Case Decision - 198884

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) would like to thank you for submitting the Draft Scoping Report (DSR) for the Port of Richards Bay Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report. 
The Scoping Report aims to determine the context and focus of the overall assessment and to identify any potentially significant impacts associated with the Master Plan for the port development. It also provides an overview of the Strategic Environmental Assessment that is being undertaken for the Port of Richards Bay and the steps involved in the assessment. 
The National Heritage Resources Act (No25 of 1999) legislates the protection of South Africa’s heritage resources and stipulates that the identification and protection of these sites must be considered during the development. SAHRA’s Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (MUCH) unit is responsible for coordinating the management of all underwater cultural heritage below the high-water mark along South Africa’s approximately 3000 kilometre coastline. MUCH resources include harbours and maritime infrastructure older than 60 years. 
The DSR has highlighted numerous projects to be undertaken as part of the master plan and has identified the significant aspects, impacts and risks associated with those projects including those which may have impacts to possible heritage resources. The projects relevant to maritime and underwater cultural heritage resources and harbours and maritime infrastructures are Project numbers 10-16 and 20-21. These proposed projects include activities relating to existing harbour infrastructures, creation of new harbour facilities or berths and dredging of the harbour basin. Depending on which Environmental Approvals are triggered, heritage impact assessments (HIAs) may be required for these projects prior to the work being undertaken. HIAs must identify areas within the Port of Richards Bay where heritage resources are present and develop a better understanding of what the legislative requirements may be. They must assess impacts to these heritage resources and recommend mitigation measures to reduce adverse impacts. 
The DSR states in the individual project notes in the table in Section 7.4.5 Scoping Findings that:

NHRA & KZN HA: Permit from Amafa and Research Institute if heritage resources are to be affected.

Please note that a permit will be required from the MUCH unit at SAHRA rather than a Research Institute or Amafa as stated. This must be corrected in future reports. 
Permits will be required from SAHRA should there be a need for disturbance of historic wrecks older than 60 years, or for any work undertaken on any maritime infrastructure, such as wharfs or berths, over 60 years of age. 
SAHRA supports the findings of the DSR in regard to the consideration of heritage for the proposed projects.