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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT

CHARLESVILLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE Project Number: 535518

1 INTRODUCTION

The Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements (WCPDHS) proposes to develop a medium density (143.2 units/ha), affordable, sectional title housing development (the project) on Erf 109533 in Charlesville, Cape Town (the site).

Human Settlement Holistic Services (Pty) Ltd (HSHS) have been appointed by the WCPDHS as the client representative for this project.

SRK Consulting (South Africa) Pty Ltd (SRK) has been appointed by HSHS to undertake the Basic Assessment (BA) process required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA). The BA process was undertaken in accordance with Section 23 of the EIA Regulations, 2014 (GN R982, as amended by GN R326).

2 GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK

Sections 24 and 44 of NEMA make provision for the promulgation of regulations that identify activities which may not commence without an EA issued by the competent authority, in this case, the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP). The EIA Regulations, 2014, promulgated in terms of NEMA, govern the process, methodologies and requirements for the undertaking of EIAs in support of EA applications. The EIA Regulations are accompanied by Listing Notices (LN) 1-3 that list activities that require EA.

The EIA Regulations, 2014 lays out two alternative authorisation processes. Depending on the type of activity that is proposed, either a BA process or a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process is required to obtain EA. LN 1 lists activities that require a BA process, while LN 2 lists activities that require S&EIR. LN 3 lists activities in certain sensitive geographic areas that require a BA.

SRK has determined that the proposed project triggers activities listed in terms of LN 1 and LN 3 of the EIA Regulations, 2014, requiring a BA.

See page 4 for details on how you

can participate in the process.

Figure 1: Locality Plan

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Table 1: Listed activities triggered by the project

No Description

LN 1 (requiring BA)

27 The clearance of an area of 1 hectare (ha) or more, but less than 20 ha of indigenous vegetation

LN 3 (requiring BA)

12 The clearance of an area of 300 square metres or more of indigenous vegetation, in: i. Western Cape

(i) Within any Critically Endangered ecosystem listed in terms of section 52 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act

A Water Use Authorisation in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA) will be required from the Department of Water and Sanitation. Water use activities applicable to the project are listed in Table 2.

Table 2: Activities requiring a Water Use Licence

No Description

c Impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse.

i Altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse.

3 ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS

The EIA Regulations, 2014 define the detailed approach to the BA process (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: BA Process

The objectives of the BA process are to:

• Identify relevant authorities and key stakeholders to

engage in the stakeholder engagement process;

• Disclose information to authorities and stakeholders and

provide them with an opportunity to raise issues or

concerns;

• Identify potential issues and environmental impacts;

• Assess the significance of the potential environmental

impacts identified;

• Describe and investigate alternatives that have been and

/ or could be considered; and

• Provide feasible mitigation measures to address any

significant impacts identified.

These objectives are achieved through technical evaluation of the proposed activity, the stakeholder engagement

process and submission of the relevant documentation to DEA&DP.

4 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE AND ENVIRONMENT

Charlesville is a suburb of Cape Town, located approximately 3km north-west of Cape Town International Airport. The medium to high density residential suburb is located within close proximity of a shopping mall, schools, major roads and a railway line.

The site is currently vacant with informal footpaths criss-crossing the plot. Valhalla Drive, Michael Hambrick Street and John Jansen road constitute western, southern and eastern boundaries of the site. To the north of the site there is a vacant plot.

The botanical and freshwater impact assessments conclude that the site is degraded from an ecological perspective (Figure 3). However, the following ecological features were identified:

• a seasonal wetland located on the vacant plot north of the site. The 32m wetland buffer extends into the north of the site boundary, however does not extend into the development footprint; and

• a population (~20 plants) of a floral Species of Conservation Concern (SCC), Gnidia spicata (Vulnerable) in the north west corner of the site.

Figure 3: Current vegetation on the site - highly degraded

and predominantly exotic grasses and weeds

Though the surrounding area represents a township established on the Cape Flats as a result of the apartheid laws, the site does not contribute significantly in this regard. As such, this project is not expected to impact on any heritage resources.

5 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

An affordable medium density sectional title housing development is proposed for Erf 109533, Charlesville, Cape Town. The site is 24 998 m2 in extent. The proposed development footprint is ~89% of the site.

The development will have up to 358 housing units in apartment blocks and semi-detached/detached double storey units. Internal roads, parking, stormwater abatement facility and two mixed use erven for Corner Shop/Laundromat (Business), Place of Instruction, Place of Assembly and/or Utility Service, Authority Use are included

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in the development. There is no electrical supply servicing the site, as such it is proposed at a small substation looped into the existing David Atkins Street – Sonny Leon Road 11 kV feeder will be situated on the site.

The semi-detached/detached units will have individual access off John Jansen Road and Michael Hembrick Street. The main access to the rest of the development will be off John Jansen Road.

The following road upgrades at the Robert Sobukwe Road / Valhalla Drive intersection are proposed to accommodate future traffic growth:

• Provision of a 220m southbound Right-turn lane on the north approach;

• Extension of 70m shared through / Left-turn lane to 100m and extend the 30m Right-turn lane to 60m on the south approach;

• Provision a 350m through lane on the west approach;

• Extension the 60m Right-turn lane to 80m on the east approach; and

• Provision a 250m exit lane on the east approach.

The Valhalla / Charles Calvert Road / Downing Street intersection requires a 22 metre (inscribed diameter) traffic roundabout with 10 metre circulatory lane to accommodate future traffic growth.

6 ALTERNATIVES

Appendix 3 Section 3 (h)(i) of the EIA Regulations, 2014, requires that all BA processes must identify and describe feasible and reasonable alternatives. An alternative layout

was initially proposed and incorporated the freshwater specialist’s recommendation to exclude development from the 32m wetland buffer. The initial layout did not consider stormwater retention infrastructure. As such, the initial layout was amended to include an area for the stormwater retention infrastructure to be constructed in the north western corner of the site.

The No-Go alternative will involve the continuation of the status quo, i.e. development of 358 number of units will not take place in an area that requires and can accommodate affordable housing and the land will remain vacant.

7 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS

Potential impacts associated with the projects were assessed according to SRK’s standard Impact Assessment methodology. For all potentially significant impacts, the significance of the anticipated impact was rated without and with recommended mitigation measures. These impacts are presented in Table 3, which summarises:

• The impacts assessed in the BA Report; and

• Their significance without and with mitigation.

Table 3: Impacts significance ratings legend Rating +ve -ve

Insignificant I I

Very Low VL VL

Low L L

Medium M M

High H H

Very High VH VH

Figure 2: Site Development Plan

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Table 4: Summary of Impacts

8 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This BA Report has identified and assessed the potential

impacts associated with the proposed residential

development at the site. The site is considered to be

degraded from an ecological perspective with the impacts

of the development on biodiversity and freshwater

features being very low negative to insignificant with

mitigation measures being implemented. The impact that

the development traffic will have on the existing and

projected traffic congestion and delays will be very low

negative. The project development footprint has been

restricted to previously disturbed areas to allow for an

adequate wetland buffer.

This project is aiming to provide affordable housing which

is well-suited for the site and would be assisting achieve a

National objective of addressing housing shortages.

Key recommendations, which are considered essential,

are:

• Implement the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) to guide construction and operations activities and to provide a framework for the ongoing assessment of environmental performance;

• Appoint an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) to oversee the implementation of the EMPr;

• Conserve the Gnidia spicata on the site;

• Prevent pedestrian and vehicular access to the northern neighbouring land from the site; and

• Implement good housekeeping measures during

construction in accordance with the EMPr.

9 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Stakeholder engagement is a key component of the BA

process and is being undertaken in accordance with the

requirements of the EIA Regulations, 2014. The

stakeholder engagement activities are summarised in

Table 3.

Relevant local, provincial and national authorities,

conservation bodies, local forums and surrounding

landowners and occupants have been notified of the BA

process and the release of the BA Report for comment.

The public comment period is currently underway and will

be completed on 22 July 2020, following which the BAR

will be submitted to DEA&DP including the comments

received for their consideration. If substantial changes are

made to the BAR in response to comments received, the

BAR will be released for a second public comment period

prior to submission to DEA&DP.

Table 3: Stakeholder Engagement during Scoping

HOW YOU CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE EIA PROCESS

This BAR is not a final report and can be amended based

on comments received from stakeholders. Stakeholders

are therefore urged to participate:

Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) are invited to

comment, and/or to register on the project database. IAPs

should refer to the project number, and must provide their

comments together with their name, contact details

(preferred method of notification, e.g. email), and an

indication of any direct business, financial, personal or

other interest which they have in the application, to the

contact person below, by 22 July 2020.

Only registered IAPs will be notified of future

opportunities to provide comments.

Relevant Organs of State have been automatically

registered as stakeholders. According to the EIA

Regulations, 2014 all other persons must request in

writing to be placed on the register, submit written

comments or attend meetings in order to be registered as

stakeholders and be included in future communication for

the project.

Impact Significance rating

Without With

CONSTRUCTION PHASE IMPACTS

Nuisance during construction VL VL

Economic benefits VL VL Loss of indigenous vegetation and habitat L VL Deterioration of aquatic ecosystems VL I

OPERATIONS PHASE IMPACTS Deterioration of aquatic ecosystems VL VL Provision of housing M M Increased delays to the road users VL VL

Activity Date

Submission of Application form to DEA&DP

12 June 2020

Release BA Report to the Public 18 June 2020

Comment period 18 June - 22 July 2020

REGISTER OR PROVIDE YOUR OPINION TO:

Kelly Armstrong, SRK Consulting

Postnet Suite #206, Private Bag X18, Rondebosch, 7701

Tel: + 27 21 659 3083; Fax: +27 21 685 7105

Email: karmstrong@srk.co.za

REVIEW THE REPORT

Copies of the complete report are available for

public review at SRK’s website: www.srk.co.za – click

on the ‘Library’ and then ‘Public Documents’ links.