Case Decision - 192719

Final Comment
The SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontological and Meteorites (APM) Unit has no objection to the proposed development and supports the recommendations of the heritage specialists. The recommendations of the specialists and the following conditions must be included in the EMPr:

It must be emphasized that SAHRA can only comment on the section of the development located within the Northern Cape (Phase 1 Grid Connection and Phase 2 WEF). Comments from HWC must be sought regarding the areas of the proposed development located within the Western Cape Province;
A Walk-Down of the final positions of the turbines and access road routes must be completed prior to construction by a qualified archaeologist and a qualified palaeontologist. The locations of construction camps and laydown yards must also be assessed as part of the walk-down report. The report must CLEARLY state which heritage resources are located within the Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces to allow the relevant Heritage Resource Authority (HRA) to provide comments. The report must also clearly state the distance between each proposed project activity and identified resources via detailed descriptions, photographs and a map;
A bufferzone of 50 m must be maintained from all identified heritage resources. A Conservation Management Plan (CMP) must be developed for all heritage resources that are to be retained in-situ. The CMP must include and is not limited to details regarding on-going monitoring and access controls for affected interested and affected parties i.e. family member related to the graveyards. This CMP must be submitted to SAHRA for comment;
Turbine placements must avoid areas underlain by the Lower Beaufort Group rocks. Should this not be possible, a Watching Brief must be conducted during the construction phase of the project. This must include the on-site presence of a qualified palaeontologist who will monitor excavations for turbine foundations, access roads and underground cables within the Lower Beaufort Group rocks. A Watching Brief Report detailing the results of the monitoring must be submitted to SAHRA for comment;
Chance Finds and Fossil Finds Procedures must be developed and implemented for the project. These procedures must include standard protocol, steps and reporting structures to be followed should any heritage and/or fossil heritage is uncovered during all phases of development;
If any evidence of archaeological sites or remains (e.g. remnants of stone-made structures, indigenous ceramics, bones, stone artefacts, ostrich eggshell fragments, charcoal and ash concentrations), fossils or other categories of heritage resources are found during the proposed development, SAHRA APM Unit (Natasha Higgitt/Phillip Hine 021 462 5402) must be alerted. If unmarked human burials are uncovered, the SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves (BGG) Unit (Thingahangwi Tshivhase/Mimi Seetelo 012 320 8490), must be alerted immediately. A professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contracted as soon as possible to inspect the findings. If the newly discovered heritage resources prove to be of archaeological or palaeontological significance, a Phase 2 rescue operation may be required subject to permits issued by SAHRA;
Should comments from HWC require the re-alignment of the Phase 1 Transmission line and the route through the Northern Cape be amended, the revised Heritage report assessing the new route must also be submitted to SAHRA for comment;
The applicant is responsible for ensuring that comments from HWC are received regarding the areas of the proposed development located in the Western Cape Province;
As the Final EIA/EMPr has been completed, and SAHRAs comments not incorporated as part of the submission to the Competent Authority for decision making, this comment must be forwarded directly to the Competent Authority for their consideration as per section 38(8) of the NHRA. Proof of this submission must be provided to SAHRA; and
Should the project be granted Environmental Authorisation, SAHRA must be notified and all relevant documents submitted to the case file.