EIA-REP-325d-12 _BB_ - 201.09.14.pdf - SAHRA

Mitigation measures
• The areas cleared of vegetation and impacted on by excavation must be managed to prevent dust
pollution and sedimentation of storm water channels. Excavated soil material must be correctly located
and preferably covered to prevent erosion of the soil and siltation of storm water channels;
• If servicing and washing of the vehicles are to occur on site, there must be specific areas constructed
for this activity. These areas need to have a concrete foundation, bunded as well as have oil traps to
contain any spillages likely to occur.
• A walled concrete platform, dedicated store with adequate flooring or a bermed area should be used to
accommodate chemicals such as fuel, oil, paint, herbicide and insecticides, as appropriate, in well
ventilated areas.
• All construction materials prone to spillage must be stored in appropriate structures with impermeable
flooring, such as plastic lines for temporary storage areas.
• Portable septic toilets must be provided and maintained for construction crews. Maintenance must
include the removal without sewage spills.
• In the case of pollution of any surface or groundwater, the Regional Representative of the DWA must be
informed immediately.
14.4 Cumulative impact on wetland function and ecology
Source of the impact:
Construction and operation activities related to the development, especially the creation of hardened surfaces in
close proximity to wetland areas can have devastating and irreversible effects on these ecosystems. Excavation,
infilling, draining, hardened structures, vehicle and people movement, as well as stock piling are all construction
and operational related impacts, which can destroy wetlands by causing disturbance to their hydrological regime,
which is the main driver of wetland functioning. Reduced infiltration, increased energy flows, erosion, desiccation
and habitat destruction are the result of such impacts, which in most cases result in irreversible wetland damage.
Description of the impact
The loss of wetland habitat and the linear linkages formed by wetland habitat to other wetland areas inside the
study area’s direct catchment could become fragmented by the development. This will reduce the ability of the
study area (wetland catchment) to maintain viable population numbers of various wetland dependant species
due to a loss in connectivity. Wetland dependant species inside the site, wetland connectivity still provides a
functional role for more common wetland dependant species and should also be taken into consideration. The
same applies to the riparian habitat. Wetland and riparian connectivity is also important from a physio-chemical
water quality and quantity management role, as wetlands in many cases provide the natural corridors for water
drainage inside the study area. The importance of connectivity extends beyond the study area to include the
upstream catchment as well the downstream catchment, which implies a loss to downstream water users should
wetland functioning be compromised inside the study area.
Significance
The significance of the impact is expected to be of a high significance without mitigation, this due to construction
activities causing a disturbance in the hydrological regime. With mitigation the significance of the impact will be of
EIA-REP-325d-11
October 2012
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