Chapter 8 - Conclusion - Transnet

Transnet LimitedPhase 2 Expansion: Port of SaldanhaEnvironmental Scoping Report• Visual impact: the existing iron ore handling facility is a highly visibleelement owing to the 4km pier protruding into the bay, the industrialinfrastructure and the large carrier ships docked in the harbouroccasionally. It is not clear how these visual impacts can be mitigated.Therefore, this aspect must be considered in a full visual impactassessment.• Shipping traffic as a result of the increase in average ship size and theexpected increase in the number of ships that would visit the port inorder to realize the export target. Mitigation measures focussing onballast water management and shipping risks should be developedduring the EIA phase.• Traffic impact due to the fact that surrounding access roads will beaffected by the rail component of the expansion. A full traffic impactstudy must be undertaken.• Impact on heritage / historical resources. This is an impact that oftenarises during construction, the significance of which can only be fullydetermined after a detailed assessment has been undertaken.• Impacts related to the social environment e.g. the BlouwaterbaaiCommunity. The socio-economic impact assessment must providesuggestions and recommendations to address all the major concernsand issues of I&APs.• Location of suitable marine dump sites to dispose of dredge spoil. Thisissue should be investigated extensively. The study on the marine dumpsites must focus on identifying and characterising suitable dump sites,based on the nature of the dredge material.8.2 ALTERNATIVES TO BE ASSESSED IN THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT PHASEScoping included preliminary specialist studies that enabled the identification ofimpacts and key issues. A holistic approach based on the principles of IEM was usedto integrate and weigh the likely impacts of building the handling facility at the currentSaldanha port. This was done by mapping all the layout alternatives and possibleimpact points at the current port. Other project alternatives must be identified andassessed in the EIA phase.A purely technical scoping of the biophysical and socio-economic issues or potentialimpacts is to be followed by a detailed assessment of the impacts. This assessmentwill be undertaken in terms of the issues or guidelines identified in Section 6.98Prepared by the PDNA/SRK Joint Venture