Please note that the Draft Scoping Report for the proposed P1/1 road upgrade was send to the following venue’s on the 24th of March 2010 for Public and Stakeholder reviews:
-Meyerton Public Library, Mitchelle Street (for public review)
-Midvaal Local Municipality, Ward Councilor: Rob Jones
-Midvaal Local Municipality, Ward Councilor: Malocolm Hack
-Midvaal Local Municipality, Environmental section: Rian Lobbe
-Midvaal Local Municipality, Ward Councilor: Mrs Madubedube
-REMAX Gateway, 84 Main Road, Walkerville(for public review)
-SARHA, 41 De Korte Street
-DWAF, Sanlam Plaza, Pretoria
Please note that all comments received on the draft will be included on the Final Scoping report which will be submitted to GDACE on the 30th of May 2010.
Please do not hesitate to contact our offices for any other quiries regarding thi project.
Kind Regards;
Kgomotso Molefi
(Environmental Consultant)
Rock Environmental Consulting (PTY) Ltd
Reg. No. 99/28567/07
VAT Reg. No. 4420191282
Fax: 012 997 0415
Tel: 012 997 4742
Email: rockec@lantic.net
P.O. Box 40541
Moreleta Park
0044
601 Rubenstein Rd.
Moreleta Park
PROPOSED UPGRADING OF A 19.5KM LONG SECTION OF ROAD P1-1 (K57) BETWEEN TEDDERFIELD AH IN THE NORTH TOWARDS JOHANNESBURG AND DE DEUR ESTATES IN THE SOUTH TOWARDS VEREENIGING SOUTHERN GAUTENG
APPLICANT: THE GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROADS AND WORKS (GAUTRANS)
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT:ROCK ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING (PTY) LTD Mr. Pieter van der Merwe/ Kgomotso Modise, P.O. BOX 40541, MORELETA PARK, 0044, Tel: (012) 997 4742 Fax: (012) 997 0415, E-mail: rock.kg@lantic.net
PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT
The purpose of this Background Information Document (BID) is:
- To notify any Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations in accordance with stipulations made in Government Notice N385 of 21 April, 2006 published in terms of Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998),
- To provide I&APs with an overview of the project,
- To provide I&APs with a Locality Map indicating the location of the proposed development,
- And to open a register which contains the names and addresses of all persons who have submitted written comments or attended meetings with the Applicant or Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP).
INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE
Notice is given in terms of EIA Regulations-Government Notice No. N385 and the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 Of 1998) that the proposed upgrading will take place on a 19.5 km long section of Road P1-1 (K57) between Tedderfield AH in the north towards Johannesburg, and De Deur Estates in the South towards Vereeniging, Southern Gauteng. This section of the road deviates from the existing main road between Tedderfield AH and Vereeniging. The need and desirability for the upgrading of Road P1-1 is to accommodate and create improved traffic flow through the De Deur/Walkerville area towards Vereeniging.
Rock Environmental Consulting (Pty) Ltd has been appointed by GAUTRANS as the independent environmental consultant to the project in order to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, in terms of Chapter 3 of Government Notice No. N385, published on 21 April 2006.
The full EIA process aims to provide an opportunity for Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) to comment on the proposed development, such that relevant information exchanges will enable the EIA process to focus the study on reasonable and relevant issues, predominantly relating to environmental impacts that the proposed activity may have. The Scoping Report, and Environmental Impact Assessment Report, to be compiled by Rock Environmental Consulting (Pty) Ltd will focus on the possible issues and impacts associated with the proposed development on the property in question. Where negative impacts are identified, recommendations will be made to mitigate such impacts.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed properties are located between Tedderfield AH in the north towards Johannesburg, and De Deur Estates in the South towards Vereeniging, as shown on the locality map (Appendix A). The road is located in the jurisdiction of the Midvaal Local Municipality (GT422) which is one of three local municipalities situated within the Sedibeng District Municipality, in Gauteng. In the Midvaal Local Municipality’s jurisdiction, taxis are the most dominant form of transportation, followed by buses. The low private vehicle ownership corresponds with the low-income levels in the area. De Deur, Walkerville and Eikenhof are located along the Old Johannesburg Road (P1-1) that links Vereeniging directly to the M1 into Johannesburg. It has become priority to upgrade this route that is carrying an ever-increasing number of vehicles.
The proposed development will involve the following activities:
- The upgrading of the existing road P1-1
- the reconstruction of some existing layers
- the construction of new asphalt overlays
- the construction of a new G1 crushed stone base in certain areas
- the widening of the existing road
- the construction of a new seal
- some repairs to minor structures
- the construction of new gravel shoulders
An application will be submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment (GDACE) for the following listed activities that make up this application (Regulation No R 387 of 21st April 2007 for listed activities in terms of Section 24 and 24D of NEMA, 1998):
Listed Activity Number 5:
- The route determination of roads and design of associated physical infrastructure, including roads that have not yet been built, for which routes have been determined before the publication of this notice and which has not been authorized by a competent authority in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2006 made under section 24(5) of the Act and published in Government Notice No. R385 of 2006 where:
(b) It is a road administrated by a provincial authority
(c) The road reserve is wider than 30m
(d) The road will cater for more than one lane of traffic in both directions.
Listed Activity Number 2:
- Any development activity including associated structures and infrastructure where the total area of the development area is 20 ha or more.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY PROCESS
The Environmental Impact Assessment process consists of two main components, namely (i) the technical/biophysical process and (ii) the public participation process.
- The technical process includes, but is not limited to, the following aspects:
- Terrain investigations;
- The identification and assessment of biophysical elements within the study area;
- Ecological plant and animal sensitivities of the area, including Red Data species investigations;
- Assessment of the cultural history of the terrain; and
- Compilation of an Environmental Scoping Report, Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Environmental Management Plan.
The public participation process includes:
Compilation of a database of stakeholders and Interested and Affected Parties;
Legal notices of the environmental process (press advertisement and on-site);
Dissemination of information to stakeholders and I&APs, and
Identification of environmental, as well as social issues and concerns, as raised by I&APs or other relevant stakeholders.
The public participation process is conducted in parallel with the Environmental Impact Assessment process (technical/biophysical process). The public participation process does not aim to promote agreement amongst I&APs or quell possible opposition against a project. The process is transparent to all involved. Additionally, it is considered important to involve I&APs as early in the Environmental Assessment process as possible, to ensure informed decision-making and effective participation throughout the study.
We thank you for your interest and for taking the time to read through this document.