ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT PROPOSED METALS INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER NEAR KURUMAN, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE DENC REF NO.: NC/EIA/04/JTG/GA-S/KUR1/2016 DECEMBER 2016 Prepared for: Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism Metlife Towers, 13th Floor, Cnr Stead & Knight Streets, Kimberley, 8309 Prepared by: Savannah Environmental Pty Ltd FIRST FLOOR, Block 2 5 Woodlands Drive Office Park, Corner Woodlands Drive & Western Service Road, WOODMEAD, Gauteng po box 148, sunninghill, 2157 Tel: +27 (0)11 656 3237 Fax: +27 (0)86 684 0547 E-mail: [email protected] www.savannahsa.com PROPOSED METALS INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER NEAR KURUMAN, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report December 2016 PROJECT DETAILS DENC Reference No. : NC/EIA/04/JTG/GA-S/KUR1/2016 Title : Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Proposed Metals Industrial Cluster near Kuruman, Northern Cape Province Authors : Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd Lisa Opperman Karen Jodas Gabriele Wood Sub-consultants : Enviro-Niche Consulting Heritage Contracts and Archaeological Consulting CC (HCAC) Banzai Environmental Techso Neville Bews and Associates Client : Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism Report Status : Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report for submission to the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation Submission Date : December 2016 When used as a reference this report should be cited as: Savannah Environmental (2016) Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Proposed Metals Industrial Cluster near Kuruman, Northern Cape Province. COPYRIGHT RESERVED This technical report has been produced for the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The intellectual property contained in this report remains vested in Savannah Environmental. No part of the report may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd or the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Project Details Page i PROPOSED METALS INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER NEAR KURUMAN, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report December 2016 PURPOSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT The Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism propose the establishment of a Metals Industrial Cluster on Portion 6253 of Erf 1 located ~2km south east of the town of Kuruman and ~1km south west of Wrenchville. The Metals Industrial Cluster (hereafter referred to as the Cluster) is planned to be a semi-industrial and industrial park that will include a variety of businesses and enterprises relating predominantly to the industrial sector (but also including entities from other supporting sectors such as IT and retail), with varying function and nature of production (i.e. ranging from light to heavy industry). The proposed project site1 falls under the jurisdiction of the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality and within the greater John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province. The full extent of the project site (~47 ha in extent) is planned to be developed and utilised for the Metals Industrial Cluster. The nature and extent of the Metals Industrial Cluster, as well as the potential environmental impacts associated with the establishment, operation and decommissioning phases are explored in more detail in this final EIA report. The final EIA Report consists of nine chapters, which include: » Chapter 1 provides background to the project and the environmental impact assessment process followed within this final EIA report. » Chapter 2 provides the project description, need and desirability, project site selection information and identified project alternatives. » Chapter 3 outlines the strategic regulatory and legal context for industrial development in South Africa and specifically for the project. » Chapter 4 outlines the approach to undertaking the environmental impact assessment process. » Chapter 5 describes the existing biophysical and socio-economic environment within and surrounding the project site. » Chapter 6 provides an assessment of the potential issues and impacts associated with the project and presents recommendations for mitigation of significant impacts. » Chapter 7 provides an assessment of the potential for cumulative impacts. » Chapter 8 presents the conclusions and recommendations based on the findings of the EIA. » Chapter 9 provides a list of reference material used to compile the final EIA Report. The Scoping Phase of the EIA process identified potential issues associated with the Metals Industrial Cluster, and defined the extent of the studies required within the EIA Phase. The EIA Phase addresses those identified potential environmental 1 The project site is defined as Portion 6253 of Erf 1. Purpose of the EIA report Page ii PROPOSED METALS INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER NEAR KURUMAN, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report December 2016 impacts and benefits associated with all phases of the project including design, establishment and operation, and recommends appropriate mitigation measures for potentially significant environmental impacts. This final EIA report aims to provide the environmental authorities with sufficient information to make an informed decision regarding the proposed project. The release of the EIA Report for a 30-day review period provided stakeholders with an opportunity to verify that the issues they have raised to date have been captured and adequately considered within the study. This final EIA Report incorporates all issues and responses prior to submission to the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (DENC), the decision-making authority for the project. Purpose of the EIA report Page iii PROPOSED METALS INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER NEAR KURUMAN, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report December 2016 DENC REQUIREMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT Savannah Environmental has compiled a table (refer to Table 1 below) which outlines the DENC requirements as outlined in the acceptance of the Scoping report dated June 2016, and where in the final Environmental Impact Assessment report the requirements have been addressed for ease of reference. Table 1: Information requested by DENC NO. INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS CROSS REFERENCE IN THIS FINAL EIA REPORT a) Please address concerns raised by the All issues and concerns raised by the representative of the El Dorado Hotel. El Dorado Hotel has been addressed within this final EIA report. Proof of correspondence is included in Appendix C. b) As part of the need and desirability please look The need and desirability for the into the feasibility of the project, bearing in project is included in Chapter 2. mind that there is a current industrial area Proof of correspondence with the within the same location that is under-utilised. Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality regarding why the current industrial area cannot be utilised for the development is included in Appendix B and Appendix C6. DENC Requirement for the Environmental Impact Assessment Report Page iv PROPOSED METALS INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER NEAR KURUMAN, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report December 2016 INVITATION TO COMMENT ON THE EIA REPORT Members of the public, local communities and stakeholders were invited to comment on the EIA Report for the Metals Industrial Cluster which was made available for a 30- day review and comment period at the following locations from 02 November 2016 – 02 December 2016: » Kuruman Public Library » www.savannahSA.com Invitation to Comment on the EIA Report Page v PROPOSED METALS INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER NEAR KURUMAN, NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report December 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Enterprises (SMME) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) companies The Metals Industrial Cluster is with an increasing number of larger planned as a semi-industrial and firms over time. These enterprises industrial park that will include a could possibly be of a light, medium or variety of businesses and enterprises heavy industrial nature. relating predominantly to the industrial sector (but also including entities from The Cluster will be driven by a Cluster other supporting sectors such as IT Management Company (CMC). and retail), with varying functions and Incentives will be offered to Cluster nature of production (i.e. ranging from Member Firms (CMFs) and will include light to heavy industry ). The shared infrastructure, facilities and proposed project site falls under the services, as well as access to funding. jurisdiction of the Ga-Segonyana Local Shared infrastructure will include a Municipality and within the greater common boundary fence, a security John Taolo Gaetsewe District checkpoint, and utility connection Municipality in the Northern Cape points and roads infrastructure within Province. The full extent of the project the Cluster. site (~47 ha in extent) is planned to be developed and utilised for the The Cluster will include basic Metals Industrial Cluster. infrastructure that will be required for the operation of the development. The The proposed project plan includes the basic infrastructure will form part of development of the cluster in multiple the Phase 1 development, within which phases spaced over a 20-year time the shell of the Cluster will be horizon after the initial establishment / constructed to make provision for the set up. The time scale (4