BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT

NOTICE OF A BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND

MAINTENANCE OF COLLECTOR SEWERS AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BENONI
EAST, BENONI CENTRAL AND BRENTWOOD PARK IN THE CITY OF EKURHULENI
METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY, GAUTENG PROVINCE.

PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

The purpose of this Background Information Document (BID) is to provide background information on
the proposed construction and maintenance of collector sewers and associated infrastructure for
Brentwood Park, Benoni Central and Benoni East in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality,
Gauteng Province. The proposed sewer pipeline will follow an existing sewer pipeline infrastructure
route, with minor adjustments or diversions to invert levels and optimize proposed upgrades on public
road reserves. In addition to supplying information about the project, this BID will also serve the
following purposes:
▪ Provide information on the Basic Assessment (BA) and the General Authorisation (GA) / Water
Use License Application (WULA) processes to be followed to obtain Environmental
Authorisation;
▪ To invite Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) to participate in the process through
comments and input into the project and its studies.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The City of Ekurhuleni proposes to undertake the construction and maintenance of collector sewers
and associated infrastructure for Brentwood Park, Benoni Central and Benoni East. The project aims
to address the insufficient capacity of current infrastructure to accommodate future sewer flows from
the anticipated future developments and the phasing out of Tom Jones, Brentwood Park and Old
Commando Sewer Pump Stations in Benoni Area. The proposed construction and maintenance of
collector sewers and associated infrastructure will include construction of new collector sewer along
Rangeview Road in Benoni East; installation of new parallel collector sewer main in Wilstead Street
and upgrading existing collector sewers in Voortrekker Road and Mowbray Avenue in Benoni Central;
and the upgrading of Brentwood Park collector sewer under the City of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province.
The new sewer pipelines will follow the route of the existing sewer pipelines infrastructure, with minor
adjustments or diversions to invert levels and optimize proposed upgrades on public road reserves.
The pipeline routes identified are on road reserves and crossing and traverses open areas and a
wetland.
NTC has been appointed as an independent environmental consultant to assist Southern Ambition
Consulting Engineers who have been appointed by CoE Metropolitan Municipality for the Completion
of Stages 1 and Stages 2 of the feasibility stage of the proposed project. NTC will undertake the BA
process and WULA for the proposed sewer pipeline project.
It is anticipated that the project may result in both negative and positive impacts as follows:
Negative:

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• Dust pollution during the construction phase;
• Loss of vegetation and biodiversity impacts;
• Erosion and/or siltation of watercourses and roads;
• Disturbance of the wetlands and watercourse biodiversity within the servitude; and
• Traffic and visual impacts in built residential and business areas.
Positive:
• Job creation during the construction phase;
• Sewage pipeline infrastructure upgrade; and
• Improve service delivery in the greater region.

APPLICABLE LEGISLATION
The proposed sewer pipeline activities are listed in terms of the National Environmental Management
Act (No. 107 of 1998) as amended (NEMA), EIA regulations under Government Notice Regulation
(GNR) 327 and Section 21 of the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) as amended (NWA), and require
Environmental Authorisation (EA) and a WUL or GA.
The EIA Process required for the above mentioned 6.2km sewer pipeline project is a BA process which
will be conducted in accordance with the EIA regulations GNR 327 promulgated on 7th of April 2017,
and submitted to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) for
consideration. A WULA/GA will also be compiled in accordance the NWA and submitted to the
Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for consideration.
The NEMA EIA listed activities that may be triggered are:
• GNR 327 Activity 10: The development and related operation of infrastructure exceeding 1 000
metres in length for the bulk transportation of sewage, effluent, process water, waste water, return
water, industrial discharge or slimes – (i) with an internal diameter of 0,36 metres or more.
• GNR 327 Activity 12: The development of (ii) infrastructure or structures with a physical footprint
of 100 square metres or more; where such development occurs (a) within a watercourse; (b) in
front of a development setback; or (c) if no development setback exists, within 32 metres of a
watercourse, measured from the edge of a watercourse excluding— (dd) where such development
occurs within an urban area; (ee) where such development occurs within existing roads, road
reserves or railway line reserves.
• GNR 327 Activity 19: The infilling or depositing of any material of more than 10 cubic metres into,
or the dredging, excavation, removal or moving of soil, sand, shells, shell grit, pebbles or rock of
more than 10 cubic metres from (i) a watercourse.

It is envisaged that the following water uses will be undertaken on site:

• Section 21 (c) – Impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse
• Section 21 (i) – Altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS
An EIA is the process of collecting, organising, analysing, interpreting and communicating information
that is relevant for the consideration for each application. The EIA processes are used by planning
authorities/applicants to obtain an independent and objective view of the potential environmental
(biophysical and social) impacts that could arise during the establishment and operation of a project.
This information serves to provide the competent Authority with sound basis information for their
decision-making.
NTC has been appointed as an independent environmental consultant to assist with the BA process
and WULA / GA for the proposed sewer pipeline. The main function of NTC will be to ensure that the
environmental component of the project complies with the requirements of the relevant national,
provincial and local legislation. The following legislation, inter alia, will be considered as part of the BA
and WULA/GA authorisation process to ensure legal compliance and best practice:
▪ Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1998 (Act No. 108 of 1998);
▪ National Water Act, 1989 (Act No. 36 of 1998);
▪ Environmental Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of 1989);
▪ National Environmental Management Act (No 107 of 1998);
▪ National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Act No. 59 of 2008);
▪ National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No.10 of 2004);
▪ National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No. 39 of 2004); and
▪ Hazardous Substance Act, 1973 (Act No. 15 of 1973).

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION PROCESS

NTC will be responsible for undertaking the required assessments and compiling a BA Report and
WULA/GA reports. The DWS will be consulted with in terms of the WULA/GA associated with the
project and DEA will be consulted with in terms of BA process(es). It should be noted that the WULA/GA
processes will be undertaken parallel to the BA process.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS

Public involvement is an essential part of the environmental assessment process. Stakeholders and
I&AP with interest in the project will be identified and notified about the project. All comments received
from stakeholders and I&APs will be recorded and presented to the project team and regulatory
authorities. In addition, feedback will be provided to the stakeholders on how your comments have
been considered in terms of the project planning and implementation, and I&APs will be notified of the
outcome of the EIA process.

HOW DO I&AP’s PARTICIPATE?

Should you wish to register as an I&AP, or if you know of any person or group that should be included
in the public participation process, please complete the attached I&AP registration form and return to
NTC. Comments, objections or questions regarding the project should reach NTC o n or before by 20
October 2020. Responses can also be made by telephone or in writing (sent to us by fax, e-mail or
post). Please ensure that you provide us with your name and contact details.

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Availability of Draft BAR / WULA for Review: 21 September 2020 till 20 October 2020
• Online: www.ntcgroup.co.za; and
• On request from NTC Group either direct email or via a shared folder in Dropbox.

NTC GROUP (PTY) LTD

AMP Building | 17 Eaton Avenue | Bryanston | 2192
Tel.: (011) 462 2022; Fax: (086) 6651 864
E-mail: ethel@ntcgroup.co.za
Contact person: Ethel Chifunda

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REGISTRATION FORM FOR I&APs

Name and Surname

Postal Address
Postal Code:
Street Address
Postal Code:
Telephone No.
Fax No.
Cell No.
Email Address

Who else do you think should be included in the process? (Please include contact details if possible.)

Please indicate why you have an interest or how you will be affected by this project:

Please write your comments, concerns, objections or questions here (use additional pages where
necessary)
necessary):

Please return completed forms to: Ethel Chifunda

Tel: 011 462 2022
E-mail: ethel@ntcgroup.co.za

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 Appendix A – Locality Maps

Brentwood Park

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 Benoni East

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 Benoni Central

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