DRAFT SCREENING REPORT - zitholele.co.za - Ingula/2. Draft Basic... · Eskom proposes to construct...

ZITHOLELE CONSULTING

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March 2010

SCREENING PHASE

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EEXXEECCUUTTIIVVEE SSUUMMMMAARRYY

Eskom proposes to construct a burial ground within the vicinity of the upper reservoir area of the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme. Zitholele Consulting was appointed to assess the biophysical aspects and social sensitivities of the proposed site alternatives, for the environmental authorisation process. Aspects investigated in this site selection and screening process include geology, ground water, heritage, soils, wetlands, ecology and social sensitivities.

A desktop screening of sensitivities was followed by a site visit with the specialist team, including Eskom representatives, in order to scrutinise the seven potential site alternatives. The result of the site screening was the identification of three preferred sites (Sites 1, 2 and 6). It was however noted by the specialists that detailed field work will be required to substantiate the visual observations.

In terms of the way forward, the specialists will assess the six feasible sites in their relative field of expertise and provide a report detailing their findings.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1

1.1 Project Background ................................................................................ 1 1.2 Study Scope ........................................................................................... 2 1.3 Project Team .......................................................................................... 4 1.4 Assumptions and Limitations .................................................................. 4

2 DESKTOP SCREENING ............................................................................ 4

3 SITE VISIT ................................................................................................. 5

4 CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD ...................................................... 8

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Location of the proposed site alternatives for the burial grounds. ........................ 3

Figure 2: Site visit photographs. ......................................................................................... 5

Figure 3: Desktop screening. ............................................................................................. 6

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Project team involved in the project screening. .................................................... 4

Table 2: Site alternative findings. ....................................................................................... 7

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

The growing demand for electricity is placing increasing pressure on Eskom’s existing power generation and transmission capacity, therefore Eskom is committed in implementing a Sustainable Energy Strategy that complements the policies and strategies of National Government. Eskom aims to improve the reliability of electricity supply to the country, and in particular, to provide for the growth in electricity demand in the country. To this end, Eskom obtained an Environmental Authorisation (EA) to construct the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme on the KwaZulu-Natal – Free State Province border,which commenced in 2002.

The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme requires the construction of two dams, the upper dam (Bedford Dam) and the lower dam (Braamhoek Dam), respectively. Several graves are within the area to be flooded as part of the upper Bedford Dam and these need to be relocated. As part of the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme Project Eskom has acquired 8000ha of land, to which the graves can be relocated - three (3) such farms (Hamilberg, Bronsbury and Wilge River) have been identified and agreed with the families whose graves will be relocated.

The aim of this project is to identify an environmentally and socially acceptable 30 m x 30 m (900 m2) area that can be used as a traditional burial ground, into which the graves will be relocated. Eskom indicated that three farm portions are available and their suitability for this purpose is the subject of this investigation; refer to Figure1 for the location of the sites.

• Farm Hamilberg 51 Portion 1

The Farm Hamilberg 51 Portion 1 is located to the north of an existing provincial dirt road. The farm therefore has an established access road in place and a small school is located opposite the site. Furthermore the farm is bisected by the Sikulubha River.

• Farm Bronsbury 1888

The Farm Bronsbury 1888 borders on the Farm Hamilberg with the Wilge River forming a boundary between the two farms. The provincial dirt road also traverses over this farm allowing established access.

• Farm Wilge River 319

The Farm Wilge River 319 is located to the south of the other two farms and as the name suggests the farm is characterised by the Wilge River which flows through the centre of the farm. There are two points where the provincial dirt road provides access to the farm.

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1.2 Study Scope

Eskom’s Generation Division has appointed Zitholele Consulting (Pty) Ltd, an independent company, to conduct a Basic Assessment process through evaluating the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed project. A screening assessment was undertaken for the project in order to identify potential site alternatives. Zitholele Consulting together with a team of specialists undertook a desktop survey and a site visit, with Eskom representatives, to investigate the various environmental elements:

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Figure 1: Location of the proposed site alternatives for the burial grounds.

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1.3 Project Team

The following project team was involved in this screening phase of the project.

Table 1: Project team involved in the project screening.

SPECIALIST AREA COMPANY PERSONNEL

Applicant Eskom Peter Nelson, Patience Selepe, Tobile Bokwe

Environmental Management Zitholele Consulting Konrad Kruger, Mpho Manyabe and Jacqui Hex

Public Participation Zitholele Consulting Anelle Lotter and Andre Joubert Ecology, Visual Impact, Soils and Land Capability

Zitholele Consulting Konrad Kruger

Geotechnical Africa Exposed Jan Arkert Ground water GHT Louis van Niekerk

Heritage Gaigher and Associates Stephan Gaigher Social Nthalepa Management Tshidi Magonare

1.4 Assumptions and Limitations

The following assumptions were made during the assessment:

• Graves require 2m of excavatable soil and no water seepage; and

• The graveyard will require 30 m x 30m of space.

2 DESKTOP SCREENING

As a first Zitholele narrowed down the study area on the three farms by using a desktop analysis of the know sensitivities in the area. In this specific case the only data that could be found for the area was the surface water sources i.e. rivers and streams. These known sensitive features were buffered in order to avoid these features. Perennial (constantly flowing) rivers were buffered by 200 m and non-perennial streams (seasonal) were buffered by 50m. These buffers are in line with the recommendations from the Department of Water Affairs (DWA1).

The resulting map shown in Figure 3 below shows the buffered areas around the surface water features. This allowed the consultants to identify suitable areas on the three farms. The suitable

1 A practical field procedure for the identification and delineation of wetlands and riparian areas, 1st edition, 2005. Department

of Water Affairs and Forestry.

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areas were numbered, and seven (7) potential site alternatives were identified from the desktop analysis. These seven sites are shown on the map below (Figure 3).

The desktop assessments were conducted using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and existing data sets from various sources. These data sources include data from the CSIR (Centre for Scientific Investigation and Research); the surveyor general’s office, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and provincial data sets (Free State).

3 SITE VISIT

Subsequent to the desktop analysis a site visit was undertaken by the project team in order to conduct an immediate screening exercise of the potential sites and to further narrow down on the suitability of the sites. Below are some photographs of the site visit.

Figure 2: Site visit photographs.

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Figure 3: Desktop screening.

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As mentioned above each of the sites were visited and the specialists had an opportunity to assess the sites visually and to give their opinion as to the suitability of each site. Table 2 below provides a summary of the comments received on site.

Table 2: Site alternative findings.

GENERAL GEOLOGY GROUND WATER

ECOLOGY / WETLANDS

SOCIAL SOILS AND AGRICULTURE

HERITAGE VISUAL

Site 1 – Bronsbury A

Potential relocation to area and poor quality access road to be upgraded

No observable problems


No wetlands, good vegetation cover

No residents or issues observable

No erosion visible, land used for grazing



Site 2 – Bronsbury B

Potential relocations to area and access road available





Erosion next to road, land used for grazing



Site 3 – Hamilberg A School on site and access road available

Some evidence of ferricrete, more detail study required

Localised seepage visible – less suitable

Vegetation disturbed School opposite site visited

Erosion next to road, land used for grazing. Some seepage through soil.



Site 4 – Hamilberg B Alternative not accessible and therefore not considered

Site 5 – Wilge River A

Potential expropriations to area and access road requires upgrade and wetland crossing



Vegetation disturbed but access will require a wetland crossing


No erosion visible, land used for grazing.



Site 6 – Wilge River B

Steep slope right next to access road

Sandstone in a “wavy” formation, more detail study required

Slope very steep and localised seepage visible



Erosion next to road, land used for grazing. Some seepage through soil



Site 7 – Wilge River C

Good access on either side of road





Erosion next to road, land used for grazing



Ideal Suitable Not Ideal

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During the site visit it was observed that Site 4 is not a feasible alternative due to inaccessibility and was not to be investigated further. In terms of suitability, Sites 1, 2 and 7 showed the least sensitivities, while Sites 3, 5 and 6 had potential constraints that required more detail investigation.

All the specialists indicated that the feasible alternatives require a more detailed study to confirm the visual observations. It was hence decided to re-number the sites from 1 – 6 simply deleting site 4.

4 CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD

The proponent, Eskom, proposes to establish a burial ground within the vicinity of the upper reservoir area of the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme. Zitholele Consulting was appointed to undertake the necessary biophysical aspects and social sensitivities and environmental authorisation process for the proposed project. To this effect, a number of potential sites were identified and screened. Aspects investigated during screening included geology, ground water, heritage, soils, wetlands, ecology and social sensitivities.

A desktop screening of sensitivities was followed by a site visit with the specialist team in order to both interrogate and scrutinise the seven potential site alternatives identified. The result of the site screening was the elimination of one site due to access problems and the identification of three preferred sites (Sites 1, 2 and 7) and three sites that required more detail investigation (Sites 3, 5 and 6). It was however noted by the specialists that detailed field work was required to substantiate the visual observations.

In terms of the way forward, the specialists will assess the six feasible sites in their relative field of expertise and provide a report detailing their findings.

Konrad Kruger Jacqui Hex

ZITHOLELE CONSULTING (PTY) LTD

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