Proposed Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure for the Umhlanga Ridgeside Development Appendices Appendix 7: Specialist Studies Appendix 7A: Terrestrial Ecological Impact Assessment Appendix 7B: Heritage Impact Assessment Appendix 7C: Wetland Delineation Impact Assessment Appendix 7D: Specialist Declaration Forms Proposed Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure for the Umhlanga Ridgeside Development Appendices Appendix 7A: Terrestrial Ecological Impact Assessment PROPOSED STORMWATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE UMHLANGA RIDGESIDE DEVELOPMENT TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT MARCH 2019 PREPARED FOR: TONGAAT HULETT DEVELOPMENTS Title and Approval Page Proposed Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure for the Umhlanga Project Name: Ridgeside Development Report Title: Terrestrial Ecological Assessment Report Authority Reference: - Report Status Draft Applicant Tongaat Hulett Developments Prepared By: Nemai Consulting (Pty) Ltd +27 11 781 1730 147 Bram Fischer Drive, +27 11 781 1731 FERNDALE, 2194 [email protected] PO Box 1673, SUNNINGHILL, www.nemai.co.za 2157 50048-20190307- Terrestrial Report Reference: R-PRO-REP|20170216 Ecological Assessment Report Author: Avhafarei Phamphe Author’s Affiliations Professional Natural Scientist: South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions Ecological Science (400349/2) Professional Member of South African Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Scientists Professional Member: South African Association of Botanists. This Document is Confidential Intellectual Property of Nemai Consulting (Pty) Ltd © copyright and all other rights reserved by Nemai Consulting (Pty) Ltd This document may only be used for its intended purpose Amendments Page Amendment Date: Nature of Amendment Number: 19 May 2017 First Draft for Client Review 01 02 November 2018 Second Draft for Client Review 02 Proposed Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure for the Umhlanga Ridgeside Development Terrestrial Ecological Assessment Report Executive Summary Introduction The Umhlanga Ridgeside Development received Environmental Authorisation in 2007 for a mixed land use development. The development will consist of residential, commercial and open space development. This development will also include the construction of internal services such as sewage, water and electricity, the construction of stormwater management services, the construction of new roads and intersection, as well as the upgrading of existing roads and intersection. Tongaat Hulett has appointed Nemai Consulting to undertake a Basic Assessment Process for the proposed stormwater and sewer reticulation to serve the lower portion of Precinct 2 and Precinct 4, and Hatch (Civil Engineers) has provided various options. A Terrestrial Ecological Assessment was undertaken in order to assess the impacts that the proposed development will have on the receiving environment. Objectives The objective of this study was to identify sensitive species and their habitats along the proposed infrastructure alternatives. The current ecological status and conservation priority of vegetation in the study area was assessed. Potential faunal habitats were investigated in the study area and all mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians known to occur in the study area or seen on site were recorded. Red data species (both fauna and flora) that are known to occur in the study area were investigated. Relevant Legislation and Guidelines The study considered the relevant environmental legislation that may have bearing on the project. Study Area and Project Description The proposed development is located in Umhlanga Ridgeside, within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The alternatives considered for the proposed stormwater and sewer infrastructure for the Umhlanga Ridgeside Development are discussed. Regional Vegetation The proposed infrastructure alternatives fall within the Forest and Indian Ocean Coastal belt biomes Grassland Biome, and traverse two vegetation types, namely the endangered KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt Grassland and the critically endangered KwaZulu-Natal Dune Forests: East Coast Dune Forest. - Page iv March 2019 Proposed Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure for the Umhlanga Ridgeside Development Terrestrial Ecological Assessment Report Terrestrial Threatened Ecosystems According to the data sourced from SANBI, the critically endangered Northern Coastal Grasslands was listed as the only terrestrial threatened ecosystem recorded along the proposed infrastructure alternatives. KwaZulu-Natal Biodiversity Spatial Planning According to KwaZulu-Natal Biodiversity Spatial Planning, the proposed infrastructure alternatives fall within the KwaZulu-Natal Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA): Irreplaceable and also within the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System areas. No CBA Optimal and Ecological Support Areas were found to occur within the study area. Natural forest The proposed infrastructure alternatives are located in or adjacent to a pristine forest area. Only the periphery of the forest area is dominated by alien invasive plant species. The National Forests Act of 1998 (as amended) provides the strongest and most comprehensive legislation and mandate for the protection of all natural forests in South Africa. Section 7 of the Act prohibits the cutting, disturbance, destruction or removal of any indigenous living or dead tree in a forest without a licence. The Act is enforced by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). Protected Areas The study area does not fall within or near any protected area. Durban Metropolitan Open Space System The proposed infrastructure alternatives fall within areas denoted as a Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D’MOSS) area. D’MOSS is a network of natural open spaces, defined by the EMM as critical for the ecosystem goods and services that they supply to the residents of the municipal area. D’MOSS aims to conserve local biodiversity and to ensure the supply of environmental services for current and future generations. Limitations and Gaps The study highlighted the limitations and gaps associated with the study. Methodology Survey methodology included a comprehensive desktop review, utilising available provincial ecological data, relevant literature, GIS databases, topographical maps and aerial photography. This was then supplemented through a ground-truthing phase, where pertinent areas associated with the various infrastructure alternatives were visited during field surveys undertaken during flowering seasons April 2017 (Autumn) and follow up visit in February 2018 (Summer). The survey focused on flora (vegetation) and fauna (mammals, avifauna and reptiles). Several Orange Listed floral and Red Data faunal species pertaining to the study area were identified during the desktop review. Habitat suitability was assessed through the ground-truthing phase of the surveys. - Page v March 2019 Proposed Stormwater and Sewer Infrastructure for the Umhlanga Ridgeside Development Terrestrial Ecological Assessment Report Results and Discussion - Flora During the field surveys, no threatened species or species of conservation importance were observed along the proposed infrastructure alternatives. In terms of the National Forests Act (Act No. 84 of 1998), certain tree species have been identified and declared as “protected species”. DAFF has developed a list of protected tree species in the Act. One such species recorded on site was Mimusops caffra. This tree can be avoided by shifting the proposed sewer infrastructure alternatives 1 and 3 within the required servitude. However, a permit for either removing, destroying or disturbing this plant will be acquired from DAFF before any construction commences if avoidance is not possible. In order to reduce the impacts on the protected tree, the Applicant should purchase at least 10 medium to large sized Mimusops caffra on removal of the existing Coast Red Milkwood, and plant on the property as part of landscaping. The proposed infrastructure alternatives traverse through the KwaZulu-Natal Dune Forest. Results and Discussion - Fauna The proposed sewer infrastructure alternatives 1 and 3 fall within the highly disturbed area mostly dominated by alien plants and situated also along the main road, whereas the proposed stormwater infrastructure alternatives (and also proposed Sewer infrastructure alternative 2) are situated along the natural forest. Mammal species are known to occur within the forest areas. Table 7 lists all animals recorded during the survey. Six mammal species were recorded and only one species of conservation importance was noted in the area, namely Red forest Duiker (also known as Natal Red Duiker). This species was seen along the proposed forest edges. Conservation and planning tools were reviewed for relevancy in terms of the project area, and it was found that the study area did not contain or form part of any Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. An avifaunal study indicated that the forest areas provided suitable habitats for species recorded on site. No bird species of conservation concern were noted on site along the proposed infrastructure alternatives. Large areas surrounding the proposed sewer infrastructure alternatives have resulted in increased habitat modification and transformation due to construction of roads and mixed used residential areas. The forest vegetation provides suitable habitat for several arboreal reptile species such as Boomslang (Dispholidus typus typus), Spotted Bush Snake (Philothamnus variegatus),