Background Information Document

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1 Environmental Assessment Proposed Windhoek- Gocheganas Road upgrade Background Information Document Introduction The Roads Authority appointed Lithon/GIBB Joint Venture Consultants to conduct a study on how to improve the safety conditions and traffic flow on the main road B1 between Windhoek and Rehoboth by means of a new freeway. A proposed road alignment had been established and the entire section of road divided into 3 phases for environmental assessment and project implementation. These are: Phase 1: Road Section between Windhoek and Gocheganas Phase 2: Road section between Gocheganas and 15km before Rehoboth Phase 3: Potential Rehoboth Eastern Bypass and rehabilitation of T104/T105 south of eastern bypass and Rehoboth This Background Information Document (BID) pertains only to Phase 1 and its Environmental Assessment as to be conducted by Enviro Dynamics. Purpose of this Document The purpose of this Background Information Document (BID) is to: Brief Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) about the proposed project; Provide I&APs an opportunity to register their interest in becoming involved in the assessment process; and Obtain I&AP s initial comments and contributions. Your contributions will ensure that relevant issues are evaluated and form part of the Environmental Assessment, and will be incorporated into the process and related reports. What is proposed? A new road section between Gocheganas and Windhoek. Planning for this new section of road between Gocheganas and the western bypass in Windhoek had been initiated in 1971 at which time the road reserve thereof had been proclaimed. This 1971 planning described the planned dual carriageway section of road between Leutwein to Windhoek as described overleaf. Public Participation Office Contact Person Quzette Bosman Tel: Fax: Sms: quzette@envirodi.com 1

2 Extract from the 1971Engineering Report about the Route Alignment The southern end of the alignment lies approximately 3,2 km north of Leutwein and 0,4 km east of the existing road. To the north of this terminal point the Freeway turns to the west of north, passes under the existing road at the Gocheganas Interchange and crosses over the Railway line and the Kuduschlucht River An S-curve carries the Freeway over a low saddle into the valley west of the Schildkrotenberg, which it follows until it turns north towards the southern entrance to Auaspoort, south of which lies the Kruin Interchange. Through the Auas Mountains the Freeway lies to the west of both the existing road (which becomes the service road) and the Railway line. The only exception to the above is at the northern entrance to Auaspoort, where the confining influences of topography are so severe that the Freeway is located for some distance on ground at present occupied by the existing road. Source: Planning of the Leutwein - Windhoek - Okapuka Freeway and Trunk Road 1 Section 5 (T0105) Expressway:1971 2

3 Significant Infrastructure requirements As the proposed alignment will follow through the Auas Mountains, major earthworks will be required during the construction phase. At this section the confining influences of topography are so severe that the alignment is proposed along the existing road. In this area the existing road has to be relocated, and a major stream diversion is required. Further major earthworks may be required west of the existing road over the rail crossing at Kruin, and at the northern entrance to Auaspoort. Project Rational Technical assessments as conducted by the appointed engineering consultants have determined that the current road will reach its full capacity within 8 years. A dual carriage way will not only accommodate better traffic flow and lower collision risk, but will further serve to ensure safe passage of abnormal loads and heavy motor vehicles. Currently the only suitable route for abnormal loads is along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor through Botswana. Should the proposed section between Windhoek and Gocheganas not be upgraded to accommodate traffic growth, the vehicle density on this section will continue to increase due to natural traffic growth including the lack of passing opportunities until a total breakdown of flow is experienced by the road users. This will result in increased delays on the network, road surface degradation and related road works, while an increase in traffic accidents may also be expected. Approximate Land requirements Windhoek Town and Townlands ha Regenstein ha Krumhuk ha Aris ha Haigamas ha Gocheganas ha Project Alternatives As part of the assessment proses the technical team will consider the following which may constitute layout and design alternatives The evaluation of encroachments into the alignment (if any) and possible or necessary re-alignments of the freeway; The conformance of the old planning to latest design standards; The appropriateness of the spacing and location of the planned interchanges at "Auaspoort", "Kruin" and "Gocheganas linked to existing road"; and The appropriateness and location of the planned accesses provided by the future service road in view of the developments that have taken place since No alignment alternatives have been developed or will be considered by the Roads Authority. 3

4 The Environmental Assessment Process The planned activities are subject to an Environmental Clearance Application as required by the Environmental Management Act, 2007 (Act no. 7 of 2007) (EMA) and it s associated Regulations (2012). The Environmental Clearance Application is a legislative tool used to ensure that the potential environmental impacts that may occur due to the proposed project are avoided or mitigated, if environmental clearance is to be granted. The environment includes social, economic and biophysical aspects which should be assessed objectively. The process is divided into two phases, the Scoping Phase and the Assessment Phase both which will be summarized in reports, ie. Scoping and Environmental Assessment Reports. Both phases and reports are subject to public participation and it is during the Scoping phase that the proposed project is introduced to the public. The Scoping Phase identifies issues to be considered during the Environmental Assessment Phase. The finding are presented in an Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report). Mitigation and management measures identified during the entire process should reflect in the EMP which is submitted to the Directorate of Environmental Affairs of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, with the EA Report Key Impacts and specialist Studies identified thus far Identified Issues The proposed project will result in environmental impacts during the Planning, Construction and Operational phases. Preliminary impact to be investigated include the following: Environmental Assessment Specialist studies of potential positive and negative impacts. Recommendations to maximise positive effects and avoid or minimise negative impacts are made Integration / Reporting Consolidate findings of assessment studies. Soil contamination Dust & Noise creation Commuter disturbance Road safety risk Job creation Vegetation and ecological disturbance Geological disturbance Surface water deviation Visual impacts Community interference Traffic congestion Compensation Landscape and land use disturbance Alternatives (Alignment of 1971 vs appropriateness in 2015) 4

5 Specialist Studies What Role does the Directorate of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Play? The DEA is part of the process from the start. Once the proposed project is registered with the DEA, the final SR (after having been publically viewed) is submitted to DEA for comment and project input. Thereafter the EA Report and related EMP (again after public review) are submitted as per the SR. Upon receipt of all the documentation the DEA may consider whether Environmental Clearance may be granted based on the conditions of the EMP. While some of the above issues to be identified in the Scoping Phase can be solved with simple management techniques other require more in depth specialist studies to determine the significance and solutions for impacts. These include Socio-Economic Archaeological Noise Ecology / Vegetation Public Participation Activities and your role The Public Participation Process aims to inform a wide range of Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP s) about the proposed project and related Environmental Clearance Application from the outset thereof. As a legal obligation, it is a tool to allow the public to exchange information and to express their views and concerns about the proposed development. It aims to further facilitate transparent decision making. A crucial part of the entire process is that it provides you an opportunity to take part in process while identifying potential issues and concerns that need to be addressed in the assessment process. IAPs will continuously be updated throughout the process. All information regarding the project as well as all reports will be made available to the public and details thereof distributed to registered I&APs. How to register I&APs may send their written comments and / or concerns, including their name, contact details and an indication of any direct business, financial, personal or other interest which they have in the application by, fax or to Enviro Dynamics. To enable you access to this communication process, you are required to register and/or submit your comments in writing to the project team (see contact details below). Contact: Quzette Bosman Tel: Fax: SMS: quzette@envirod.com 5