BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT AND INVITATION TO COMMENT
KIWANE CAMPSITE UPGRADE
(DEDEAT SECTION 24G REF: BED#2016/06/26)
(DEDEAT EIA REF: EC/7/A/LN1,LN3/M/16-20)
Background Information Document
&
Invitation to Comment
Return address for comments:
EOH Coastal & Environmental Services
Ms Amy Hunter
25 Tecoma Street
Berea
P.O Box 8145
Nahoon, 5210
Tel:
(043) 726 7809
Fax:
(043) 726 8352
Email: [email protected]
AIM OF THIS DOCUMENT
The aim of this Background Information Document (BID) is to provide people affected by and interested in
the proposed project with information about this project, the process being followed and to provide them
with an opportunity to be involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. Interested and
Affected Parties (I&APs) may raise issues of concern, which will be addressed as part of the EIA process.
The findings of the EIA will be provided to the DEDEAT (Department of Economic Development,
Environmental Affairs and Tourism: Amathole Region) for final decision making, as to whether or not the
project should go ahead and if so, under what conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONER
EOH Coastal and Environmental Services specialises in impact assessments and environmental
management, providing a wide variety of environmental advisory services to public and private-sector
clients both within South Africa and internationally.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS
EOH Coastal and Environmental Services (EOH-CES) has been appointed by Tshani Consulting on behalf of
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality to undertake the necessary environmental investigations for the
Kiwane Campsite.
The Kiwane Campsite project includes two processes:
1. Section 24G Authorisation
2. Environmental Authorisation
1. Section 24G Authorisation
A Section 24G Authorisation is required when activities that triggered and EIA in terms of the National
Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1997) were undertaken without an Environmental
Authorisation. The Section 24G Authorisation aims to rectify and legalise these activities. A Basic
Environmental Assessment is required for the Kiwane Campsite in order to rectify and legalise the activities
that were undertaken. The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2010), promulgated in terms of
section 24(5) of Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)(Act No 107 of 1998, as
amended) identified the following triggering activities:
Number and
date of the
relevant
notice
Activity
No(s)
11(x)(xi)
The construction of buildings exceeding 50 square meters in size and the construction
of infrastructure or structures covering 50 square meters or more where such
construction occurs within 32 meters of a water course.
16(v)(vi)
The construction or earth moving activities within a distance of 100 meters inland of
an estuary in respect of buildings of 50 square meters or more and infrastructure
covering 50 square meters or more.
18(iv)
The infilling ore depositing of any material of more than 5 cubic meters into, or the
dredging, excavation, removal or moving of soil, sand, shells, shell grit, pebbles or rock
GN No R.544
BASIC
ASSESSMENT
Listed activity
Number and
date of the
relevant
notice
Activity
No(s)
40(iii)
45(v)(vi)
16(iii)(iv)
– a(ii)ff
GN No R.546
BASIC
ASSESSMENT
18a(ii)ee
24(c)(d) –
a(ii)ee
Listed activity
within t distance of 100 meters inland of the highwater mark of an estuary.
The expansion of buildings by more than 50 square meters within 32 meters of a
watercourse
The expansion of facilities within a distance of 100 meters inland of the highwater
mark of an estuary for buildings by more than 50 square meters and infrastructure by
more than 50 square meters within 32 metres of a watercourse.
The construction of buildings and infrastructure with a footprint of 10 square meters
or more outside an urban area in a critical biodiversity area as identified in systematic
biodiversity plans adopted by the competent authority
The expansion of resort, lodge, hotel and tourism or hospitality facilities where the
development footprint will be expanded outside urban areas in a critical biodiversity
area as identifies in systematic biodiversity plans adopted by the competent authority
The expansion of buildings where the buildings will be expanded by 10 square meters
or more in size and the expansion of infrastructure where the infrastructure will be
expanded by 10 square meters or more outside urban areas in a critical biodiversity
area as identified in a systematic biodiversity plan adopted by the competent
authority, within 32 meters of a watercourse.
2. Environmental Authorisation
The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (2014), promulgated in terms of section 24(5) of
Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)(Act No 107 of 1998, as amended)
identifies activities which may not commence without an authorisation from the competent authority, who
in this case is DEDEAT. In order to apply for authorisation for the development, the assessment and
communication of potential impacts of the activities must follow the procedure as described in regulations
26 to 35 of Government Notice No. R 982 of the EIA Regulations.
The proposed project is subject to a Basic Environmental Impact Assessment in terms of the following listed
activities:
Number and
date of the
relevant
notice
Activity
No(s)
15
GN No R.983
17
BASIC
ASSESSMENT
19
GN No R.985
6
12
Listed activity
The development of structures in the coastal public property, where the development
footprint is greater than 50m².
Development within 100m inland of the high-water mark of the sea or an estuary in
respect of buildings or any infrastructure with a footprint of 50m² or more.
The infilling or deposition of any material more than 5m³ or the dredging, excavation,
removal of soil, sand, shells, pebbles or rock more than 5m³ from the littoral zone, an
estuary or a distance of 100m from the high water mark of the sea or an estuary,
whichever is greater.
The development of resorts, lodges, hotels and tourism or hospitality facilities that
sleeps more than 15 people:
I.
In an estuarine functional zone
II.
Outside urban areas:
 A protected area in terms of the NEMPAA
 Sensitive areas as identified in an EMF
 Critical Biodiversity area in terms of a systematic biodiversity plan
adopted by the competent authority.
Clearance of more than 300m² of indigenous vegetation:
- Within 100m from the high water mark of the sea or estuarine functional area.
Number and
date of the
relevant
notice
Activity
No(s)
14
Listed activity
The development of infrastructure or structures with a physical footprint of 10m² or
more:
- Outside urban areas:
 Protected areas in terms of NEMPAA
 Sensitive areas as identified in an EMP
 Critical Biodiversity area in terms of a systematic biodiversity plan
adopted by the competent authority.
 Within 1km of the high water mark.
APPROACH TO THE BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT
The process required for the proposed project is a Basic Environmental Assessment. This process serves
primarily to inform the public and relevant authorities about the proposed project and to determine any
impacts.
Basic Assessment Process
We are
Review of previous studies
here!
↓
Public Meeting
↓
Advertisement & Registration of I&APs
↓
Distribution of BID Document to I&APs for comment
↓
Compilation of I&AP comments
↓
Review of Draft Basic Assessment Report by I&APs
↓
Submission of Basic Assessment Report to DEA
↓
Decision for EIA by DEA
The potential impact of the proposed activity on the environment will be extensively addressed by a Basic
Assessment Report (BAR), which will then be submitted to the relevant authorities for a decision.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Kiwane campsite upgrade involves activities that took place without an Environmental Authorisation as
well as proposed activities that will require Environmental Authorisation. The table below lists the historical
structures found on site, the non-compliant infrastructure requiring a Section 24G application as well as
proposed new infrastructure that will require an Environmental Authorisation.
Historical structures present on
site
11 x Single storey accommodation
units (EX 1)
Upgrades that occurred without
and EA (Section 24G)
Upgrade of 5 single storey units to
double storey units (Footprint
remained the same) (S24G 1)
Construction of pathways between
buildings
Proposed upgrades to still be
made (new EIA Application)
The construction of additional
pathways
between
the
Historical structures present on
site
Upgrades that occurred without
and EA (Section 24G)
Conference Centre
Construction of steps to the
accommodation units
Upgrade of the conference center
from a footprint of 120 square
meters to a foot print of 300
square meters (S24G 2)
Existing gravel access road (EX2)
The construction of an access
building (S24G 3)
Existing reservoir, borehole and
waterline
Existing Electricity transformer on
site
Existing Sanitation system
2 x backpacker facilities (EX3)
2 x ablution facilities (EX 4)
Clearance of vegetation
clearance) in a CBA 2 area
(Site
Proposed upgrades to still be
made (new EIA Application)
accommodation units.
The expansion of the conference
center by means of an open air
deck area leading off the main
structure, to overlook the Kiwane
estuary. (EIA 1)
The expansion of the access
building (EIA 2)
The construction of two parking
areas (EIA 3)
Upgrading the existing reservoir
and potable water reticulation
system - installation of two
underground reservoir tanks is
proposed (EIA 4)
Clearance of vegetation (Site
clearance) in a CBA 2 area
The installation of a sewage
package plant and reticulation
network (EIA 5)
Change room (S24G 4)
The figure below indicates the following as described in the table above:
Historical infrastructure:
EX
Non-compliant infrastructure:
S24G
Proposed infrastructure:
EIA
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
EOH-CES will investigate the receiving environment in order to assess the nature of potential impacts.
Impacts to be considered include environmental failure and risks of the “no-go” alternative. In addition,
impacts relating to the construction and construction-related activities that will occur in and around the
campsite area will be assessed. Potential impacts include:
 Pollution of surface water
 Waste management
 Noise pollution
 Loss of indigenous vegetation
HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED
A Public Participation Process (PPP) is being conducted as part of the EIA. The aim of the PPP is to allow
everyone who is interested in, or likely to be affected by, the proposed development to provide input into
the process.
The Public Participation Process will include:
 Advertisements in the Daily Dispatch;
 Notice Boards on site;
 Circulation of the BID (this document) to all I&APs and stakeholders
 Review of all reports by registered I&APs and stakeholders.
If you consider yourself an interested and/or affected person/party, it is important that you become and
remain involved in the PPP. In order to do so please follow the steps below in order to ensure that you are
continually informed of the project developments and will ensure your opportunity to raise issues and
concerns pertaining to the project.
STEP 1: Please register by responding to our notification and invitation, with your name and contact details
(details provided on cover page and below). As a registered I&AP you will be informed of all meetings,
report reviews and project developments throughout the EIA process.
STEP 2: Register by returning the slip at the back of this document to EOH-CES
EOH-CES is required to engage with all private and public parties that may be interested and/or affected by
the proposed Tshani Kiwane campsite upgrade, in order to distribute information for review and comment
in a transparent manner.
In the same light, it is important for I&APs to note the following:
1. In order for EOH-CES to continue engaging with you, please ENSURE that you register on our
database by contacting the person below
2. As the EIA process is regulated by specific review and comment timeframes, it is your responsibility
to submit your comments within these timeframes.
Who to contact for enquiries and/comments:
Ms Amy Hunter
25 Tecoma Street Berea
East London 5241
P.O Box 8145, Nahoon, 5210
Tel: (043) 726 7809/8313
Fax: (043) 726 8352
Email: [email protected]
I hereby wish to register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) for the
Tshani Kiwane Campsite upgrade Section 24G and EIA process
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
Organization: _____________________________________________________________________
Postal address:____________________________________________________________________
Email: ___________________________________________________________________________
Phone #: __________________________________
Fax #:__________________________________
My initial comments, issues or concerns are:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Other individuals, stakeholders, organisations or entities that should be registered are:
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________
Organization: _____________________________________________________________________
Postal address:_____________________________________________________________________
Email: ____________________________________________________________________________
Phone #: ________________________________
Fax #: _________________________________
Please return details to: Ms Amy Hunter
P.O. Box 8145,
Nahoon, 5210
Telephone: (043) 726 7809
Fax: (043) 726 8352
Email: [email protected]