ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF 10 NEW ACCOMMODATION UNITS, 10 NEW LUXURY CAMPING SITES, A NEW ACCESS ROAD, UPGRADING OF SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE AND A LANDING STRIP AT NOSSOB CAMP, A LUXURY CAMP SITE AT GHARAGAB AS WELL AS A LUXURY CAMP SITE AT GRAIG LOCKHARDT (MATA MATA) IN THE KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK, NORTHERN-CAPE PROVINCE The Competent Authority NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS (DEA) DEA PROJECT REFERENCE NUMBER : 12/12/20/2446/1 OCTOBER 2012 The Applicant SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS (SANParks) P.O. Box 787 Pretoria 0001 Phone : (012) 426 5126 Fax : (012) 426 5446 The Environmental Assessment Practitioner DELRON CONSULTING cc P.O. Box 177 Woodlands 0072 Phone : +27 12 991 5399 Fax : +27 86 588 4242 E-mail : [email protected] Date October 2012 FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT: PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF 10 NEW ACCOMMODATION UNITS, 10 NEW LUXURY CAMPING SITES, A NEW ACCESS ROAD, UPGRADING OF SERVICES Document Title INFRASTRUCTURE AND A LANDING STRIP AT NOSSOB CAMP, A LUXURY CAMP SITE AT GHARAGAB AS WELL AS A LUXURY CAMP SITE AT GRAIG LOCKHARDT (MATA MATA) IN THE KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK, NORTHERN-CAPE PROVINCE P.O. Box 787 Pretoria SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS 0001 Applicant (SANParks) Phone: (012) 426 5126 Fax: (012) 426 5446 Fedsure Forum Building (corner of Pretorius and Van der Walt Streets) 2nd Floor North Tower 315 Pretorius Street Pretoria Department of Environmental Affairs 0002 The Competent Authority Attention: Director: Environmental Impact Evaluation Private Bag X447 Pretoria 0001 Tel: (012) 310-3268 Fax: (012) 320-7539 Authority Reference Number 12/12/20/2446/1 Delron Consulting cc 881 Old Farm Road P.O. Box 177, Woodlands, 0072 Environmental Assessment Old Farm Office Park Tel: (012) 991 5399 Practitioner Building E, First Floor Fax: 086 588 4242 Faerie Glen X8 E-mail: [email protected] Pretoria Revision Number: #1 Prepared by: P De Lange / A Khuswana / R La Grange Approved: P De Lange Signature: COPYRIGHT IS VESTED IN DELRON CONSULTING CC IN TERMS OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT (ACT 98 OF 1978) AND NO USE OR REPRODUCTION OR DUPLICATION THEREOF MAY OCCUR WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR i REFERENCE NO: 12/12/20/2446/1 PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF 10 NEW ACCOMMODATION UNITS, 10 NEW LUXURY CAMPING SITES, A NEW ACCESS ROAD, UPGRADING OF SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE AND A LANDING STRIP AT NOSSOB CAMP, A LUXURY CAMP SITE AT GHARAGAB AS WELL AS A LUXURY CAMP SITE AT GRAIG LOCKHARDT (MATA MATA) IN THE KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK, NORTHERN-CAPE PROVINCE FINAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A: ACTIVITY INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................... 2 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION....................................................................................................................................2 2. FEASIBLE AND REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................................7 3. PHYSICAL SIZE OF THE ACTIVITY................................................................................................................... 19 4. SITE ACCESS ................................................................................................................................................... 20 5. LOCALITY MAP (Refer to Appendix A) ............................................................................................................... 21 6. LAYOUT/ROUTE PLAN (Refer to Appendix A).................................................................................................... 21 7. SENSITIVITY MAP (Refer to Park Zoning Plan: Figure 1).................................................................................... 21 8. SITE PHOTOGRAPHS (Refer To Appendix B) .................................................................................................... 22 9. FACILITY ILLUSTRATION (Refer To Appendix C) .............................................................................................. 22 10. ACTIVITY MOTIVATION .................................................................................................................................... 22 11. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND/OR GUIDELINES ........................................................................ 29 12. WASTE, EFFLUENT, EMISSION AND NOISE MANAGEMENT .......................................................................... 32 13. WATER USE ..................................................................................................................................................... 36 14. ENERGY EFFICIENCY ...................................................................................................................................... 37 SECTION B: SITE/AREA/PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................... 38 1. TEN NEW TOURIST ACCOMMODATION UNITS AT NOSSOB ................................................................................ 38 1.1 Gradient of the Site ............................................................................................................................................ 38 1.2 Location in Landscape ....................................................................................................................................... 39 1.3 Groundwater, Soil & Geological Stability of the Site ............................................................................................. 39 1.4 Groundcover ...................................................................................................................................................... 39 1.5 Surface Water .................................................................................................................................................... 39 1.6 Land Use Character of Surrounding Area ........................................................................................................... 40 2. TEN NEW LUXURY CAMPING SITES AT NOSSOB ................................................................................................ 41 2.1 Gradient of the Site ............................................................................................................................................ 41 2.2 Location in Landscape ....................................................................................................................................... 41 2.3 Groundwater, Soil & Geological Stability of the Site ............................................................................................. 41 2.4 Groundcover ...................................................................................................................................................... 42 2.5 Surface Water .................................................................................................................................................... 42 2.6 Land Use Character of Surrounding Area ........................................................................................................... 43 3. RE-ALIGNMENT OF NOSSOB CAMP(cid:8217)S ACCESS ROAD ......................................................................................... 44 3.1 Gradient of the Site ............................................................................................................................................ 44 ii 3.2 Location in Landscape ....................................................................................................................................... 44 3.3 Groundwater, Soil & Geological Stability of the Site ............................................................................................. 44 3.4 Groundcover ...................................................................................................................................................... 44 3.5 Surface Water .................................................................................................................................................... 45 3.6 Land Use Character of Surrounding Area ........................................................................................................... 45 4. PROPOSED NEW LANDING STRIP AT NOSSOB ................................................................................................... 46 4.1 Gradient of the Site ............................................................................................................................................ 46 4.2 Location in Landscape ....................................................................................................................................... 46 4.3 Groundwater, Soil & Geological Stability of the Site ............................................................................................. 46 4.4 Groundcover ...................................................................................................................................................... 47 4.5 Surface Water .................................................................................................................................................... 47 4.6 Land Use Character of Surrounding Area ........................................................................................................... 48 5. PROPOSED 3 NEW LUXURY 4X4 CAMP SITES AT GHARAGAB ........................................................................... 49 5.1 Gradient of the Site ............................................................................................................................................ 49 5.2 Location in Landscape ....................................................................................................................................... 49 5.3 Groundwater, Soil & Geological Stability of the Site ............................................................................................. 49 5.4 Groundcover ...................................................................................................................................................... 49 5.5 Surface Water .................................................................................................................................................... 50 5.6 Land Use Character of Surrounding Area ........................................................................................................... 50 6. PROPOSED 10 NEW LUXURY CAMP SITES AT GRAIG LOCKHARDT ................................................................... 51 6.1 Gradient of the Site ............................................................................................................................................ 51 6.2 Location in Landscape ....................................................................................................................................... 51 6.3 Groundwater, Soil & Geological Stability of the Site ............................................................................................. 51 6.4 Groundcover ...................................................................................................................................................... 52 6.5 Surface Water .................................................................................................................................................... 52 5.6 Land Use Character of Surrounding Area ........................................................................................................... 53 7. CULTURAL/HISTORICAL FEATURES ..................................................................................................................... 53 8. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTER .......................................................................................................................... 54 9. BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................................................ 57 SECTION C: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.................................................................................................................... 61 1. ADVERTISEMENT AND NOTICE............................................................................................................................. 61 2. DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE MEASURES ................................................................................................ 61 3. ISSUES RAISED BY INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES............................................................................... 64 4. COMMENTS AND RESPONSE REPORT ................................................................................................................ 64 5. AUTHORITY PARTICIPATION ................................................................................................................................. 64 6. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.................................................................................................. 65 SECTION D: IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...................................................................................................................... 66 1. PLANNING AND DESIGN: IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION ................................................................ 66 2. CONSTRUCTION PHASE: IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION ............................................................... 67 3. OPERATIONAL PHASE: IMPACTS AND PROPOSED MITIGATION .................................................................. 76 4. DECOMMISSION PHASE .................................................................................................................................. 82 iii 5. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ......................................................................................................... 82 SECTION E. RECOMMENDATION OF PRACTITIONER ................................................................................... 86 SECTION F: APPENDIXES ........................................................................................................................................ 89 iv BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT (For official use only) File Reference Number: Application Number: Date Received: Basic assessment report in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2010, promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended. Kindly note that: 1. This basic assessment report is a standard report that may be required by a competent authority in terms of the EIA Regulations, 2010 and is meant to streamline applications. Please make sure that it is the report used by the particular competent authority for the activity that is being applied for. 2. This report format is current as of 1 September 2012. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ascertain whether subsequent versions of the form have been published or produced by the competent authority 3. The report must be typed within the spaces provided in the form. The size of the spaces provided is not necessarily indicative of the amount of information to be provided. The report is in the form of a table that can extend itself as each space is filled with typing. 4. Where applicable tick the boxes that are applicable in the report. 5. An incomplete report may be returned to the applicant for revision. 6. The use of (cid:8220)not applicable(cid:8221) in the report must be done with circumspection because if it is used in respect of material information that is required by the competent authority for assessing the application, it may result in the rejection of the application as provided for in the regulations. 7. This report must be handed in at offices of the relevant competent authority as determined by each authority. 8. No faxed or e-mailed reports will be accepted. 9. The signature of the EAP on the report must be an original signature. 10. The report must be compiled by an independent environmental assessment practitioner. 11. Unless protected by law, all information in the report will become public information on receipt by the competent authority. Any interested and affected party should be provided with the information contained in this report on request, during any stage of the application process. 12. A competent authority may require that for specified types of activities in defined situations only parts of this report need to be completed. 13. Should a specialist report or report on a specialised process be submitted at any stage for any part of this application, the terms of reference for such report must also be submitted. 14. Two (2) colour hard copies and one (1) electronic copy of the report must be submitted to the competent authority. 15. Shape files (.shp) for maps must be included on the electronic copy of the report submitted to the competent authority. 1 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT SECTION A: ACTIVITY INFORMATION Has a specialist been consulted to assist with the completion of this section? YES NO(cid:252) If YES, please complete the form entitled (cid:8220)Details of specialist and declaration of interest(cid:8221) for the specialist appointed and attach in Appendix I. 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION a) Describe the project associated with the listed activities applied for: The Applicant, South African National Parks (SANParks) are proposing to: 1. Expand the Nossob Rest Camp by: • Constructing 10 new accommodation units and associated infrastructure; and • Constructing 10 new luxury camping sites and associated infrastructure. 2. Re-align Nossob Rest Camp(cid:8217)s access road; 3. Construct a new landing strip at Nossob Rest Camp; 4. Construct 3 new luxury 4x4 camp sites at Gharagab; and 5. Construct 10 new luxury camp sites at Graig Lockhardt. (cid:8220)Luxury camp site means a camping site for campers with tents, trailer or caravan with private ablution(cid:8221) 1.1.1 PROPOSED NOSSOB REST CAMP EXPANSION 1.2 Ten (10) New Tourist Accommodation Units Construction of 10 new tourist accommodation units (6x2 beds and 4x4 beds). Each unit is to be constructed on ground level and includes a living area, kitchen, bedroom(s), en-suite ablution facilities, a braai facility and a parking bay. Refer to Appendix C for facility illustration. 1.2.1 Associated Infrastructure • It is proposed that water will be obtained from Nossob(cid:8217)s existing boreholes. Water will be piped from the existing reservoirs to the proposed 10 new accommodation units. The total estimated water demand for the 10 new units is 5 600 litres per day (28 persons x 200 litres per person per day). • Electricity will be supplied from existing generators within Nossob camp. An underground distribution network will feed individual accommodation units. • The accommodation units will be provided with full waterborne sanitation. All sewerage and grey water effluent will be diverted to septic tanks from where it is disposed of by means of a soil percolation system (soak away) or planted soil filter (reed bed). • Domestic solid waste will be removed on a daily basis by SANParks staff and disposed off at Nossob(cid:8217)s solid waste disposal facility. 2 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT • Access to the proposed new accommodation units will be from existing internal roads within Nossob Camp. 1.2 Ten (10) New Luxury Camping Sites Construction of 10 x (approx. 8m x 8m = 64m²) luxury camping sites. Luxury camp site means a camping site for campers with tents, trailer or caravan with private ablution. Each site has their own private ablution facility (toilet and shower), washbasin, a braai stand, a water- and electricity point. It is proposed that each site will be wooden pole screened. 1.2.1 Associated Infrastructure • Water will be obtained from Nossob(cid:8217)s existing boreholes. Water will be piped from the existing reservoirs to the proposed 10 new camping sites. The total estimated water demand for the 10 new sites is 6 000 litres per day (60 persons x 100 litres per person per day). • Electricity will be supplied from existing generators within Nossob camp. An underground distribution network will feed individual camping sites. • The camping sites will be provided with full waterborne sanitation. All sewerage and grey water effluent will be diverted to septic tanks from where it is disposed of by means of a soil percolation system (soak away) or planted soil filter (reed bed). • Domestic solid waste will be removed on a daily basis by SANParks staff and disposed of at Nossob(cid:8217)s solid waste disposal facility. • Access to the proposed new camping sites will be from existing internal roads within Nossob rest camp. 2. RE-ALIGNMENT OF NOSSOB CAMP(cid:8217)S ACCESS ROAD The current access road, aligned parallel to the dry riverbed of the Nossob River and in close proximity to existing tourist chalets and camping area is visually detracting from the tourist experience. Noise and dust levels from passing traffic are also impacting on the tourist accommodation area. It is proposed to realign an approx. 4 km section (depending on the final alignment) of the existing road, by constructing a new 2-way 6 meters wide gravel road, providing access to Nossob rest camp from the west. 3. PROPOSED NEW LANDING STRIP AT NOSSOB Presently there is an existing landing strip which is located to the south of Nossob rest camp. The existing landing strip is approximately 1 900m long by 30m wide. The existing landing strip is located and constructed in such a manner that it is highly visible to visitors to the Nossob rest camp and it detract from the wilderness qualities and tourist experience of the visitors(cid:8217) s views to the surrounding natural environment. The landing strip is very exposed to casual observers, which detracts from the wilderness sense of place. It is proposed that the existing landing strip will be decommissioned and that a new landing strip approximately 1,3 kilometres in length and 30 meters wide will be established to the north west of Nossob. The proposed location and orientation of the landing strip is to be strategically positioned in such a way so that aircraft will not overfly existing tourist areas. The footprint of the decommissioned landing strip will be rehabilitated. 3 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT 4. PROPOSED 3 NEW LUXURY 4X4 CAMP SITES AT GHARAGAB The proposed campsite will consist of 3 luxury camp sites to be developed approximately 16 km north west from Gharagab Wilderness Camp. Each campsite (approximately 8m x 8m = 64m² in size) will have their own private ablution facility (toilet and shower), washbasin, a braai stand and a water point. Each site will be wooden pole screened. An existing two-track road will provide access. Access will only be by 4x4 vehicles and no caravans or trailers will be allowed. 4.1 Associated Infrastructure • Water will be obtained from an existing borehole approximately 1,5 km from the proposed camping site and piped to the development. The water will be stored in PVC reservoirs (yo-yo tanks) inside structures that will be camouflaged. The total estimated water demand for the 3 camping sites is approximately 1 800 l/day (18 persons x 100 litres per person per day). • Solar power will be provided for lighting and water geysers. • All sewerage and grey water effluent will be diverted to septic tanks from where it is disposed of by means of a soil percolation system (soak away) or planted soil filter (reed bed). 5. PROPOSED 10 NEW LUXURY CAMP SITES AT CRAIG LOCKHARDT The proposed campsite will consist of 10 luxury camp sites to be developed approximately 20 km south-east from Mata Mata rest camp. Each campsite (approximately 8m x 8m = 64m² in size) will have their own private ablution facility (toilet and shower), washbasin, a braai stand and a water point. Each site will be wooden pole screened. An existing road will provide access. 5.1 Associated Infrastructure • Water will be obtained from an existing borehole approximately 1,6 km from the proposed camping site and piped to the development. The water will be stored in PVC reservoirs (yo-yo tanks) inside structures that will be camouflaged. The total estimated water demand for the 10 camping sites is approximately 6 000 l/day (60 persons x 100 litres per person per day). • Solar power will be provided for lighting and water geysers. • All sewerage and grey water effluent will be diverted to septic tanks from where it is disposed of by means of a soil percolation system (soak away) or planted soil filter (reed bed). 4 BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT Typical Luxury Camp Site Typical Luxury Camp Site Each campsite (approximately 8m x 8m = 64m² in size) will have their It is proposed that each site will be wooden pole screened. own private ablution facility (toilet and shower), washbasin, a braai stand and a water point. b) Provide a detailed description of the listed activities associated with the project as applied for: Listed activity as described in GN R.544, 545 and 546 Description of Project Activity GN No. R. 544 Item 9 (i) (ii): The construction of facilities or infrastructure exceeding 1000 metres in length for the The proposed re-design and construction of services bulk transportation of water, sewage or storm water (cid:8211) infrastructure for Nossob rest camp may involve the (i) With an internal diameter of 0.36 metres or construction of internal reticulation systems for water and more; or sewage exceeding 1000 metres in length and with internal (ii) With a peak throughput of 120 litres per second diameters larger than 0.36 meters. or more. GN No. R. 544 Item 11 (x) (xi): The construction of (x) buildings exceeding 50 square metres in size; or (xi) infrastructure or structures covering 50 square metres or For the proposed construction of 10 new accommodation more where such construction occurs within 32 metres of units, 10 luxury camp sites and associated services possibly a watercourse, measured from the edge of a watercourse, within 32 metres of the Nossob river. excluding where such construction will occur behind the development setback line. GN No. R. 544 Item 23 (ii): The transformation of The proposed expansion of Nossob rest camp (construction undeveloped, vacant or derelict land to (cid:8211) (ii) Residential, of 10 accommodation units, 10 camping sites, a landing retail, commercial, recreational, industrial or institutional strip and associated services) would result in the 5