Final EIAR - Aurecon AME Environmental | Environmental Projects

Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Facilities on Kangnas Farm near Springbok in the Northern Cape: Draft EIR 82
The scenic resources of the Goegap Nature Reserve would not be impacted. The majority of the
potential visual impacts are considered to be of low intensity, regional extent and long term and
therefore of medium to high (-) significance, without mitigation. The preliminary layouts were
revised and with the implementation of mitigation measures the intensity would be reduced to
very low and as a result reduce the significance of the visual impact to low (-) for all
alternatives. No difference in significance would result from the proposed wind alternatives
although there is a preference for the taller (180 m) turbines as this would reduce clustering.
Solar Energy Facility Potential Impacts
Three key observation points were identified for the proposed PV facility: the Varsputs
farmstead, the N14 eastbound and the N14 westbound, located 2.52 km east, 1.1 km south and
0.98 km southeast of the site respectively.
The visual absorption capacity of the area around the proposed PV site is low as the terrain is
flat and the vegetation short. The overall sensitivity of the receiving environments, which is
based on an assessment of the type and number of users, the public interest and the presence
of special areas, is generally moderate to high.
The proposed PV array would be visible as a wide, flat horizontal form and hence would have a
low form contrast and impact. The contrast in the texture (smooth PV panels versus rough
background) and colour (grey-black PV panels against grey-brown background), contribute to a
moderate overall visual impact from the Varsputs farmstead.
PV panels with a height of 10 to 16 m have identical viewsheds, extending largely to the
northeast and northwest (Figure 4.14). This is away from Springbok and the Goegap Nature
Reserve, which are located to the southwest and largely shielded from the PV focus area by the
mountains.
The overall visual impact that the proposed PV facility would have is determined to be of
moderate significance as the site is remote and installations are not high. Hills to the west
would shield the site from the Goegap Nature Reserve, and the 750 m buffer around the nature
reserve and existing 220kV power line to the south would shield the site from the N14.
The visual impacts of the proposed PV facility are consider to be medium magnitude, regional
extent and long term and therefore of medium (-) significance without or with mitigation. No
difference in significance would result from the proposed solar alternatives although there is a
preference for the 10 m height.
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or adaptation, in whole or in part, may be made.
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