Heritage Cases

HilLand Environmental, independent Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAP), have been appointed by the Applicant, Jacques Reynecke of Dusty Moon Investments 344 (Pty) Ltd to ensure compliance with the regulations contained in the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA, No 107 of 1998) and Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2014 for the proposed development of the Mall of the North West on Erf 11883, a portion of erf 506, Vryburg. The proposed Vryburg Mall was approved in terms of NEMA in 2014 – see attached EA (appendix H3). Due to various unforeseen circumstances, commencement of the EA did not take place within the regulated timeframe of the EA and has subsequently lapsed. This application seeks to reinstate the EA which was previously issued in terms NEMA based on Listed Activity 32 of listing notice 1. LN1 Activity 32 – The continuation of any development where the environmental authorisation has lapsed and where the continuation of the development, after the date the environmental authorisation has lapsed, will meet the threshold of any activity or activities listed in this Notice (LN1), Listing Notice 2 of 2014 or Listing Notice 3 of 2014 All similarly listed activities are included in this application and include the transformation of land -indigenous vegetation clearing and all associated services as contemplated in the original EA. The project remains unchanged and will function as a regional shopping centre. The proposed development of the Mall of the North West consists of a single phase, of 19, 029m2 of gross lettable area over two levels There will be approximately 810 parking bays and access will be gained via the existing municipal road infrastructure. The proposed construction will gain access from the existing municipal road infrastructure and make use municipal water. The proposed Mall will make use of solar panels for additional electricity generation (which will provide additional electricity during the construction phase). The design of the Mall will include energy saving measures. Dr.JF Durand (Sci.Nat.) has undertaken the required Palaeontological Desk top assessment as requested by SAHRA. “The study area is underlain by rocks of the Vryburg Formation of the Griqualand West Supergroup and the Dwyka Group of the Karoo Supergroup. The rocks of both these geological units are considered to be of Moderate Palaeontological Sensitivity. The chances of finding fossils in these rocks are however very poor and none have been reported from the study area. In the unlikely event of fossils being at the study site during development, the ECO should follow the Chance Find Procedure. Although disturbed fossils should be collected and stored safely until it can be inspected by a palaeontologist, no attempt should be made to remove such accidentally discovered fossils from the rock by an unqualified person” Durant, 2021. The EMP includes the provision for dealing with heritage resources in terms of the Chance Find Procedure should any heritage recourses, including evidence of graves and human burials, archaeological material and paleontological material be discovered during the execution of the activities. See uploaded BAR and associated Appendices.