proposed kwadabeka a infill housing project, ethekwini ... · ethekwini municipality enviroedge cc...

Background Information Document Ver1 November 2013 – Proposed KwaDabeka A Infill Housing Project Scoping Report & EIA

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID) FOR CONSULTATION

DRAFT

as a component of the

Environmental Impact Assessment

for the

Proposed KwaDabeka A Infill Housing Project, eThekwini Municipality

EIA Reference No: DM/0013/2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. CONTACT NAMES AND ADDRESSES 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 3. PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT AND SCOPING 4. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL 5. AFFECTED AREA 6. POTENTIAL KEY ISSUES 7. INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES 1. CONTACT NAMES AND ADDRESSES Interested and Affected Parties may contact the Environmental Consultants listed below for additional information.

Applicant: Environmental Consultants:

eThekwini Municipality eThekwini Municipality Human Settlements &

Infrastructure : Projects Western Region, 90 Qashana Khuzwayo (Shepstone) Road, Pinetown,

New Germany, 3620

Tel: 031 - 311 6520 Fax: 086 523 9964

Enviroedge cc PO BOX 1009, Kloof, 3640

Tel:(031) 764 2569 Fax: (086) 654 6598 [email protected] www.enviroedge.co.za

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The proposed KwaDabeka A Infill Housing project can be classified as an in-situ housing upgrade and development project located in KwaDabeka A, within ward 20 of the eThekwini Municipality. Enviroedge cc. has recently been commissioned to undertake an environmental impact assessment for the proposed development. As part of this assessment a scoping exercise is being undertaken in accordance with Regulations 26-36 in terms part 3 of chapter 3 of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No 107 of 1998), as amended, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations of 2010. These regulations identify various activities which may have a substantial detrimental effect on the environment. In addition the Regulations list procedures for assessing potential associated environmental impacts. Scoping forms part of the initial phase of these procedures. 3. PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT AND SCOPING

This report provides preliminary project information to enable interested and/or affected parties (IAPs) an opportunity to comment on the proposed development. All issues and comments raised by IAPs during scoping will be documented in the Scoping Report and Environmental Impact Assessment. This will assist in the identification of environmental issues that could have a negative and/or positive impact on the site and the community. 4. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

The proposed KwaDabeka A Infill Housing project is an in-situ housing upgrade and development project located in

Tel:(031)

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.enviroedge.co.za/

eThekwini Municipality Enviroedge cc


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KwaDabeka A, within ward 20 of the eThekwini Municipality. The project aims to upgrade and formalise existing informal residential units as well as the construction of additional units. The project area is situated 20km north-west of the Durban CBD, within a residential area which is already well established. The site is located south-east of KwaDabeka on portions of Erf 101 KwaDabeka (Erven 13, 15, 42, 43, 44, 65, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100 KwaDabeka). The project area consists of an elongated stretch of land that winds through the existing, developed area of KwaDabeka. The project could be classified as an in-situ upgrade, and entails the upgrading of 542 families who have settled on an informal basis on the land, without any essential services and the creation of an additional 479 erven/housing units on approximately 66ha of land with a potential yield of 1 021 units/sites. The basic average house area would be 40m

2 in size. The project includes the provision

of basic associated settlement infrastructure which includes, water borne sanitation to each household, individual house pipe borne water connections, and internal roads comprising of approximately 15km of 3.5m wide all weather black surfaced roads, and 35km of foot paths and steps leading to houses where, owing to steep slopes, the construction of roads may not be economically feasible. The approximate centre point of the site can be found at: 29°46’42.67”S; 30°54’36.65”E. The study area is located north of Clermont and the M19, with Newlands West to the east of the site, and it is bounded by the uMngeni River to the north, which feeds north into the main Mgeni River which runs from north-west to south-east around the north-eastern edge of the site. The Aller River forms the southern boundary of the site, and links into the Mgeni River east of the study area. There are three smaller tributaries of the Mgeni River which drain in a generally south-easterly direction and link together to flow into the Mgeni River north-east of the study area. 5. AFFECTED AREA General The greater KwaDabeka area is situated 20km north-west of the Durban CBD. It covers the area north-east of New Germany, north of Westville and the M19 and south-west of KwaMashu, within Ethekwini Municipality and Clermont is located just south of KwaDabeka A Please see Figure 1 – Locality Plan and Figure 2 – Site Plan. Vegetation According to The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, the vegetation in the study area can be classified as Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, which corresponds with the Subtropical Coastal Forest Biome, and Mucina and Rutherford (2006) classify the vegetation group as KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt (CB3). The KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt is characterised by highly dissected undulating plains, which previously may have been covered to a large extent with various types of subtropical coastal forest. Some primary grassland dominated by Themeda triandra still occurs in the hilly, high rainfall areas, however, anthropological activities in this belt have created secondary Aristida grasslands, thickets and patches of coastal thornveld. Three endemic plant species are recorded by Mucina and Rutherford for the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt (CB3) vegetation type, and these include Vernonia Africana (Extinct), Barleria natalensis (Baleria) (Extinct) and Kniphofia pauciflora (Dainty poker) (Critically Endangered and Declining). The vegetation within the study area has, however, been highly disturbed, cleared and modified through anthropogenic activities. Some sections of indigenous vegetation were noted on site, together with areas of predominantly alien invasive weed infestation. Steep cleared slopes and erosion were also noted on site. Some large shade trees were noted along the road side, Acacia sp, together with alien invasive species such as Syringa. Two very large Ficus sp. were recorded at the head of a drainage line to the east of the study area: 29°46’36.60”S; 30°54’56.12”E and 29°46’40.20”S 30°54’29.4”E. Fauna There are a number of rivers, streams, drainage lines and wetland areas that fall within the study area. These riverine/drainage line areas and their associated vegetation are likely to provide habitat for associated species such as avifauna, reptiles and amphibians. Domestic livestock also graze in this area. In the north-eastern portion of the study area, D’MOSS is located along the proposed development edge, and in some drainage line sections, DMOSS falls within the development footprint area. The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Terrestrial Systematic Conservation Plan 2010 (TSCP) allocates the study area a Biodiversity Priority Area 1 status. This status covers almost 80% of the study area, excluding only the south-western section. The species list for the study area and surrounds, includes the following: Bradypodion melanocephalum (Black-headed dwarf chameleon), a lizard of the family Chamaeleonidae which is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, it is also known as the KwaZulu Dwarf Chamaeleon and its status is both (Vulnerable) and (Threatened) by habitat destruction, Gnomeskelus spectabilis, (Pill millipede), Eounyma lymneaeformis (Cone-shaped snail), the Lymnaeid Awl Snail (local common), endemic to



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KZN, Edouardia conulus, the (Conical Bark Snail), KwaZulu-Natal-endemic (Scarce), Eremidium erectus, the KwaZulu-Natal-endemic erect-cercus wingless grasshopper and Gulella separata (Endangered) Endemic to KZN. The TSCP also lists various millipedes including: Doratogonus falcatus millipede (Least concern), Doratogonus peregrinus (Wandering Black Millipede), (Not evaluated), Doratogonus natalensis – (Natal Black Millipede) (Vulnerable) and Doratogonus cristulatus – Cristulate Black Millipede (Least concern), as present within the area, all of which are endemic to KwaZulu-Natal. Alien invasive plant species noted on site include the following: Melia azederach (Syringa), Solanum mauritianum (Bugweed), Tecoma stans (Yellow bells), Ricinus communis (Castor-oil plant), Senna didymobotrya (Peanut Butter bush) and Canna indica (Indian shot).

Culture and Heritage A Shembe site was noted in the central section of the study area at 29°46’41.22”S; 3°054’29.90”E together with a CHG church. The presence of additional features of cultural or historical importance is currently unknown.

National and District Roads The KwaDabeka A Infill Housing site is accessed from Dinkelman Road, the M5 and then Khululeka Drive. The proposed development is not likely to impact any provincial or national road.

Services Electricity lines, telephone lines, street lights, water and sewage infrastructure were noted on site. The proposed new development areas will require the installation and extension of associated infrastructure including: sewers, water supply, electricity supply and storm water control. All relevant government departments or parastatals will be consulted as part of the Public Participation Process. Topography and Drainage The site topography and drainage are controlled by the underlying geology of the area. The site is generally undulating, and it is dissected by numerous steep valley areas. The approximate centre point of the site can be found at: 29°46’42.67”S; 30°54’36.65”E. The study area is bounded by the uMngeni River to the north, which feeds north into the main Mgeni River, which runs from north-west to south-east around the north-eastern edge of the site. The Aller River forms the southern boundary of the site, and links into the Mgeni River east of the study area. There are three smaller tributaries of the Mgeni River which drain in a generally south-easterly direction and link together to flow into the Mgeni River north-east of the study area. The study area reaches a high point of approximately 300 masl, to the north-east, and then falls away to a low point of approximately 121masl near a tributary of the Mgeni River, on the north-eastern edge of the study area. In the southern portion of the study area a high point of 298 masl is found, and the terrain drops away to the east to a low point of 182 masl, near the southern end of the same northern tributary of the Mngeni River, on the north-eastern edge of the study area. Geology and Hydrology Ordovician Natal Group sandstone, Dwyka tillite, Ecca shale and Mapumulo gneiss or Mokolian are described within the KwaZulu Natal Coastal Belt. The weathering process of old dunes has produced Berea red sand in places and the soils supported by the rock types in the area are shallow over hard sandstones and deeper over younger and softer rocks. The KwaDabeka site is mainly underlain by weathered tillite of Dwyka Formation (about 80% of the site area), with the remainder comprising weathered sandstone of the Natal Group. The site is generally underlain by a mantle of fill and transported soils overlying a pebble marker horizon, which in turn is underlain by residual soils and weathered bedrock. No areas of potential natural ground instability, comprising slip scars, tension cracks or hummocky land forms with associated seepage zones have been noted within the study area, and, as such, the site is deemed stable. However, there are sections of very steep slopes and a slope analysis was conducted as part of the project Terraplan Feasibility Report, which illustrated areas deemed unsuitable for clearing and platform creation. This information and mapping will be included in the project environmental assessment process. No groundwater points have been noted, however, prolific groundwater could be expected to occur in the vicinity of drainage lines, and seepage and perched groundwater flow at the soil/rock interface are likely to become more prolific in rainy months.



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Land use and Socio-economic structure Land use in the surrounding areas consists of predominantly subsistence farming activities associated with individual households. The socio-economic structure can be classified as predominantly low income. Most of the proposed new housing development area is undeveloped.

6. POTENTIAL KEY ISSUES Access to River and Drainage areas – Access to the river areas within the study area by construction vehicles will cause damage to the fauna and flora associated with these systems; it will also alter water and soil characteristics and flow patterns, and must be prevented. Surface Water Runoff – The construction activities may affect the area through changed hydrological patterns and this may have an ecological impact. Permanent alteration of flow patterns is a risk and could lead to detrimental effects on the vegetation if these are not mitigated for during and after construction. Storm water management associated with the proposed housing development should be incorporated into the design and should take into consideration the erosion potential of the region. Rehabilitation – A rehabilitation programme should be developed for all areas to be affected by the proposed housing development. Alien plants should be removed and replaced with indigenous vegetation. This must be an on going process and should not be left to the end of the projected construction period. Vegetation clearance – Where it is necessary for vegetation to be removed, this should not occur as a once off clearance, but should be phased, as needed, in order to reduce soil erosion potential and the proliferation of exotic weeds. Weeds will thrive on disturbed soil, and will present an eradication problem later should these plants set seed, especially near watercourses. Protected plant species should be relocated, and may not be removed without a permit from the Department Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). Erosion – Potential erosion should always be considered during and after construction. If strict mitigation measures are implemented these potential factors can be prevented / reduced. Mitigation measures include soil stabilisation and re-vegetation of affected areas as well as the avoidance (during construction and operation phases) of all areas susceptible to erosion. The opportunities created by this development through social upliftment may help to outweigh the negative impacts. The development disturbance areas are expected to cover fairly large areas, and it will be necessary to implement a comprehensive rehabilitation programme. It is imperative, however, that the construction and operation activities occur over as small an area as is practical. 7. INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES All Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) wishing to become registered as such and receive additional information, as well as an invitation to any public meeting, should one be required, should contact the environmental consultant to register as soon as possible (within 14 days of receiving this document). If you would be so kind, if you are aware of any IAPs who have not been informed or identified by ourselves, please let us know, so that they too may have the opportunity to register and / or receive information. Any issues, which you would like to raise and have not been identified to date, would be welcomed. References Mucina L & Rutherford MC (eds) 2006. The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Pretoria. Terraplan Associates (May 2009). KwaDabeka A Infill Housing Project – Feasibility Report Moore Spence Jones (February 2009). Report to Terraplan Associates on a Geotechnical Investigation for the Proposed KwaDabeka Unit A Infill Housing Development in Durban (Reference: 08-254)


Background Information Document Ver1 November 2013 – Proposed KwaDabeka A Infill Housing Project Scoping Report & EIA 5 of 6

Figure 1 – Locality Plan


Background Information Document Ver1 November 2013 – Proposed KwaDabeka A Infill Housing Project Scoping Report & EIA 6 of 6

Figure 2 – Site Plan

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