BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID)

Transcription

1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID) Proposed Construction of a Red Meat Abattoir, Cato Ridge KwaZulu-Natal Prepared by On behalf of Salejee Farm cc September 2015

2 1. Introduction IDM Environmental (hereafter referred to as IDME ) has been appointed by Salejee Farm cc, represented by Mr Yusuf Salejee (hereafter referred to as the Applicant ), to undertake an environmental impact assessment (Basic Assessment Report) (BAR) 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, for the proposed construction of an abattoir on a certain property owned by Salejee Farm cc (herafter referred to as the Project ). The Property is more fully described as Morning Bird farm lot 273 (of 20) of the Farm Uitkomst and Doornrug Farm No. 852 Reg div FU (hereafter referred to as the Property ), and is situated approximately 4 km south of the town of Cato Ridge, KwaZulu-Natal Figure 2. The total extent of the Property is hectares. Although the Property is currently zoned undefined as the area did not previously fall within any specific Town Planning Scheme, it should now be considered as zoned Agriculture due to the area s recent incorporation into the ethekwini Town Planning Scheme. Figure 1. The Property falls within the administrative jurisdiction of the ethekwini Municipality (Outer West), and is demarcated in the Municipality s revised Spatial Development Plan as a proposed new and needed development area and strategic investment node. Figure 1. Abattoir site lies on western boundary of Ethekwini Municipality, Outer West Region 2

3 2. PROJECT LOCALITY The Project falls 1km inside the western boundary of the Ethekwini Municipality Outer West region approximately 41km northwest of the city of Durban. Access from Durban to the Property is via the N3 national road, exiting at Cato Ridge and then south onto the tarred Mr385 road for 4km. The smallholding is located on the west side of the Mr385, and a short 100 metre gravel and concrete access road runs from the front gate to the Project site. The Project is 3km from the Mpumalanga township to the south and 1.6km from the nearest railway siding of Georgedale. Figures 2 and 3 Figure 2. Locality of Project, 4km south of Cato Ridge. 3

4 Figure3: Locality enhanced The topography of the area is gently undulating, dominated by Karoo sediments with several dolerite capped ridges and hills. The area is primarily agricultural cultivated lands, incorporating limited grassland (for grazing), with a restricted strip of natural vegetation running along the banks of the perennial streams. The area includes a few scattered farm residences, poultry houses and farm structures. The Project is located on a north facing sandstone slope with a 20⁰ gradient to the northeast, which was previously used for a now defunct poultry venture. The old structures are in the process of being demolished and the new abattoir will be constructed on the same footprint of one of the chicken shed terraces near the existing and established farm infrastructure and services. 3. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT This document serves to provide interested and affected parties (IAPs) with background information on the proposed project, its potential impacts, the application and BAR/ public participation process. It also outlines the manner in which IAPs can become involved in the Project, receive information and raise any issues that may be of interest and/ or concern to them. The nature of the environmental impact assessment process involves inter alia the undertaking of technical and scientific investigations related to the potential impacts of the Project. It is therefore essential that IAPs, through the public participation process (PPP), become actively involved in the Project s environmental assessment process in order to share information and provide input that will be useful in assisting the relevant authorities for informed decision-making purposes in so far the Project is concerned. 4

5 4. OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT The Property falls within the administrative jurisdiction of the ethekwini Municipality (Outer West), and is demarcated in the Municipality s revised Spatial Development Plan as a proposed new and needed development area and strategic investment node. Figure 4. Ethekwini Investment nodes, Urban Development lines and Project site south of Cato Ridge. Government notice R544 dated 18th June 2010 requires that a BAR be conducted for a project of this nature and design, and more particularly activity numbers 3 and 4 trigger the application respectively as follows: 3. The construction of facilities or infrastructure for the slaughter of animals with a product throughput of: (i) poultry exceeding 50 poultry per day; or (ii) game and red meat exceeding 6 units per day. 4. The construction of facilities or infrastructure for the concentration of animals for the purpose of commercial production in densities that exceed (i) 20 square metres per large stock unit and more than 500 units, per facility; (ii) 8 square meters per small stock unit and; a. more than units per facility excluding pigs where (b) will apply; b. more than 250 pigs per facility excluding piglets that are not yet weaned; (iii) (v) relates to other animal species. 5

6 The Applicant proposes the following for Project implementation purposes: Develop a mixed-use abattoir (mutton and beef) in the north-west corner of the Property; Establish an abattoir to slaughter 30 units of cattle and 20 units of sheep per day; Waste from the abattoir will be treated in closed system bio-gas digester. The digester could be used to provide energy for the entire project; The abattoir will also conduct deboning and curing/smoking of meat; Trained staff will carry out the reception and ante-mortem care of all livestock; The owners will have a duty to ensure animals endure as little stress as possible; All animals will have access to water on arrival; CCTV will be used to monitor how animals are treated; Electric prodders will not be used; The project is a BBBEE and a proudly South African project; The project will stimulate and generate employment in the Ethekwini Outer West Corridor area (as per the Spatial Development Plan). The 160m² mixed-use abattoir (mutton and beef) in the north-west corner of the Property measures 10m by 16m with an adjacent holding pen for the daily quota of livestock to be slaughtered. There are currently various out-buildings and associated infrastructure in existence on the Property and the abandoned poultry houses around the proposed Project site will all be demolished. The infrastructure required for the Project will include access roads, power supply, water supply, a livestock loading ramp, livestock holding pens and paddocks and a waste disposal facility. The biogas digester and energy storage would be an optional addition to reduce costs and mitigate the environmental impact. Figure 5. The access to the front gate of the Property is a tarred road (Mr385) from Cato Ridge and the 100m access road will need to be upgraded. The livestock ramp will be located on the small service road due east of the abattoir structure and livestock holding paddocks. Water will be provided for the livestock arriving for slaughter. Livestock will be herded into holding pens adjacent to the abattoir just before slaughter for inspection and to reduce stress to the animals. Power supply. An Eskom supply point is already available on site and a dedicated armoured cable will need to be pulled and trenched from the power supply DB to the abattoir DB for lighting, machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration. 6

7 Water supply. Municipal water is available on the farm and pvc piping will be extended from a water point to provide water in the abattoir for slaughter of livestock, cleaning of carcasses and work area, and an ablution facility for staff (showers and toilets). Figure 5. Layout of Project showing access, livestock pens and services reticulation 5. OVERVIEW OF THE AUTHORISATION APPLICATION PROCESS The key authorisations required by the Applicant in order to commence with the construction phase of the Project relate to town planning and environmental considerations. IDME, therefore, undertook an assessment of the likely statutory processes and procedures which would be required to be followed for these purposes, with particular focus on town planning and environmental factors Town-Planning: The Property is governed by the Outer West Town Planning Scheme and therefore it should be considered as an Agricultural zone. It is unclear, however, at this time whether Agriculture means Agriculture 1, 2 or 3 in terms of the Scheme (recently extended to include the Property). However, regardless of whether the Property is considered as being zoned Agriculture 1, 2 or 3 it is clear from the Scheme that although the construction of the abattoir does not require any specific town-planning permission, the use of the land for Agricultural industry will require a special consent application to be submitted and secured from the Municipality prior to project operations commencing. 7

8 Environmental: The Property is governed by the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and its complementary regulations (hereafter referred to as the Regulations ). The Regulations require that a Basic Environmental Assessment (BA) is required for the following activities: I. The construction of facilities or infrastructure for the slaughter of animals with a product throughout of: (i) poultry exceeding 50 poultry per day; or (ii) game and red meat exceeding 6 units per day. II. The construction of facilities or infrastructure for the concentration of: (i) more than 5000 poultry per facility situated outside urban areas, excluding chicks younger than 20 days. III. The construction of a hatchery or agri-industrial infrastructure outside industrial complexes where the development footprint covers an area of 2000 square metres or more. In addition, if the abattoir is positioned near artificial storm water drainage channels, slurry dams or other water features then a BA is also be required. A waste management license will also be required for the storage and disposal of waste material generated by the Project. The following principles are noteworthy in the context of abattoir waste management: Sustainable development requires the consideration of all relevant factors including the following: o That waste is avoided, or where it cannot be altogether avoided, minimised and reused or recycled where possible and otherwise disposed of in a responsible manner. o Responsibility for the environmental health and safety consequences of a policy, programme, project, product, process, service or activity exists throughout its life cycle. o The costs of remedying pollution, environmental degradation and consequent adverse health effects and of preventing, controlling or minimising further pollution, environmental damage or adverse health effects must be paid for by those responsible for harming the environment. 6. EIA PROCESS FOR BASIC ASSESSMENT Application form - An official application form is completed and submitted to the competent authority.this form provides all the necessary information; Public Participation - The general public and relevant authorities are notified of the proposed development through newspaper adverts, site notices and direct consultation This BID will be circulated to neighbouring landowners, relevant authorities and any other persons registered as IAPs following the feedback from adverts and site notices. 8

9 Identification of impacts and alternatives, environmental issues and concerns, development alternatives and constraints will be identified using professional judgement, site visits and consultation with the authorities and the public; Mitigation - Measures to manage and minimise impacts within acceptable levels will be identified and recorded in the BAR. An environmental management plan will be compiled to facilitate the implementation of the project; A waste management licence will be applied for in respect of the waste plant to be installed; The basic assessment report, waste management licence and the environmental management plan will be circulated to all IAPs; Final Decision - All information arising from the BA process will be used by the authorities before the application is approved. 6. WASTE CONSIDERATIONS: While it is recognised that the Project will generate some solid waste and water waste, there will be no illegal dumping of waste material on the Projectite. The waste management plan (WMP) details the environmental legislation and highlights the methods for handling, treatment and disposal of all waste waters and solid wastes. This will preclude the possibility of environmental degradation generated from any abattoir waste. A waste and water management plan will be prepared for inclusion in the Basic Assessment Report for the Project. 7. REGISTRATION AS INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS It is a requirement in terms of regulation 55 (1) (b) of Government Notice R 543 that interested and affected parties are to request in writing that their names be placed on the register of interested and affected parties. Should you wish to register as an interested and affected part or have any comments on the proposed Project, kindly complete the registration and response form below and provide comments, concerns or inputs regarding any potential environmental, cultural, socio-economic aspects that you deem necessary for consideration about the proposed Project. Clearly state the nature of interest that you may have with regards to this matter. By registering on the Project database where you will be notified as and when information on the project is available. All comments should be submitted within 30 days of receipt of this BID and accompanying notice. Please forward your detailed response and full name, address and contact numbers in writing (via fax or ) to the attention of: The Basic Assessment officer IDM Environmental P O Box 918, Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu Natal info@idmconsultants.co.za Fax:

10 REGISTRATION AND COMMENT SHEET Salejee Farm cc: Proposed new abattoir (Cato Ridge): Public Consultation Process Title & Initials Name Surname Organisation/ Or property Interest in Project e.g. neighbour Physical Address Postal Address Phone No. Cell No. Fax No. In accordance with NEMA Section 58 no.1 A registered interested and affected party is entitled to comment, in writing, on all written submissions made to the competent authority, provided that (c) the interested and affected party discloses any direct business, financial, personal or other interest which that party may have in the approval or refusal of the application. Please supply such information in the space provided below. The following Issues and Concerns must be noted Submit to: The Basic Assessment officer IDM Environmental P O Box 918, Umhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu Natal info@idmconsultants.co.za: Fax: