According to Rob Ellis, conservancy member (Highway West), no-one in the community was aware that two Eskom substations were to be erected within the conservancy. The first substation (Leeuwenbosch) was built and completed 10km along the Rheenendal Road.
He explained that the second (Phantom) substation may be visible to the North from the White Bridge. "The real visual impact will be for South-bound Rheenendal road traffic who, when afforded their first clear view of the lagoon/Heads, will have the new sub-station in the foreground."
To ensure that the community is heard, the Phantom-Homtini Conservancy has formed a liaison committee with all interested parties, including Eskom, SANParks, CapeNature and concerned local residents to debate ways of softening the harsh visual impact of the Leeuwenbosch substation, possibly by planting indigenous trees and/or shrubs, and to lobby for a re-assessment of the site of the Phantom substation structure.
"Eskom is supportive of the proposed greening of the Leeuwenbosch perimeter but their stance on the Phanton site is that, in view of the planning and funds already expended, no re-evaluation can be considered," explained Ellis.
Eskom
Jolene Henn, Eskom communication and stakeholder manager, explained that the Phantom-Homtini Conservancy had requested that they become involved during the construction through the Homtini Conservancy area. "Eskom had a meeting with them [conservancy] where members of our site staff and the environmental control officer accompanied Eskom." During this meeting, "It was pointed out to the delegation present that the meeting was not intended to question the construction of either the line or the substations as an environment authorisation had been issued by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Eskom had gone through all the processes in order to get approval for this work," said Henn.
She further explained that the formation of the environment liaison committee was "more to create a forum where the local environmentalists/landowners could express an opinion and/or influence construction in order to minimise the damage to the environment".
Ellis explained that in support of an enhancement to the Blanco-Knysna Eskom line, an environmental impact assessment and public participation process were initiated during 2005 and completed in September 2008 with the publication of Eskom's final environmental impact report (FEIR).
"Cursory examination of the extensive FEIR documentation does reveal the proposed erection of the two new substations but, critically, in the subsequent public notices calling for the registration of interested and affected parties only the line and post (pylon) enhancements were detailed. It is no surprise then that Frank Edwards, a farmer neighbouring the Leeuwenbosch site, had no knowledge of what was to befall the area until the construction teams moved on site," said Ellis. He added, "Some might argue, therefore, that the process was flawed. Certainly the visual impacts of the structures were never addressed."
CapeNature
Andrew Turner, CapeNautre scientific services manager, explained that CapeNature does not support activities that may negatively impact on any area that has been identified as a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA) or Ecological Support Area (ESA) in a systematic biodiversity conservation plant. "The area where the substation is to be constructed is in an area supporting critically endangered Knysna sand fynbos," said Turner. "This vegetation is listed as a threatened ecosystem under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act as less than 1% of its area is protected and it has at least three threatened plant species."
According to Turner the narrow servitude area is surrounded by a designated CBA. "Given the environmental authorisation decision to proceed with this development, CapeNature's role is now to help mitigate the negative impacts of this development. To this end, CapeNature is assisting Eskom in the best practical environmental implementation of the authorised activities to mitigate the biological effects this application as far as possible."
He added that SANParks, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and CapeNature, have been working to ensure that the least amount of damage occurs to the environment during construction.
"CapeNature is also administering a plant collection and removal permit to allow Eskom to remove endangered or protected plant species that will be destroyed by the placement of towers or substations. The conditions of the permit are specific and plant material that cannot be saved will be used in brush-packing during rehabilitation to prevent erosion and plant species that can be relocated will be rescued and re-planted in the servitude only to avoid the introduction of foreign plant material," concluded Turner.
SANParks
SANParks supports achieving conservation outcomes in the priority natural areas (buffer zones) of the Garden Route National Park. The proposed Phantom substation is located in a critical biodiversity area (CBA) as described by the Garden Route Biodiversity Sector Plan and contains Knysna Enon fynbos. Some rare and endangered plants have been identified on the site.
SANParks is working in close collaboration with Eskom, CapeNature and the Phantom-Homtini Conservancy towards minimising environmental damage on the site. Firstly, the disturbance footprint will be demarcated to avoid damage to fynbos where practically possible and 'no-go' areas will be identified. Secondly, a plant search and rescue operation will take place and topsoil will be managed effectively. Thirdly, alien clearing will take place in the Eskom servitude. This is a sensitive site and 'best practice' principles will be implemented. An environmental liason committee was established that will monitor progress on site.
Petra ten Velde of the conservancy committee said, "No-one disputes the population growth pressure for an electrical power upgrading and we are grateful to Eskom's project manager and on-site team members for hearing out our concerns; the great sadness however is that the siting of the sub-stations will, forever, spoil the face of Rheenendal."
She added, "Today's more inclusive public participation processes would afford a far better likelihood of the natural beauty of the area and attendant of local and foreign tourism importance being sympathetically considered ahead of the positioning of new substations. Simply put, the sitings are inappropriate."
Ellis concluded, "Few will argue, however, that the positioning close to the road will have a negative impact on the natural beauty of the landscape and spoil the view of the lagoon. As Anthony Robinson, member of the conservancy, remarked, 'It just isn't right'."
The proposed site for Eskom's Phantom substation.
