ISSUES AND RESPONSE REPORT - GIBBprojects.gibb.co.za/Portals/3/projects/201207 SAGIT...De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association : 21 . Phakamani Buthelezi Breede-Overberg Catchment

PROPOSED WOLSELEY WINDFARM FINAL SCOPING REPORT – DEA REF NO: 16/3/1/2/B5/16/1002/12

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ISSUES AND RESPONSE REPORT

PROPOSED WOLSELEY WIND FARM: FINAL SCOPING REPORT

(DEA REF NO: 16/3/1/2/B5/16/1002/12) (Report date: 4 July 2012)

Comments Received During the DRAFT SCOPING PERIOD

Table 1: Stakeholders from who comments have been received.

No Name Organisation 1 Hans P. de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association 2 Hans P. de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Associations 3 Hans P. de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Associations 4 Hans P. de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Associations 5 Ralph Damonse Interested and Affected Party 6 Marbe Coetzee Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning 7 Chris and Heid Bredenham Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 8 J.F. Ruijzenaars Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 9 Michelle Taal and Gary van Heerden Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 10 Theo Knijnenburg Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 11 Alana Duffell-Canham CapeNature 12 Hans de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association 13 De wet Lategan Adjacent Landowner 14 Dick van Haaren Adjacent Landowner 15 Tineke de Nooij Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 16 Ian Isaacs Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 17 ML Watters Department of Transport and Public Works 18 David Carter Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 19 Dale Wright BirdLife SA 20 Hans de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association 21 Phakamani Buthelezi Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency 22 Charles de Wet Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 23 Jos Bouma Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 24 Dave and Anne Carter Adjacent Landowner: De Vierde Liefde 25 Steven Boers Interested and Affected Party 26 Malani Venter Die Burger 27 Melani Gosling The Cape Times 28 Hennie Taljaard Interested and Affected Party


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Table 2: Comments received and responses.

No

Date NAME & ORGANISATION

ISSUES/COMMENTS RESPONSE

1 28 May 2012 Email

Hans P. De Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association

I am the chairman of the Board of the Home Owners Association of De Vierde Liefde. As you will understand the proposed Wind Farm adjacent to our properties will have a great impact to us in many ways. Today I have received information on this proposed project for the first time. In the File PP Advertisements, Site Notices & Posters I read the text that the public is afforded a 21 day period from 02 May 2012 to 23 May 2012 (inclusive) to register and / or comment as Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) for the above mentioned project. As you will understand it is impossible to react within this period when I receive the information on May 27. As the Home Owners of de Vierde Liefde are probably the most seriously affected party in this project, I kindly but urgently request you to allow us two more weeks from this date to respond.

28 May 2012 Dear Mr de Bruijn The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Sunday, 27 May 2012 (6:23pm). We confirm that the initial registration period was open for 21 (twenty-one) days and closed on 23 May 2012. Registrations and comments on the Draft Scoping Report will be accepted for a period of 40 (forty) [from 24 May 2012 until 03 July 2012 (inclusive)] days and will be incorporated in the Final Scoping Report.

2 27 May 2012 Email


As chairman of the Board to the Homeowners Association of the Vierde Liefde, it is essential for me to obtain all information about the proposed Wind farm near Wolseley. On your website http://projects.gibb.co.za/en-za/projects/sagitwolseleywindfarm.aspx many files can be downloaded. However the files App E& Visual Specialist, and App G Interested and affected Party (I&AP) database are corrupt or impossible to download. Please provide me with a proper copy of these files.

28 May 2012 Dear Mr de Bruijn The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledges receipt of your email hereunder dated Sunday, 27 May 2012. Thank you for informing us of the corruption on the files indicated. Our IT department is currently working on correcting this technology glitz and you should shortly be able to view / download the files.

3 28 May 2012 Email


De Vierde Liefde is an extensive residential area of more than 100 hectare comprising of 23 plots on which 9 houses are built and 14 houses will be realized on short term. The project on De Vierde Liefde has the purpose to create residential properties on a nature reserve, in a quiet natural surrounding being refrained from disturbing view and noise. The proposed Wind Farm is adjacent and bordering this residential area and will have an extremely negative impact on it. It will offend the proposed nature of our properties in the most serious way. We will encounter extremely disturbing impairment of our view, an extremely disturbing noise and a very serious decrease in the value of our properties.

03 July 2012 Dear Mr de Bruijn The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledges receipt of your email hereunder dated Monday, 28 May 2012 and confirm that your comments are noted and will be included in the Issues and Response Report

http://projects.gibb.co.za/en-za/projects/sagitwolseleywindfarm.aspx


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Therefore the Home Owners Association strongly opposes and objects to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to our residential area. We will take all legal steps possible to avoid the building of this Wind Farm in the region affecting us. We also will submit legal claims with regard to the loss of value of our 23 properties. In a civilized society this kind of project never should be build bordering a large residential area.

______________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase.

4 28 May 2012 Email


As you will have noticed as Chairman of our Board I have send you the completed Registration and Comment form, as the Home Owners Association of the residential area De Vierde Liefde is a party with serious interest ( in a negative sense) to the proposed Wind Farm As I came to know about the proposed project of a Wind Farm bordering our large residential area only recently, I have started to study all the facts and documents available. This will take some time to complete, so I am not able to fully comprehend all aspects at this moment. However so far I came across a serious flaw in the noise specialist report. In this report it is stated • that noise will only be produced when there is wind • the recommended noise levels are for a residential area 55.0dBA during daytime and 45.0dBA during night time • that at 15m/s 75.4 BA will be expected • that the generated noise from the turbines will be obscured by the noise of trees in the vicinity • that the generated noise from the turbines will be obscured from noise generated by the R43 road and railway. In this report is not considered the following: • that on de residential area De Vierde Liefde there is almost always wind, often exceeding 15 m/s, so there will be almost always disturbing noise from 90 meter high turbines • that due to that the noise will frequently exceed the recommended noise levels at our residential area by far • that there are no trees at all to obscure wind noise at our residential area. So we will encounter the full aspects of the noise generated daily • that we are so far away from the R43 and railway that we do not encounter any noise of these, so lacking another source of obscuring the noise of the turbines For these reasons we regard this report as completely invalid for our situation and we reject and oppose to the contents. It is a disgrace that a professional in this matter is able to make such serious mistakes. As a medical doctor I am very much aware of the negative impact the construction of a Wind Turbine Park will have on the well being of the people living on our residency.

04 July 2012 The Wolseley Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Monday, 28 May 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. ______________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase. Comments from Noise specialist, Barend van der Merwe:

1. Noise will be produced when there is a wind blowing because the wind noise of structures, trees


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You are aware of the fact that the files on the visual effects (App E7 Visual Specialist) and App G Interested and affected Party (I&AP) are corrupt or otherwise not possible to download. As you will understand the devastating visual impact on the residential area is of utmost concern to us as well. So I look forward receiving both files or to the notice that these files can be downloaded in order to be able to study them. I hope that the author of the visual impact study has taken his job more serious that the author of the noise study. In the mean time we will take all possible legal steps to avoid a construction of this kind of project next to a large residential area.

and any openings in the vicinity of a noise sensitive area will mask any other noise at a distance from the receptor. According to the I&AP there is always wind blowing at D4LE so the noise from wind around the corners of the houses, vegetation and any other vertical structure at the property will be higher at all times. Tests were carried out at a house during a windy period at Wolseley and such results will be made available in the Noise Assessment report.

2. The 75.4dBA noise level is the noise level of the wind and NOT the noise to be generated by the wind turbine.

3. The noise generated by trees and/or vertical structures will mask the sound from the wind turbine. This will be explained in the report.

4. This is for people living in the vicinity of the R43 road.

5. The nearest turbine is over 2 000m from the entrance gate to 4-Landen Estate and with the new technology wind turbines there will be no sound from the turbines audible


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at the estate. A study done at a wind turbine at Port Elizabeth revealed that the noise level at 60m from the turbine is 46.3dBA. The 4Landen Estate is 2 000m from the proposed WT and with the noise reduction of 6.0dB reduction (Inverse Square Law principle) per doubling of distance from the source the noise level at 1 860m will be 22.3dBA. This excludes any other noise absorption such as ground conditions, vertical structures, noise generated by leaves or trees during windy periods.

6. The noise level at measuring point 12 A during the noise survey revealed a noise level of 35.9dBA during a wind of 2.4m/s. The distances between the measuring point 12A to WT15, WT16 and WT14 are 2 300m, 2 350m and 2 520m respectively. This is direct line of sight and does not take into consideration the hill to the west and north-west of the estate.

7. The two noise measuring sites in 4LE (MP12 and 12 A) will be adequate as there are noise monitoring sites closer to the proposed wind farm that


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will be used.

Thank you for informing us of the corruption on the files indicated. Our IT department corrected this technology glitz and the relevant files/documents can be downloaded from the website.

5 25 May 2012 Email

Ralph Damonse In paragraph 2 of your letter you state : “The land leased for the project is all private owned farms that have been identified as prime spots for wind energy generation. The farms in question are listed below.” However; there is no listing of farms! Please forward the information as well as the map.

29 May 2012 I apologize for not including the list of farm properties to the notification letter of 24 May 2012. Please find enclosed information as requested.

6 29 May 2012 Email

Marbé Coetzee Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

Can you please provide me with the fax numbers of the Organs of State that the application was send to for comment.

30 May 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Tuesday, 29 May 2012. Please find the following two documents attached: • List of authorities that received email notifications • List of authorities that received email notifications and hard copies of Draft Scoping Report

7 29 May 2012 Email

Chris & Heidi Bredenhann

Please find attached a request to be registered as an interested and affected party with respect to the proposed Wolseley Wind Farm. I would appreciate it if you could confirm the registration, and with immediate effect forward all documentation relating to the EIA and development to us. For the record, I would like to state that I am opposed to the proposed development, as the proposed site borders a residential development (De Vierde Liefde Nature Reserve).

31 May 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Tuesday, 29 May 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report.


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8 29 May 2012 Email

J.F. Ruijzenaars Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is an extensive residential area of more than 100 hectare comprising of 23 plots on which 9 houses are built and 14 houses will be realized on short term. The project on De Vierde Liefde has the purpose to create residential properties on a nature reserve, in a quiet natural surrounding being refrained from disturbing view and noise. The proposed Wind Farm is adjacent and bordering this residential area and will have an extremely negative impact on it. It will offend the proposed nature of our properties in the most serious way. We will encounter extremely disturbing impairment of our view, an extremely disturbing noise and a very serious decrease in the value of our properties. It appears that in the development plan of the Wind Farm in no way the presence of the large residential area D4L is taken into consideration Both the Ecological and Avifauna Specialist Reports conclude that building a Wind Farm near D4L should be avoided or is highly undesirable. The Noise Specialist Report and Visual Specialist Report in no way take the presence or the circumstances of the large residential area D4L in consideration and should be regarded as invalid. Therefore I strongly oppose and object to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to my residential area. The home owners of D4L will take all legal steps possible to avoid the building of this Wind Farm in the region affecting us. We also will submit legal claims with regard to the loss of value of our 23 properties. In a civilized society this kind of project never should be built bordering a large residential area.

31 May 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Tuesday, 29 May 2012 and confirm that your comment will be included in the Issues and Response Report. _________________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase.

9 29 May 2012 Email

Michelle Taal and Gary van Heerden Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

I strongly oppose and object to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to my residential area. 31 May 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Tuesday, 29 May 2012 and confirm that your comment will be included in the Issues and Response Report.

10 30 May 2012 Email

Theo Knijnenburg Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is an extensive residential area of more than 100 hectare comprising of 23 plots on which 9 houses are built and 14 houses will be realized on short term. The project on De Vierde Liefde has the purpose to create residential properties on a nature reserve, in a quiet natural surrounding being refrained from disturbing view and noise. The proposed Wind Farm is adjacent and bordering this residential area and will have an extremely negative impact on it. It will offend the proposed nature of our properties in the most serious way. We will encounter extremely disturbing impairment of our view, an extremely disturbing noise and a very serious decrease in the value of our properties. It appears that in the development plan of the Wind Farm in no way the presence of the large residential area

The Wolseley Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Wednesday, 30 May 2012 and confirm receipt of completed comment form. Your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. _______________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and


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D4L is taken into consideration Both the Ecological and Avifauna Specialist Reports conclude that building a Wind Farm near D4L should be avoided or is highly undesirable. The Noise Specialist Report and Visual Specialist Report in no way take the presence or the circumstances of the large residential area D4L in consideration and should be regarded as invalid. Therefore I strongly oppose and object to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to my residential area. The home owners of D4L will take all legal steps possible to avoid the building of this Wind Farm in the region affecting us. We also will submit legal claims with regard to the loss of value of our 23 properties. In a civilized society this kind of project never should be built bordering a large residential area.

gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase.

11 15 June 2012 Email

Alana Duffell-Canham CapeNature

1. CapeNature supports the development of renewable energy facilities, including wind turbines. However, it must be recognised that the potential impacts on biodiversity of this relatively new technology are not yet fully understood in South Africa. We are concerned that the cumulative impacts of these facilities, if not properly considered and planned for, could be quite significant. It is therefore essential that a precautionary approach is taken and that turbines are placed outside of ecologically sensitive areas. It is also vital that a clear monitoring and reporting protocol is put in place so that lessons learned from newly established facilities can be shared with the wider community. 2. The proposed development area contains a number of vegetation types. Remaining natural vegetation on the lower lying parts of the application area consists of Breede Alluvium Fynbos according to the South African vegetation map (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). The more recent fine-scale vegetation mapping done by the CAPE fine-scale project (FSP) has classified the vegetation type as Romansrivier Proteoid Renosterveld and the remnants of natural vegetation are known to contain a high number of plant species of conservation concern and have been determined as Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs). According to the vegetation mapping done for the CAPE FSP the vegetation on the higher slopes consists mostly of a combination of Breede Shale Renosterveld, Romansrivier Renosterveld Alluvium Fynbos, Witzenberg Sandolien Renosterveld Fynbos and South Hex Sandstone Fynbos. The northern part of the application area is also known to contain plant species of conservation concern and much of the remaining natural areas on the application area have been determined as Critical Biodiversity Areas and are essential for meeting conservation targets. CapeNature does not support the construction of wind turbines and associated infrastructure within CBAs. CapeNature will also not support any development within wetlands (permanent and seasonal), streams, drainage lines or below the 1:50 year flood line. 3. A portion of the Remaining extent of the farm Romansrivier, farm number 320, Tulbagh

is in the process of being proclaimed a Nature Reserve in terms of section 23 of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003. This proclamation is in keeping with a condition of the environmental authorisation given by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for agricultural expansion on the farm. A diagram depicting the nature reserve has been prepared and submitted to the Surveyor General for approval (this diagram can be made

1. Noted

2. Noted

3. Noted


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available on request). Once the diagram has been signed by the Surveyor General it will be lodged against the title deeds of the property. CapeNature does not support the construction of wind turbines and associated infrastructure within nature reserves or other formally protected areas.

4. There are several other existing nature reserves (private and municipal) adjacent to the proposed development site and this also needs to be taken into consideration.

5. We note that the botanical specialist will be conducting a more detailed study as part of the EIA phase of the application. Groundwork should be done in late Winter/early Spring (end July to beginning September) when most bulb species are visible. Note that due to the stewardship process as well as the FSP mapping, a lot of recent work has been conducted in this area and the area is well known by CapeNature and the botanical specialist should only complete his report after consultation with CapeNature’s botanist Rupert Koopman. 6. The use of agricultural land for the placement of turbines and associated infrastructure

must not lead to the expansion of agriculture elsewhere i.e. into natural vegetation. If the Department of Agriculture is opposed to the proposed turbines being within agricultural fields, then this project must be considered fatally flawed as nearly all remaining natural vegetation on the proposed development area is considered to have high conservation value by CapeNature and we will strongly object to any loss of natural vegetation.

7. Bird monitoring must be conducted for at least one year prior to construction commencing on site and the developer must be prepared and committed to implement the required mitigation - for example reducing the number of turbines proposed should the potential impacts on birds be shown to be unacceptably high. Ongoing, long term monitoring must be conducted on site after the facility is operational as well. A standard monitoring protocol must be implemented on the site which is suitably adapted for the site and supervised by an expert ornithologist. Again, the developer must be prepared to implement any mitigation that may be required once the facility is operational, for example shutting down of turbines at certain times. Turbines and power lines must be fitted with appropriate bird deterrent devices/colouring. Where cables and power lines cannot or should not be buried, it is essential to place bird flappers on the line. Powerlines must be assessed as part of the EIA.

8. A bat specialist should also be involved in the EIA phase to conduct acoustic monitoring and to identify potential bat habitat on the site as these features (and a

buffer around them) must be avoided. It is likely that a number of species of bats will pass through the site and additional monitoring of bats will also need to occur prior to construction commencing.

9. It is not clear where building material for foundations and roads will be sourced from. Suitable areas for borrow pits and cement batching need to be identified and indicated on a map.

4. Noted

5. Noted

6. Noted

7. Noted – Chris van Rooyen is conducting the bird monitoring and impact study and this information was made available to him.

8. Noted – Animalia Consulting was appointed to conduct the bat monitoring and sensitivity assessment

9. Noted


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10. CapeNature suggests that the exact layout of the proposed facility should be finalised during the environmental assessment process (even if this means having to wait for additional data) as this is key to understanding the potential impacts of the proposed facility. A final layout must be provided and it must be reviewed and approved by all of the specialists before it is included in the Final EIR which is submitted for authorisation. CapeNature reserves the right to revise initial comments and request further information based on any additional information that may be received.

10. Noted


Hans de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association

As you are aware of, the Home Owners Association of the urban area De Vierde Liefde (D4L) has registered as a Party of Interest (I&AP) with regard to the proposed Wind Turbine Park near Wolseley. Additionally also a major part of the Home Owners personally have registered on their own behalf. The Home Owners have taken notice of the various reports with regards to the Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed Wolseley Wind Farm. From these reports it is clear that, the existence of the urban area De Vierde Liefde, adjacent to the proposed wind farm, with 23 plots and houses, has in most reports not at all, or hardly been taken into consideration. From the Google Earth data on Turbine positions available now it is clear the Wind Park will have a tremendous impact on D4L. Please see attached artist images from D4L towards the wind turbines and from the Valley towards D4L. These are based on the Google Earth data, the turbines are on the proposed sites and in real dimensions. In the original SAGIT applications construction of 25 turbines is mentioned. It now appears that 32 turbines are proposed. 17 Out of the totally proposed 32 turbines will be clearly in the view of our properties in a most disturbing way. The home owners of D4L will face a tremendous loss of property value and will face a great loss of enjoyment. Not taken the situation of De Vierde Liefde into account is a serious flaw of the reports. For this reason we object to the conclusions and suggestions made in the various reports. Furthermore we urge the following steps to be taken:

• Incorporate the existence of (D4L) and life quality in the relevant reports • placement of additional temporary noise monitoring points on (D4L) • estimation of the impact on (D4L) in the economic impact assessment • clarification and assessment of the existence and impact on birds and bats. (Has been determined

what bat an bird life there is?) • explanation of how the socio economic benefits to the local? community will work and benefit them.

For instance will the community have to pay for their 25% share?

More details on how the community will benefit will be required

29 June 2012 The Wolseley Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Thursday, 28 June 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. _________________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase

Response from Barend van der Merwe:

The two noise measuring sites in 4LE (MP12 and 12 A) will be adequate as there are noise monitoring sites closer to the proposed wind farm that will be used.

An Economic Impact Assessment will be conducted and report on during the EIA phase of the project. The findings of the social impact assessment, bird and bat sensitivity


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assessments will be reported on in the EIR.


De Wet Lategan Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

As owner of adjacent properties, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to make comments on the proposed development. My family has been living and farming in this area since 1843. This historic connection urges us to guard against anything that might negatively impact on our valley. We are conservation conscious producers that implement practices that are focussed on sustainability. (http://vimeo.com/32567362) We are of the opinion that this development has the potential to disturb the delicate balance of our environment. Our main concerns are the following:

1. Visual impact 2. Natural vegetation 3. Birdlife

4. Landing strip

29 June 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Tuesday, 26 June 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. ________________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase. Comments 1 to 4 noted. Re: Comment 4 Possible relocation of the airstrip is being discussed between proponent and landowner.

http://vimeo.com/32567362


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1. VISUAL IMPACT The upper part of the Breede River Valley is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in our country. This area was largely spared from major developments which contribute to its unique character. The building of 25 – 35 turbines, 90 m high, will have a major visual effect. As wine producers we are dependent on visiting tourists that buy our products. This will most certainly have a negative impact on the amount of visitors. 2. NATURAL VEGETATION A large part of the proposed area, especially to the Northern side is on or close to natural habitat that is regarded as critically endangered. This is also one of only a few places where the near extinct geometric tortoise is found in the wild. Adjacent to the proposed area is an area that has a contractual Biodiversity Agreement with Cape Nature. This is an extremely sensitive area that cannot afford to be put in jeopardy.

3. BIRDLIFE As active birdwatchers with an intimate knowledge of birdlife in this area, we are concerned about the impact these turbines will have on birdlife. The valley is at its narrowest in this area. Migrating birds will have no alternative route. I have read the impact study that was done by Chris van Rooyen Consulting and find it in some aspects faulty and lacking accuracy.

4. LANDING STRIP We currently use a tarred runway for a Cessna 210 on a property bordering the proposed area. Turbines erected in this area might have an influence on take-off and landing. If the project is approved, we will have to negotiate on the relocation of the runway.

CONCLUSION Although we support the development of alternative renewable energy facilities, we unfortunately cannot support this development.


Dick van Haaren Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is an extensive residential area of more than 100 hectare comprising of 23 plots on which 9 houses are build and 14 houses will be realized on short term. The project on De Vierde Liefde has the purpose to create residential properties on a nature reserve, in a quiet natural surrounding being refrained from disturbing view and noise. The proposed Wind Farm is adjacent and bordering this residential area and will have an extremely negative impact on it. It will offend the proposed nature of our properties in the most serious way. We will encounter extremely disturbing impairment of our view, an extremely disturbing noise and a very serious decrease in the value of our properties. It appears that in the development plan of the Wind Farm in no way the presence of the large residential area D4L is taken into consideration

04 July 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Tuesday, 12 June 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. ___________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the


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Both the Ecological and Avifauna Specialist Reports conclude that building a Wind Farm near D4L should be avoided or is highly undesirable. The Noise Specialist Report and Visual Specialist Report in no way take the presence or the circumstances of the large residential area D4L in consideration and should be regarded as invalid. Therefore I strongly oppose and object to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to my residential area. The home owners of D4L will take all legal steps possible to avoid the building of this Wind Farm in the region affecting us. We also will submit legal claims with regard to the loss of value of our 23 properties. In a civilized society this kind of project never should be build bordering a large residential area.

potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase.


Tineke de Nooij Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is an PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE of 104 hectare on 24 plots and nine houses and more houses will be realized on short term. I bought this place in 1997 and it took me years and later on the HOME OWNERS Organisation to change an old farm place into the beautiful state where it is in now. I repaired the damwalls, made roads, brought waterpipes in for 24 houses, digged the electricity lines underground to keep the unspoilt area, eliminated the alien trees and we planted indigenous trees and did hundreds of other activities for the benefit of our private nature reserve all in close co-operation with the Breee rivier Municipality and Cape Nature Conservation. I am shocked that we got informed of the proposed Wolseley Windfarm in a state of almost a point of no return. How is it possible that in a democratic Country as South Africa these plans were made without all the parties being involved? That’s why I am worried and I am on this moment against all these plans . I want to be heard in this case, because our dream place becomes a nightmare if the Proposed Wolseley Windfarm with all these turbines placed in the places as I have seen will come through and that will make all our years of intensive labour wasted. Don’t let me be misunderstood.I love your country dearly and I do understand all the benefits of this project for a lot of parties, but your country is that big. Why is it not possible to realize such a project in a place where less people are living and less unspoilt nature is with fynbos and proteas. (Also on behalf of my husband(P.A. IJKelenstam) the owner of plot no 14 (where he wanted to build a house for his children)

04 July 2012 The Wolseley Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Saturday, 09 June 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase.

16 01 July 2012 Email

Ian Isaacs Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is an extensive residential area of more than 100 hectare comprising 23 plots, on which 9 houses are built and 14 houses will be realized in the short term. The project on De Vierde Liefde has the purpose to create residential properties on a nature reserve, in a quiet natural surrounding being refrained from disturbing view and noise. The proposed Wind Farm is adjacent and bordering this residential area and will have an extremely negative impact on it. It will offend the proposed nature of our properties in the most serious way. We will encounter extremely disturbing impairment of our view and extremely disturbing noise and a very serious decrease in the value of our properties. It appears that the development plan of the Wind Farm in no way considers the presence of the large

Email: 01 July 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Sunday, 01 July 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. __________________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of


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residential area, D4L. Both the Ecological and Avifauna Specialist Reports conclude that building a Wind Farm near D4L should be avoided or is highly undesirable. The Noise Specialist Report and Visual Specialist Report in no way take the presence or the circumstances of the large residential area, D4L, into consideration and should be regarded as invalid. Therefore I strongly oppose and object to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to my residential area. The home owners of D4L will take all legal steps possible to avoid the building of this Wind Farm in the region affecting us. We also will submit legal claims with regard to the loss of value of our 23 properties. In a civilized society, this kind of project never should be built bordering a large residential area.

the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase.

17 22 May 2012 Fax

ML Watters For Executive Manager: Road and Transport Management Department of Transport and Public Works

1. Your letter dated 2 May 2012 with reference “J30283” refers.

2. SAGIT Energy Ventures is proposing to construct a wind farm of between 21 and 35 wind turbines near Wolseley.

3. This Branch would like to register as an Interested and Affected Party.

4. The proposal affects Provincial Roads MR305, MR201 and DR1436.

5. This Branch offers the following initial comment on the proposed project and will provide further comment on the LUPO application. In terms of Act 21 of 1940 and Ordinance 19 of 1976, the following conditions apply:

5.1 A building restriction line of 95 m is applicable along trunk, main and divisional roads and is measured from the centerline of the road reserve.

5.2 A building restriction line of 500 m is applicable from the centerlines of intersecting trunk, main and divisional roads; and where these roads intersect other roads.

5.3 No advertising of any nature is allowed on the turbine structures.

5.4 Turbines should be located a distance equal to or greater than their toppling distance plus 5 m from the road reserve boundary.

5.5 Turbines shall be located far enough from the road reserve boundary so that they do not present a distraction to motorists, and this Branch may require the applicant to engage the services of a traffic engineer to assess such impact once the location of the wind turbines have been determined.

5.6 A 5m building line is applicable.

5.7 A Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) will be required when the LUPO application is made. Amongst the usual items that the TIA addresses it should also consider the impact on road

Noted.


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infrastructure what maintenance measures may be required when the equipment is transported to site.

18 21 June 2012 Hard copy received at the Open House

David Carter Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

1. Visual Impact of the wind farm from the perspective of De 4 De Liefde Estate.

2. Noise pollution impact on the area.

3. Probable financial loss due to property devaluation as a result of the proximity of the wind farm to De 4 De Liefde which is essentially a vacation / leisure development sited away from the urban / industrial areas and adjoining a site-owned nature conservation area.

Email: 01 July 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Sunday, 01 July 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. _______________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase.

19 01 July 2012 Email

Dale Wright Regional Conservation Manager: WC Birdlife

BirdLife South Africa would like to submit comments regarding the Draft Scoping Report provided as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by Arcus GIBB Pty Ltd. for the proposed Wolseley Wind Energy Facility, proponents; SAGIT Energy Ventures. BirdLife South Africa would also like to formally register as an Interested and Affected Party on this development application. Interested and Affected Party Information: Name: Dale Wright Position: Regional Conservation Manager: Western Cape Organisation: BirdLife South Africa Telephone Number: 072 562 3946 Physical Address: 55 Hastings St. Tamboerskloof. Cape Town 8001 Postal Address as above. Email: [email protected]

01 July 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Monday, 02 July 2012 and confirm that the comments from Bird Life South Africa will be included in the Issues and Response Report. _______________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic

mailto:[email protected]


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BirdLife South Africa’s Interest in the aforementioned Wind Farm: BirdLife South Africa is a Non-Governmental Organisation primarily concerned with the conservation of South Africa’s birds and their habitats. Wind Energy Facilities have been identified elsewhere, e.g. case studies in Spain and California, USA to have negative impacts on birds and their habitats. and BirdLife South Africa therefore wishes to engage the industry and individual development applications in an attempt to mitigate against the potential negative impacts and to strive to ensure bird conservation concerns are accounted for when planning the location of Wind Energy Facilities, including that of the individual wind turbines. BirdLife South Africa’s comments on aforementioned development: BirdLife South Africa supports the development of renewable energy in South Africa and would like to see renewable energy contribute positively to the South African energy supply; however it is essential that potential environmental impacts of renewable energy facilities are actively managed to reduce negative environmental impacts. BirdLife South Africa therefore urges the wind industry to not only focus on the carbon benefits, but to honour the biodiversity that will be affected by the planned Wind Energy Facility. In this regard BirdLife South Africa supports the appointment of Chris van Rooyen as the Avifaunal Specialist on this development. BirdLife South Africa furthermore supports the potential impacts identified by the Avifaunal Specialist in Section 3 of the Avifaunal Report “Potential Impacts and Issues Identification”. In particular BirdLife South Africa is concerned about; 1) Mortality due to collision with the wind turbines 2) Displacement due to disturbance 3) Displacement due to habitat loss in the footprint of the wind farm and 4) Mortalities due to collision with associated power line infrastructure. as indicated in the Avifaunal Specialist Report. BirdLife South Africa would insist that the “BirdLife South Africa and Endangered Wildlife Trust Best practice guidelines for avian monitoring and impact mitigation at proposed wind energy development sites in southern Africa” by Jenkins et al. 2011 http://www.birdlife.org.za/conservation/birds-and-wind-energy are implemented as soon as possible at this site, since these guidelines call for a 12 month pre-construction monitoring. The data collected during this monitoring period must also inform the final site layout for turbines and potential mitigation methods at the proposed site. Furthermore, the proposed site is between two Important Bird Areas (Eastern False Bay Mountains SA107 & Cedarberg-Koue Bokkeveld Complex SA101 (Barnes et al. 1998)) and within a narrow valley that most likely acts as a corridor for bird movement. This site will likely impact on birds moving between these IBAs. It is therefore important that the pre-construction monitoring is applied in order to determine flight paths within the

components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase

http://www.birdlife.org.za/conservation/birds-and-wind-energy


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site to inform turbine layout and reduce potential collisions. A number of priority wind farm species (29) have been identified for this site and the high number of raptors and large terrestrial species potentially present at the site also increases the potential negative environmental impact through collision mortalities. The potential impact through disturbance to Fynbos vegetation is also a concern, since the eight South African Fynbos endemic bird species which all potentially occur on site and are all restricted to this vegetation. Any further loss of this habitat type threatens the survival of these endemic bird species. BirdLife South Africa request to receive quarterly pre-construction monitoring reports as well as the final avifaunal monitoring report. As such, BirdLife South Africa wishes to review the final proposed mitigation and layout of turbines to be able to provide further recommendations to minimise the predicted impacts on the birds threatened by the development.


Hans de Bruijn De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association

Please find the requested information. Kind regards, Hans P. de Bruijn Party 1 formal Name: Hans P. de Bruijn, Chairman of the Board of Trusties organisation: Home Owners Association De Vierde Liefde representing:

• Garcia, plot nr 7 • Witbooi, plot nr 8 • de Bruijn, plot nr 9 • van Haaren, plot nr 10 • Chewins, plot nr 11 • de Nooy, plot nr 12 • Isaacs, plot nr 13 • Eykelenstam, plot nr 14 • Laursen, plot nr 15 • T. Isaacs, plot nr 16 • Knijnenburg, plot nr 17 • van Heerden, plot nr 18 • Isaacs, plot nr 19 • de Wet plot nr 20 • Weisse, plot nr 21 • van der Poel, plot nr 22 • Bredenhann, plot nr 23 • de Nooij, plot nr 24 • Bouwma, plot nr 25 • Carter, plot nr 26 • Ruijzenaars, plot nr 27 • Carel &b Helena, plot nr 28 • Malan, plot nr 29 • Teertstra, plot nr 30

interest: De Vierde Liefde affected by the proposed construction of an adjacent Wind Turbine Park

01 July 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Friday, 29 June 2012 and confirm that the residents, as indicated in your email, will be included in the Interested and Affected Party Register.


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postal Address: PO Box 74, Wolseley Physical address: urban area De Vierde Liefde, de Liefde Pad, Wolseley tel nr: 08-26465153 E-mail address: [email protected] Party 2 private: Name: Hans P. de Bruijn organisation: Home Owner Plot 9, De Vierde Liefde interest: affected by the proposed construction of an adjacent Wind Turbine Park postal Address: PO Box 74, Wolseley Physical address: urban area De Vierde Liefde, de Liefde Pad, Wolseley tel nr: 08-26465153 E-mail address: [email protected]


Phakamani Buthelezi CEO Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency

Your request to register formally as interested and affected party for this project refers: The Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) has received delegations during December 2010 to comment on behalf of Department of Water Affairs on all rezoning, consent use, consolidation and Environmental Assessment studies. Please do not hesitate to contact this office if you have any further queries. Please ensure to quote the above reference in doing so. (Reference: 4/10/H10F/Wolseley Windfarm

02 July 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email, on behalf of Phakamani Buthelezi from the Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency, hereunder dated Monday, 25 June 2012.


Charles de Wet Adjacent Landowner De 4 De Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is an extensive residential area of more than 100 hectare comprising of 23 plots on which 9 houses are build and 14 houses will be realized on short term. The project on De Vierde Liefde has the purpose to create residential properties on a nature reserve, in a quiet natural surrounding being refrained from disturbing view and noise. The proposed Wind Farm is adjacent and bordering this residential area and will have an extremely negative impact on it. It will offend the proposed nature of our properties in the most serious way. We will encounter extremely disturbing impairment of our view, an extremely disturbing noise and a very serious decrease in the value of our properties. Therefore the Home Owners Association strongly opposes and objects to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to our residential area. We will take all legal steps possible to avoid the building of this Wind Farm in the region affecting us. We also will submit legal claims with regard to the loss of value of our 23 properties. In a civilized society this kind of project never should be build bordering a large residential area.

08 June 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Wednesday, 06 June 2012 and confirm that you will be included in the Interested and Affected Party Register and that your comment will reflect in the Issues and Response Report. ____________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities.




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All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase


Jos Bouma Adjacent Landowner De Vierde Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is a uniquely located Private Nature Reserve in a splendid setting in the foothills of the Waaihoek Mountains. Twenty-three houses are realized in this beautiful part of the Breede River Valley. Spectacular views, solitude and irreplaceable flora and fauna are key elements of the Reserve and the area around it. De Vierde Liefde has been developed to ensure that the impact on the environment is minimized.

The owners of De Vierde Liefde bought their properties in order to have an unspoilt view, away from major residential developments in a rural environment. How would the development of a Wind Farm adjacent to our houses affect the nature and unspoilt views currently experienced by residents of De Vierde Liefde Private Nature Reserve? The development will undoubtedly have a dramatic negative impact, on our views, the solitude, on the nature of our properties and on its value.

The owners of De Vierde Liefde have not been approached by the developer to ascertain if there are any possible objections to the proposed development. Therefore, I would like to formalize and place on record my great concerns and reservations with respect to this proposed development with this form. I strongly oppose to the proposed Windfarm development. Legal steps will be taken and a financial claim will be submitted, if the development is realized. Land-based wind energy is one solution in a range of sustainable energy solutions, but it is not always an economic and environmentally friendly solution, as several countries have meanwhile experienced. Realizing wind energy farms near a residential area is no longer an accepted solution in developed countries. In South Africa, with its vast land areas, several powerful alternative renewable energy solutions are available.

08 June 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Sunday, 03 June 2012 and confirm that we have included you on the Interested and Affected Party Register and your comment will be included in the Issues and Response Report. _________________ The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase


Dave and Anne Carter Adjacent Landowners De 4 De Liefde

De Vierde Liefde is an extensive residential area of more than 100 hectare comprising of 23 plots on which 9 houses are build and 14 houses will be realized on short term. The project on De Vierde Liefde has the purpose to create residential properties on a nature reserve, in a quiet natural surrounding being refrained from disturbing view and noise. The proposed Wind Farm is adjacent and bordering this residential area and will have an extremely negative impact on it. It will offend the proposed nature of our properties in the most serious way. We will encounter extremely disturbing impairment of our view, an extremely disturbing noise and a very serious decrease in the value of our properties. Therefore the Home Owners Association strongly opposes and objects to the proposal of a Wind Farm next to our residential area. We will take all legal steps possible to avoid the building of this Wind Farm in the region affecting us.

31 May 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Wednesday, 30 May 2012 and confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report.


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We also will submit legal claims with regard to the loss of value of our 23 properties. In a civilized society this kind of project never should be built bordering a large residential area.


Steven Boers Interested and Affected Party

I visited the farm De 4de Liefde yesterday and read the notification displayed along the way about the study being undertaken with regard to a windfarm in that area. Could you please email the notice so displayed to ourselves and the various recipients shown in the CC box above. These recipients are property owners on De 4de Liefde and need to be informed. They also need to be registered as Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP’s), the names being: Mr & Ms Calla Wiehahn '[email protected]' Mr & Mrs Jos Bouma Jos en Greetje Bouma [[email protected]] Mr Bouma will forward the information to other owners on De 4de Liefde who need to be advised.

31 May 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Friday, 25 May 2012 and your subsequent telephone call on Thursday, 31 May 2012. We confirm that your comments will be included in the Issues and Response Report. In order to be correctly registered on the Interested and Affected Party Register, please complete the comment sheet on the last page of the Background Information Document attached. Attached:

• Notification Letter regarding the availability of the Draft Scoping Report (DSR), availability of the hard copies of the DSR, Open House details and Comment Period details.

• Background Information Document


Malani Venter Die Burger

Die Burger published an article today about the proposed windfarm near Wolseley. I got the info from the various documents on Argus Gibb’s website. For a follow up article I would like some comment from Sagit Energy Ventures if possible:

1. Is there a good response from the public? 2. Are they mostly concern about the proposed project or positive about it? 3. What is the next step after the 40 days of comment is over? 4. Some residents from Wolseley said to me that they are all for wind energy, but not the proposed

area of the project because major parts of the proposed site are in a Critical Biodiversity Area. What is your comment on this? Can the site maybe change, why this area?

5. What is the cost of such a project? 6. How long does construction of such a project take?

If possible I’ll appreciate comment today – but otherwise tomorrow is fine.

01 June 2012 The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Thursday, 31 May 2012 and confirm that Arcus GIBB (Pty) Ltd (GIBB) is the appointed independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) for the Proposed Wolseley Wind Farm.


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Melanie Gosling The Cape Times

Sorry, the first one bounced back. Just wanted to know if you had seen these artist's impression of the SAGIT wind farm near Wolseley, and are they a fair impression?

The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Thursday, 31 May 2012 and confirm that Arcus GIBB (Pty) Ltd (GIBB) is the appointed independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) for the Proposed Wolseley Wind Farm.


Hennie Taljaard Interested and Affected Party

Could you please forward me a pdf of the BID document?

The Wolseley Wind Farm Public Participation Office acknowledge receipt of your email hereunder dated Friday, 25 May 2012 and attach hereto a copy of the Background Information Document as per your request. The purpose of the scoping phase of the EIA process is to investigate and gather information about the proposed site and establish the potential impacts on the surrounding environment, which include its biophysical and socio-economic components. The purpose is furthermore to identify and consult the I&AP’s and relevant authorities. All the identified issues will be further investigated and assessed in the environmental impact assessment phase. As per email notification sent on Thursday, 24 May 2012, the comment period for the Draft Scoping Period ends today (Tuesday, 03 July 2012).

Documents

ISSUES AND RESPONSE REPORT - GIBBprojects.gibb.co.za/Portals/3/projects/201207 SAGIT...De Vierde Liefde Home Owners Association : 21 . Phakamani Buthelezi Breede-Overberg Catchment