively large in terms of overall South African agricultural sector. It contributes around 2.15% to the primary agricultural sector. The Pacific Ora project will seek to boost local economic development in the area and provide opportunities to decrease poverty and unemployment. Pacific Ora Projects (Pty) Ltd is being provided pro-bono environmental services by the DEA/CSIR’s Special Needs and Skills Development Programme, which aims to assist small- medium micro-enterprises with obtaining Environmental Authorization in order to enhance local economic development. IMPACT ASSESSMENT A total of 53 direct and indirect impacts were identified by respective specialists. These were relating to loss of ecology, air and water quality, social factors etc. EAP’S RECOMMENDATION Based on the findings of this BA Process, it is therefore the opinion of the EAPs that conducted this BA Process, i.e. Mrs Minnelise Levendal and Ms Kelly Stroebel, that there are no negative impacts that should be considered as “fatal flaws” from an environmental perspective, and thereby necessitate substantial re-design or termination of the project. Based on the findings of this Draft BA Report, it is the opinion of the EAPs that the project benefits outweigh the negative environmental impacts, and that the project will make a positive contribution towards local economic development and food security in the Rooiwal/Bultfontein area. Due to the fact that the project proponent, i.e. Pacific Ora Projects, is being assisted pro-bono under the DEA Special