To: Interested and Affected Parties 2 October 2017 NOTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ON PORTION 56 OF THE FARM CHELSEA NO. 25, PORT ELIZABETH BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID) AND INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE Dear Sir / Madam Notice is hereby given of a Public Participation Process in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (GN R. 326 of 2017) contained in section 24(5) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended. Purpose of this Document The purpose of this document is to: 1. Provide Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) with information about the proposed rezoning, subdivision and development of residential housing 2. Introduce and explain the Basic Assessment and Public Participation Process to be followed for the proposed development, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998; NEMA) 3. Invite all I&APs to register their interest in the project and submit initial comments on any aspect of the project Project Background The property is situated on Old Seaview Road (see map attached), and consists of a single dwelling unit and associated outbuildings. It is proposed to subdivide the property into four portions (Portions A D; see map attached) with the intention of developing 8 additional dwelling units on the subdivided portions (2 per portion), with a maximum development footprint of 1 500 m 2 per dwelling unit. Including associated infrastructure and services, the total development footprint is anticipated to be approximately 14 000 m 2. The site is generally covered with indigenous vegetation with varying degrees of alien infestation, with many large, exotic trees such as pines and bluegums present. Vegetation on site is mapped as Algoa Sandstone Fynbos, which is listed as Vulnerable. The site does not fall within a Critical Biodiversity Area as set out in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro s Bioregional Plan (2015), and no surface water features are present on or in the immediate vicinity of the site. Access to the site is via an access road which runs along the eastern boundary of the site. Surrounding land uses include rural residential small-holdings, wedding and conference venues, the Sardinia Bay Golf and Wildlife Estate, Grassroof Restaurant, and limited agriculture and poultry houses.
Environmental Legislative Context National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998; NEMA) NEMA makes provision for the identification and assessment of activities that are potentially detrimental to the environment and which require authorization from the competent authority based on findings of an environmental assessment. In the Eastern Cape, these powers are delegated to the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT). The EIA Regulations (GN R.326 of 2017) and associated Listing Notices (GN R.327, 325 & 324 of 2017), promulgated in terms of section 24(5) of NEMA, set out the activities for which authorization is required following an environmental assessment. Activities under Listing Notices 1 & 3 require a Basic Assessment Process to be follow, whilst activities under Listing Notice 2 require a full Scoping & EIA. The development proposal triggers the following listed activity: Activity No: Activity 1: 27 The clearance of an area of 1 hectares or more, but less than 20 hectares of indigenous vegetation A Basic Assessment process is thus required for the proposed development. A Basic Assessment is a planning tool to assist in the identification and assessment of potential positive and negative impacts of a proposed development on the environment. It also recommends ways to avoid and minimize negative impacts, and ensure that developments are sustainable, without affecting people s lives and the environment adversely. The Basic Assessment will be undertaken in terms of the NEMA, as amended, and the EIA Regulations. National Heritage Resources Act (Act No. 25 of 1999; NRHA) The NHRA provides for the protection and management of s heritage resources. Section 38 of the NHRA notes that any person who intends to undertake a development categorized as (c) any development or other activity which will change the character of a site (i) exceeding 5 000 m 2 in extent; or (d) the re-zoning of a site exceeding 10 000 m 2 in extent; must at the very early stages of initiating such a development, notify the responsible heritage resources authority and furnish it with details regarding the location, nature and extent of the proposed development. The proposed development will exceed 5 000 m 2 in extent and will require the rezoning of the site (which exceeds 10 000m 2 ). A Heritage Notice of Intent to Develop (NID) will thus need to be submitted to the provincial heritage authority, along with a Heritage Assessment. This will be undertaken in conjunction with the NEMA process. Potential Environmental Issues The following potential impacts 1 have been identified for the various project phases (planning, construction & operation). These impacts will be addressed in the assessment in order to identify measures to avoid or reduce negative impacts and enhance positive impacts: Noise and dust impacts Impacts on indigenous vegetation and biodiversity 1 This list is not exhaustive
Socio-economic impacts Compatibility with surrounding area Traffic impacts Stormwater and erosion impacts Public Participation In terms of NEMA, public participation forms an integral part of the environmental assessment process. The Public Participation Process provides people who may be affected by the proposed development with an opportunity to provide comment and to raise issues of concern about the project, or to make suggestions that may result in enhanced benefits for the project. Comments and issues raised during the Public Participation Process will be captured, evaluated and included in a Comments and Responses Report. These issues will be addressed and included in the final Basic Assessment Report, which will be submitted to DEDEAT. Deliverables The environmental assessment will culminate in the compilation of a Basic Assessment Report (BAR) and Environmental Management Programme (EMPr). The BAR will be submitted to DEDEAT, the regulatory authority responsible for the review of the report. Following review of the report, DEDEAT has to reach a decision as to whether, and under which conditions, the project may proceed, based on environmental considerations. An environmental authorisation will be granted or refused based on the information provided in the Basic Assessment Report. Interested and Affected Parties who have registered will be notified of the environmental authorisation decision. Invitation to Participate Habitat Link Consulting has been appointed by the applicant as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake this process. This document therefore serves as notification of the project and your opportunity to register as an I&AP and provide initial comments. Should you or your organisation have any comments or queries regarding this project, or if you would like to participate in this process and by notified of further opportunities to provide comment, please register as an Interested & Affected Party by writing to Christelle du Plessis by no later than 1 November 2017. Postal Address:, Greenacres, 6057 Cell: 0741485583 Fax: 0413743984 Email: comments@habitatlink.co.za Please note that I&APs must provide their name, contact details (postal address, telephone number and email address) and an indication of any direct business, financial, personal, or other interest they may have in the approval or refusal of this application.
Sincerely, Christelle du Plessis Habitat Link Consulting
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING ON PORTION 56 OF THE FARM CHELSEA NO. 25 REGISTRATION AND COMMENT SHEET October 2017 PLEASE ENSURE YOU WRITE CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY AND USE EXTRA PAPER IF NEEDED Title Name and Surname Company Name Interest in the Project Postal Address Area Postal Code Telephone Number Email address Comment (You are welcome to attach more sheets if necessary. Your comments will be considered in the Basic Assessment Process) Please complete and return to Christelle du Plessis at Habitat Link Consulting by no later than 1 November 20217. Postal Address:, Greenacres, 6057 Cell: 0741485583 Fax: 0413743984 Email: comments@habitatlink.co.za THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
Figure 1: Location of the proposed Chelsea Development
Figure 2: Proposed subdivision of the property into four portions