PROPOSED SAFARI LODGE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN SKUKUZA, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Background Information Document

Transcription

1 PROPOSED SAFARI LODGE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN SKUKUZA, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Background Information Document Prepared for: Interested and Affected Parties Prepared by: Exigo Sustainability (Pty) Ltd On Behalf of: South African National Parks (SANParks)

2 1. INTRODUCTION Exigo Sustainability (Pty) Ltd (Exigo) was appointed by SANParks to facilitate the Environmental Basic Assessment for the proposed Safari Lodge Development and associated infrastructure in Skukuza, Kruger National Park (KNP) (the Project). 2. PURPOSE OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID) The purpose of this document is to provide you, as an interested and / or affected party (I&AP) with: An overview of the proposed development; An overview of the Environmental Basic Assessment Process; Details on how you can register as an I&AP Information on how you can submit your comments and concerns. 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed safari lodge will be a 128 key (256 bed) facility with a combination of luxury suites, standard rooms and family rooms, including universal access rooms. Additional staff accommodation facilities will be required in Skukuza village for essential staff. This will include ten staff units inside the rest camp (seven 2 bedroom flats and three 3 bedroom houses) that will be demolished to accommodate the new lodge and will be rebuilt in the staff village. Sixteen new sleep-over units will be built as well as twenty 2 bedroom units plus one 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom unit, as well as a new contractor s camp during construction. In order to accommodate the lodge and adjacent facilities it will require the relocation of the Working for Water offices, certain of the Scientific Services Offices/Stores as well as nursery tunnels (stores and ablutions). Upgrades to services infrastructure within Skukuza to accommodate the additional demand will include: Upgrading of the Skukuza Rest Camp water treatment works and water reticulation network including new water pipelines and 1 additional water reservoir. Upgrading of the sewer pump system and pipelines as well as an anaerobic digester before the oxidation pond at the existing sewage treatment plant. Minor road and storm water upgrades surrounding the lodge and new housing units. Electricity upgrades which includes and an underground electrical cable from the existing Skukuza substation to the lodge. As per normal SANParks developments standards, the design of the lodge will be to blend in with the environment, remain below the tree canopy, using materials such as thatch in the typical bush style used in

3 the Kruger Park. Refer to Figure 1 for the localities of the proposed project. The proposed lodge will be located within the Skukuza Rest Camp and the infrastructure upgrades will take place within and directly adjacent to Skukuza Village. SANParks will procure the services of a specialist Green Building Consultant to assist in the development of the green building initiatives for the lodge. The scope of work for the Green Building Consultant will be based on the National Minimum Standards for Sustainable Tourism. The lodge will use some of the latest environmentally friendly designs, technology and practices, e.g. rain water capture, solar energy, grey water system, etc. Also refer to Appendix A (SANParks Fact Sheet) for a further description of the proposed lodge. 4. MOTIVATION FOR THE PROJECT The Skukuza Conference Centre resulted in the requirement for additional accommodation specifically suited to the conferencing market, together with the need to broaden the accommodation product KNP was offering. The need for more formal, catered accommodation was identified. As such, SANParks is proposing to develop a Safari Lodge Facility (the project) adjacent to the recently complete Conference Facility in Skukuza in the KNP. The mandate of National Parks system extends over 19 protected areas. Of these protected areas, only 5 are able to generate a surplus which is then used to fund the remaining Parks. SANParks therefore needs to find sustainable methods to fund the operations and protection of the entire National Parks system and hence SANParks views Responsible Tourism as a Conservation Strategy. SA Tourism has identified business tourism as an opportunity to promote South Africa as a destination and this was identified by SANParks as a means to attract new markets to visit national parks. This will ensure sustainability of the national park system in South Africa and therefore SANParks needs to diversify the product offering. This is realized by establishing the conference centre at Skukuza and by further providing for accommodation and services that meet the expectations of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) market. This assures that SANParks will be realising its objective of diversifying its product range and attract new markets. The MICE market essentially requires a different type of accommodation and the current self-catering chalets do not meet this requirement. They will require modern amenities such as access to internet and communications systems, and the additional rooms aim to provide that. Please refer to Appendix A for a detailed motivation from SANParks for the proposed project. 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE BASELINE ENVIRONMENT The Skukuza Rest Camp is located inside the Kruger National Park (KNP) in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The rest camp lies in the Southern Region of the Park. The Skukuza

4 Rest Camp is located directly south of the Sabie River. The staff village is located to the west of the main camp and is bisected by the N waswitshaka River, while the living quarters and Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) is situated to the southeast of the camp. The proposed lodge will be located within the Skukuza Rest Camp directly to the west of the existing Conference Facility and the infrastructure upgrades will take place within and directly adjacent to Skukuza Village. The development site lies within the Savanna biome and according to Mucina & Rutherford within the Granite Lowveld Bushveld vegetation type. A variety of landscapes can be found in and surrounding the study area; from completely modified gardens inside the Skukuza rest camp to slightly degraded thickets, open woodland and riparian woodland areas along the periphery of the staff village and living quarters. Even though some natural areas remain, most of the proposed development sites have been modified and represent degraded bushveld or gardens with ornamental plants and trees. Trees within the lodge footprint area will be retained as far as possible. In particular two planted baobab trees on the south western border of the camp that remain from the old warden house that previously stood nearby have been accommodated in the design of the lodge. The study area falls within Quaternary catchment X31M and the Inkomati Water Management Area (WMA) with the main river in the secondary catchment area being the Sabie River. A detailed description of the environmental baseline of the site will be provided in the Basic Assessment Report and associated specialist assessments that will be made available for I&APs to review and to provide comments to Exigo. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORIZATION PROCESS Environmental Authorization is required by means of a Basic Assessment Process for Listed Activities in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) (NEMA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, The following activities listed in GNR 544 (Listing Notice 1) and GNR 546 (Listing Notice 3) of 2 August 2010 are applicable to the proposed development: Listing Notice 1: Listed Activities 23, 24, 28 & 37; Listing Notice 3: Listed Activities 2, 4, 6, 13, 16, & 24. The application has been given the following reference number by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA): DEA Reference Number 14/12/16/3/3/1/ SPECIALIST STUDIES PROPOSED The following specialist studies are proposed to be undertaken as part of the Environmental Basic Assessment Process:

5 Ecological Assessments with emphasis on: o o Flora Fauna (birds, reptiles, mammals) Archaeological Assessment Visual Impact Assessment (Visual Environment and Sense of Place) Traffic Impact Assessment 8. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY Information sharing forms the basis of the public involvement process. Comments and inputs from individuals or organizations who may be affected by or interested in the proposed development are incorporated into the impact assessment in order to ensure that effective communication can influence the decision making process. According to the EIA Regulations, the roles of the I&AP includes: Assisting in the identification and prioritization of issues that need to be investigated; Making suggestions on alternatives and means of prevention, minimising and managing negative impacts and enhancing project benefits; Assisting or commenting on the development of mutually acceptable criteria for the evaluation of decision options; Contributing information on public needs, values and expectations; Contributing local and traditional knowledge; and Verifying that their issues have been considered. The Basic Assessment Process to be followed will consist of the following key steps: 1. Submission of an application form to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) (action completed). 2. Registration Period where Interested and/or Affected Parties (I&APs) are invited to register on the project and provide comments. 3. Compilation of Draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to be submitted to I&AP s for comments. 4. Compilation of a Final BAR and EMP to be submitted to I&APs for final comments. 5. The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) will make a decision on the reports submitted and

6 I&AP s will be informed of the outcome. Once the Public Registration Period is completed registered I&APS will be invited to attend a public meeting or open day to be held during the review period. 9. PUBLIC CONSULTATION Individuals and /or groups with an interest in or affected by the Project are invited to register as Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) by submitting their details to Exigo by 31 October 2014 and to address any queries they may have to: Reneé Kruger (Exigo Environmental Unit) Telephone Number: Fax Number: address: renee@exigo3.com Postal Address: Postnet 74, Private Bag X07, Arcadia, Reference: Skukuza Safari Lodge BA

7 Figure 1: Locality of the proposed project

8 REGISTRATION FORM Proposed Safari Lodge Development and associated infrastructure in Skukuza, Kruger National Park (KNP) DEA REF 14/12/16/3/3/1/1282 EXIGO REF: Skukuza Safari Lodge BA Title: First Name: Surname: Capacity/Interest Tel number (Work): Tel number (Cell): Fax number (Work): address: Postal/Residential Address Comments on the proposed development (You are welcome to use separate sheets) 1. Environmental Issues: (such as water, ecology, soil pollution etc.) 2. Socio-economic Issues: (such as job creation, safety and security) 3. Cultural/Historical Issues: (such as demolition of graves/old buildings.) 4. Any other Issues or Comments: Please return this registration sheet by no later than the 31 st of October 2014 via any of the following communication methods, attention to: Mrs. Reneé Kruger Fax: Tel: Post: Postnet 74, Private Bag X07, Arcadia, 0007 Your comments are highly appreciated and they will form part of the final documentation to be submitted to the decision-making authorities.

9 10. APPENDIX A: SANPARKS SAFARI LODGE FACT SHEET