PLAN OF STUDY FOR SCOPING FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF AN ECO-PARK AT SOETDORING NATURE RESERVE, BLOEMFONTEIN

October 99

DEAT FREE STATE PROVINCE

P O Box 264

BLOEMFONTEIN, 9300

TEL (051) 403-3712, FAX (051) 403-3024

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

TOPIC PAGE #

 

1. INTRODUCTION *

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY *

2.1 Particulars of Applicant *

2.2 Nature of Development *

2.3 Brief Description of Proposed Development *

3. TASK TO BE PERFORMED DURING SCOPING *

4. PROPOSED WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT *

5. STAGES AT WHICH RELEVANT AUTHoITY WILL BE CONSULTED *

6. PROPOSED METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ALTERNATIVES *

6.1 Correspondence *

6.2 Public Meeting *

6.3 Rating and Ranking Technique *

7. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS *

 

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

In the annual report of 1997/98, the national government announced its plans of increasing the contribution of the tourism sector from 4.7% to 8 % of GDP by 2000. Therefore, in the spirit of working together as one nation, the Free State Province has embarked in a project of improving its nature reserves in order to make this dream come true. Currently, throughout South Africa there are very few if any tourism facilities that cater for disabled people. In the Free State Province, for example, none of the provincial reserves have facilities designed for specific needs of the disabled people. This situation is making the provincial reserves inaccessible to disabled people.

 

To overcome this situation, it was necessary to think about facilities that will cater for everybody without discrimination and at the same time making the reserves more marketable to tourist locally and abroad. Out of all the alternatives considered, Eco-Park was found to be the best option. This Eco-Park will include all the facets of different natural areas found in the Free State (see Appendix A) as well as small animals and birds, which can be touched by the disabled giving them an unforgettable experience. The proposed park will be erected in Soetdoring Nature Reserve.

 

The Environmental Conservation Act, 1989, requires that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be undertaken to assess the environmental consequences of the proposed Eco-Park and wherever possible promote the potential benefits associated with the development. This Plan of Study for Scoping is an imperative step in an EIA application. The decision of whether to approve the project lies with the lead authority, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, National.

 

 

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY

2.1 Particulars of Applicant

 

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

P O Box 264

Bloemfontein, 9300

Tel (051) 403-3712; Fax (051) 448-8361

2.2 Nature of Development

 

The proposed development falls within schedule 2(e): The change of land use from use for nature conservation or zoned open space to any other land use.

 

2.3 Brief Description of Proposed Development

 

The proposed Eco-Park will be located in the Soetdoring Nature Reserve in Bloemfontein Magisterial district in the Free State Province (see Appendix B). The existing structure nearby the proposed site is an Education Centre and an office complex. The piece of land allocated for the project consists of old pit and a lot of erosion furrows. Across the site is underground water pipeline servitude. The vegetation cover is mostly natural grassland with few trees (Soetdoring). Soetdoring Nature Reserve is situated along Modder River, which runs into the Frugersdrift Dam.

 

The Eco-Park will be an enclosed structure of about 2 to 3 hectors covered with netting wire (see Appendix C) to accommodate large trees and flying of birds. The highest point of the park will be 40m high and lowest will be 14m. The proposed park will compose 14m high water fall, aquarium tanks at the main entrance, dry succulent ecosystem, moderate bushveld ecosystem, wetland ecosystem, savannah ecosystem, aromatic plants and kiosk (see Appendix D). The walkways and bridges will be constructed to allow easy movement of disabled people. The site plan for the proposed project is shown in Appendix E and F.

 

3. TASK TO BE PERFORMED DURING SCOPING

 

    1. Pre-application consultation with Nation Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

    2. Submission of application form to the relevant authority.

    3. Preparation of Plan of Study for Scoping.

    4. Submission of plan of study for scoping to National – DEAT.

    5. Public participation process. Interested and affected parties will be identified and be invited into a meeting where environmental issues will be raised.

    6. Developing a strategy for addressing and resolving each key issues.

    7. Providing feedback on the way comments have been incorporated

    8. Preparing a scoping report for review and decision making.

 

4. PROPOSED WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT

 

 

TASK

September 1999

October 1999

November 1999

December 1999

January 2000

Feb. 2000
 

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Preliminary site visit

                                              

Pre-application consultation

                                              

Submission of application form

                                              

Submission of plan of study for scoping

                                              

Draft scoping report

                                              

Public participation process

                                              

Amending scoping report

                                              

Submission of scoping report

                                              

Specialist studies

                                              

Plan of study for EIA

                                              

Draft EIA report

                                              

Public participation

                                              

Amending EIA report

                                              

Submission of EIA Report

                                              

Approval

                                              
                                               
                                               

 

 

5. STAGES AT WHICH RELEVANT AUTHORITY WILL BE CONSULTED

 

    1. Accepting the Plan of Study for Scoping

    2. Accepting the Scoping Report

    3. Considering the application on the information contained in the Scoping Report

    4. Accepting the Plan of Study for EIA

    5. Review of the EIA Report

    6. Record of Decision

 

6. PROPOSED METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ALTERNATIVES

 

Issues will be identified in two ways, namely:

 

6.1 Correspondence

 

Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP) will receive a discussion document together with a letter addressed to them personally, asking for their comments. I&AP will come from the following sectors:

 

 

Copies of the discussion document will also be made available in public places for easy access to people. Announcement will be made on media (radio and newspapers) once the documents have been distributed to such places.

 

6.2 Public Meeting

 

Interested and affected parties will be invited into a public meeting where issues of concern will be raised. This meeting will be widely announced both on media and through correspondence.

 

6.3 Rating and Ranking Technique

 

Matrix table and point system method will be used to eliminate issues that are of least importance.

 

7. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 

This report is the first out of four reports to be submitted to DEAT-National. The preparations for compiling the Scoping Report are underway. It is therefore, recommended that National-DEAT consider and accept this report.

 

  1. LIST OF APPENDICES

 

 

APPENDIX A - PLAN SHOWING VEGETATION ON ECO-PARK

 

APPENDIX B - THE LOCATION OF ECO-PARK ON 1:50 000 MAP

 

 

APPENDIX C - PLAN SHOWING THE TOP COVER OF THE ECO-PARK

 

 

APPENDIX D - THE PLAN SHOWING THE COMPONENTS OF ECO-PARK

APPENDIX E - A DETAILED ECO-PARK SITE PLAN

APPENDIX F - A NON-DETAILED ECO-PARK SITE PLAN