CHE3062SInvestigative Report

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Feasibility study of the expansion of

Flamingoville along the edge of the lagoon
By: Ashleigh Hein
Environmental Engineer
CHE3062S

02/10/2015

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Summary
This report concerns the assessment of three plans for the expansion of the town,
Flamingoville.

Background to investigation
Jacob de Wet of the Town Council requested the assessment to determine which plan
would cause the least damage to the flora and fauna in the area. The development will
consist of 1500 houses and will be built along the bank of the lagoon. Any historical
monuments in the area must be preserved during the development. The report is due
on 2 October 2015.

Procedure Used
The information for this report was gathered by means of private interviews with an
environmental scientist, Professor Thabo Ntuli, a local supermarket owner and the
urban and regional town planner, Duncan Greenspan. A meeting to determine the
residents opinions on the development was also held on Friday 28 August 2015. Maps
for the three plans and a map of the area were collected from the Town Council. The
maps for the three plans were then assessed according to the environmental, economic
and aesthetic impact they could have.

Results of investigation
Plane C has large spaces between the house clusters thus preserving the flora. All
plans could result in the pollution of the tributaries. This could be avoided by the
construction of storm water retention dams. These will also help reduce sand erosion
by slowing down the water flow into the lagoon. Plan B has all the houses in one area
and some houses will be double storied thus it will have the greatest aesthetic impact.

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The development is expected to boost the local economy and provided that the houses
are built tastefully, it should increase the value of the property in the area.
Residents are concerned about the development disrupting the areas flora and fauna
particularly the migratory birds. They are also worried about the peace being disrupted
due to the increased number of people in the area and they requested that only single
storied houses be built to avoid the view of the lagoon from being blocked.

Conclusions
Based on the results the following conclusions can be made. Plan C is expected to have
the least negative impact on the area with respect to the flora, fauna and aesthetics.

Recommendations
Based on the foregoing conclusions the following recommendations can be made:

Implement Plan C for the expansion of Flamingoville.

Construct the storm water retention dams.
All the houses must have the same style and it should be such that they blend in.
Build the houses as far away from the feeding grounds of the migratory birds as

possible.
Declare the reaming area along the lagoon edge to be a nature reserve.
Construct raised pedestrian pathways.
Build a limited number of access points to the beach.
Construct a small nature reserve around the farmhouse.
Transform the farmhouse into a working farm, restaurant, conference center or

museum.
Build a road from Flamingoville, South to the nature reserve with bird hides and

lookout points along it.

Control the traffic on the above mentioned road with a boom and security guard.

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Table of Contents

Summary...................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................ iv
List of illustrations........................................................................................................................ v
List of Figures.............................................................................................................................. v
Glossary...................................................................................................................................... vi
1.

2.

Introduction........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1

Subject of and motivation for the report.........................................................................1

1.2

Background to Report....................................................................................................1

1.3

Objectives of Report......................................................................................................1

1.4

Scope and Limitations...................................................................................................2

1.5

Plan of Development.....................................................................................................3

Method of investigation.........................................................................................................4
2.1

Assessment of proposed plans......................................................................................4

2.2

Interview with a local supermarket owner......................................................................4

2.3

Meeting with Flamingoville residents.............................................................................4

2.4

Interview with an environmental scientist.......................................................................5

2.5

Meeting with the urban and regional town planner........................................................5

3.

Analysis of the map of the area and the maps of the proposed plans...................................6

4.

Assessment of the proposed plans.......................................................................................8

4.1

Possible environmental impact......................................................................................8

4.1.1

Possible impact on the areas flora and the necessary counter measures.............8

4.1.2

Possible impact on the areas fauna and the necessary counter measures............8

4.2

Possible aesthetic impact of the plans...........................................................................9

4.3

Possible economic impact of the plans........................................................................10

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4.4
5.

Outcomes of the meeting with the residents................................................................10

Conclusions........................................................................................................................ 12
5.1

Threat to the flora........................................................................................................12

5.2

Threat to the fauna......................................................................................................12

5.3

Negative aesthetic impact of the plans........................................................................12

6.

Recommendations.............................................................................................................. 13

7.

References......................................................................................................................... 15

8.

Appendices......................................................................................................................... 16
8.1

Map of the area........................................................................................................... 16

8.2

Summary of interview with Prof Thabo Ntuli................................................................17

8.3

Summary of interview with Duncan Greenspan...........................................................18

List of illustrations
List of Figures
Figure 3.1: Map for plan A........................................................................................ 6
Figure 3.2: Map for plan B........................................................................................ 7
Figure 3.3: Map for plan C........................................................................................ 7
Figure 8.1: Map of the area.................................................................................... 16

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Glossary

Aesthetics: Visual attractiveness.

Bird Hide: Covered shelter built to view fauna and birds without detection.

Cluster housing: Small groups of houses that are attached to one another, i.e.
semi-detached.

Conventional housing: homes that are separate from one another and that are
in straight lines (grid pattern).

Fauna: Wild animals.

Flora: Flowers and grasses that make up the fynbos

Fynbos: Natural vegetation (grass, bush, trees) indigenous to the Western

Cape.

Lagoon: Stretch of salt water, separated from the sea by sand dunes or land.

Tributary: Also known as an affluent, is a freshwater stream that feeds into a

bigger stream or body of water such as a lagoon or lake.

Estuary: A water passage, where freshwater meets the sea.

1. Introduction
1.1 Subject of and motivation for the report

This report assesse the feasibility of the three housing development plans for the
extension of Flamingoville. Jacob de Wet of the Town Council requested the

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assessment to determine which plan will have the least effect on the lagoons fauna and
flora.

1.2 Background to Report

The Flamingoville Town Council want to expand the town owing to the increased labour
force in the area because of mining activities and the large amount of annual visitors to
the town. The only suitable land for the development is located along the banks of the
lagoon. The development will consist of 1500 housing units built in the area boarding
the nature reserve. Three plans for the development have been suggested but these
need to be assessed to determine the environmental impact they will have on the
lagoon. The lagoon area is a summer feeding and breeding ground for many migratory
birds thus the plan which will have the smallest impact on the lagoons flora and fauna
will be selected. Also the historical monuments in the area need to be preserved during
the development, owing to the Historical Monuments Act. The report is to be completed
by 2 October 2015.

1.3 Objectives of Report

The objectives of the report are to:

Assess the development plans that have been given to the Town Council.

Collect information about the existence and location of the flora and fauna
in the area.

For each of the plans:

a) Describe the effect the development will have
on the marine life of the lagoon, beaches and

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tributary streams. Also provide measures to

counter these effects.
b) Determine the economic and aesthetic impact
the development will have on the nature reserve
and town. Consider the town residents opinions
on the development.

Draw conclusions based on the findings and recommend the plan that will
cause the least damage and that will have the most positive impact on the
area.

1.4 Scope and Limitations

This report is limited by the fact that only a single environmental scientist, town planer
and business owner were interviewed and only three development plans are assessed.
Also, the report only considers one site, the lagoon area. The Town Council concluded
that this is the only suitable site but further investigation could be done to check this.
The economic impact of the development can only be estimated as no financial
information could be obtained.

1.5 Plan of Development

The report begins with a description of the method of investigation. The findings with
respect to the aesthetic, economic and environmental impact of the development and

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the residents opinions are then presented and discussed. Conclusions are then drawn
based on these findings. Recommendations are then made as to which development
plan should be chosen; based on the foregoing conclusions.

2. Method of investigation
The methods implemented in this investigation are detailed below:

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2.1 Assessment of proposed plans

The three plans for the development as well as a general map of the area were
collected from the Town Council. The plans were then each studied and assessed with
regards to the environmental, economic and aesthetic impact each would have.
Historical monuments, if any, were identified on the map. The plans where then checked
to see if any of them would cause damage to the historical monument in any way.

2.2 Interview with a local supermarket owner

A meeting was arranged with a local supermarket owner from Flamingoville. The
meeting was conducted in private. A list of questions was drawn up prior to the meeting
and these covered: his opinion on the development and the reasons for this. The
supermarket owner was asked if flyers could be handed out at his supermarket to invite
the residents to a meeting to discuss the development.

2.3 Meeting with Flamingoville residents

A meeting was held at the Flamingoville Town Hall. Advertisements were placed in the
local papers, the meeting was announced on the radio and flyers were handed out at
the local supermarket to invite residents to the meeting. A large number of residents
arrived at the meeting on Friday 28 August 2015. The meeting began with an address
about the development from Jacob de Wet of the Town Council. He then asked the
residents for their opinions on the matter, especially with regards to the environmental,
aesthetic and economic effects the development may have. These opinions were noted
for future reference and are summarized in the findings of this report.

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2.4 Interview with an environmental scientist

.

A meeting was arranged with an environmental scientist, Professor Thabo Ntuli. The
meeting was conducted in private. A list of questions was drawn up prior to the meeting
and these covered: The possible aesthetic and environmental impact that the
development could have and possible ways to prevent or lessen the impact. A summary
of the interview is provided in Appendix 8.2.

2.5 Meeting with the urban and regional town planner

A meeting was arranged with Duncan Greenspan, the urban and regional town planner.
The meeting was conducted in private. A list of questions was drawn up prior to the
meeting and these covered: The possible environmental and aesthetic impact that the
development could have and ways to prevent or lessen the impact. A summary of the
interview is provided in Appendix 8.3.

3. Analysis of the map of the area and the maps of the

proposed plans
A map of the area of where the development will occur and the surroundings is provided
in Appendix 8.1. Towards the top of Figure 8.1 is the area where the development will
take place (the area is enclosed by a rectangle). In this area there is a farmhouse which

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is a historical monument which needs to be preserved in the development. There are

also two streams in the development area that flow into the lagoon. The map also
shows that the development area is very close to the estuary to the Atlantic Ocean. The
feeding and roosting ground for the migratory birds is shown to be far from the
development are, towards the bottom of the map. The location for the possible new road
which will have viewing sites along it, is also shown on the map.

The maps for plans A, B and C

showing the proposed location for the housing

devlopment are shown below (Figure 3.2-3.4).

Figure 3.1: Map for plan A

Figure 3.2: Map for plan B

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Figure 3.3: Map for plan C

The legend next to each of the three plans provides useful information on the type of
houses that will be built, where they would be built and how many in one particular
place. The location of the proposed road is also shown.

4. Assessment of the proposed plans

The results of the assessment of the three plans with respect to environmental,
aesthetic and economic impact, are provided below:

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4.1 Possible environmental impact

Before a plan for the expansion can be chosen, the proposed plans need to be
assessed according to the possible environmental impact that they could have with
respect to the flora and fauna of the area and counter measures need to be discussed.

4.1.1 Possible impact on the areas flora and the necessary counter measures

Plan A and B do not have many open areas between the houses. This could inhibit the
growth of the natural vegetation in the area. This is not favorable as already there will
be destruction and disturbance caused to the aquatic plants and those on the dunes
due to the increased activity in the area. To prevent this, Professor Thabo Ntuli suggests
that there be a limited number of access points to the beach and pathways should be
raised so as to enable the flora to still grow, undisturbed, below them. Figure 3.3 shows
that plan C has left spaces open between the houses to preserve flora growth.

4.1.2 Possible impact on the areas fauna and the necessary counter measures

Plan A and C show the houses running south along the lagoon towards the feeding and
roosting grounds of the migratory birds (this area is shown on Figure 8.1). This could
result in the disturbance of the migratory birds. While Plan B is advantageous as it will
have the houses built from west to east, far from the birds feeding grounds.
The houses in Plan A and C would also be built around both of the streams that feed to
the lagoon. If these get polluted from polluted storm water run-off, the delicate
ecosystems within these streams, the lagoon and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean would
be disrupted. According to Professor Thabo Ntuli, the pollution would decrease the
population of prawns at the waters edge and other organisms in the lagoon such as
whelks, clams and worms. The migratory birds and fish, feed on these organisms so

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their populations will also decrease. Thus less birds would migrate to the area from
Europe, less breeding would occur so the bird populations could become endangered.
Duncan Greenspan suggests that storm water retention dams be built before the
tributaries enter the lagoon. Any pollution can then be filtered from the water before it
enters the lagoon. This will provide an added benefit of slower water flow which will help
decrease erosion of the beach sand around the points where the streams enter the
lagoon. These dams will help to prevent pollution and thus disturbance to the areas
fauna. Plan B will only build houses around one of the streams thus it would only require
one dam, unlike the other plans which will need two dams.

4.2 Possible aesthetic impact of the plans

Plan B will have the greatest aesthetic impact as all the houses will be built very close to
one another with some being double storied. Double storied houses will stand out and
they will block the views of the lagoon and the nature reserve. Building all the homes so
close together will also make the development stand out and it will thus be very difficult
for the houses to blend in with the natural vegetation. Plan A also will make use of
double storied houses but Plan A will have the houses spread out thus minimizing the
aesthetic impact. Plan C will have the least aesthetic impact as it will consist of clusters
of single storied homes with lots of natural vegetation in between them thus this
development should blend in well with the environment.

4.3 Possible economic impact of the plans

Building the 1500 houses will result in a boost to the local economy owing to the
increased amount of tourists and people living and working in the area. Plan A and C
will require two dams to be built while Plan B will only need one which will mean greater
costs for Plan A and C ,however, Plan B ,if selected, would need more money to be

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dedicated to trying to minimize the aesthetic impact of the houses than the other two
plans.
The supermarket owner that was interviewed expects that the development will result in
more customers for his store. He also hopes that the homes will be built tastefully as
then they could increase the value of the property in the area, however, if they are badly
built the property in the area could be devalued. The value of the property and the
towns revenue could also be increased, according to Duncan Greenspan, if the Town
Council declares the rest of the lagoons edge a nature reserve i.e. no further
development along the lagoon banks will be allowed. This reserve would form part of
the already existing reserve.
The farmhouse, which is a historical monument, lies on the boundary of the
development area. Duncan Greenspan suggests that it be converted into a restaurant,
conference center, museum or a working farm so that the community can benefit from
it .This will help to boost the local economy even more and it could make the farmhouse
more attractive to tourists too.

4.4 Outcomes of the meeting with the residents

The supermarket owner that was interviewed lives near to the development area. As a
resident he is concerned that the increased amount of people in the area could disturb
the peace, result in the area becoming too crowded and the new houses could block the
views of the lagoon.
Another resident was very concerned about the flora in the area as the beautiful flowers
are what attract tourists to the area. He thus hopes that the developers do not destroy
the vegetation.
Another resident was asked if she was concerned about the development disrupting the
animals that live in the fynbos. She was not very concerned about those animals, but
she like many others is worried about the migratory birds that feed and breed in the

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area. One resident suggested that a small nature reserve be built around the historical
farmhouse to help preserve the flora and fauna. Many residents also shared that they
hope that only single storied houses are built to reduce the aesthetic impact of the
development.

5. Conclusions
Based on the foregoing information, the following conclusions have been drawn:

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5.1 Threat to the flora

Plan C will result in the least damage to the flora in the area owing the large areas of
vegetation between the houses. The construction of raised walkways and limited access
points to the beach will also help to minimize the threat to the flora. The construction of
the small nature reserve around the historical farmhouse and preventing further
development along the lagoons edge, as suggested by a resident and Duncan
Greenspan respectively, would also help to protect the flora of the area.

5.2 Threat to the fauna

All three plans pose a threat to the water sources of the area and thus to the fauna. By
implementing the dams as suggested by Duncan Greenspan this could be avoided.
Ensuing that the houses are built far away from the migratory birds feeding and
breeding grounds is essential to ensure that the birds are not disrupted. Constructing
the small nature reserve around the farmhouse, preventing further development along
the lagoons edge and implementing the raised walkways and limited beach access
points, as mentioned above, will also help to reduce the disruption of the fauna.

5.3 Negative aesthetic impact of the plans

Plan C will have the least aesthetic impact as it has spread out single storied houses
with lots of vegetation in between the clusters; unlike the other two plans.

6. Recommendations
On the basis of the above conclusions, the following recommendations are made:

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Plan C should be used for the expansion of Flamingoville

Professor Thabo Ntuli recommends that the houses must not spread too
far South i.e. they must be built as far away from the migratory birds
feeding and breeding grounds as possible.

Build the houses with the same style i.e. the same roof tiles, paint, window
fittings, doors etc. The design of the houses should be one that will ensure
that the houses will blend in with the natural vegetation.

A storm water retention dam should be built at the end of each tributary to
prevent pollution of the lagoon and Atlantic Ocean and to reduce erosion
of the beach sand (Duncan Greenspan).

Build limited access points to the beach and construct raised walkways
(Professor Thabo Ntuli).

Construct a small nature reserve in the area around the historical

farmhouse and convert the farmhouse into a restaurant, museum,
conference center or working farm (Duncan Greenspan).

The Town Council should draw up legal papers to declare the remaining
land along the banks of the lagoon a nature reserve that will form part of
the original reserve. (Duncan Greenspan).

Construct a road from Flamingoville, South to the road into the nature
reserve with bird hides and lookout points along it.

Control the number of cars allowed on the above mentioned road with a
boom and security guard.

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7. References
Anon., 2015. Merriam-Webster. [Online]
Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estuary
[Accessed 1 October 2015].
Anon., 2015. National Geographic Encyclopedia. [Online]
Available at: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/tributary/
[Accessed 1 October 2015].

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Greenspan, D., 2015. Interview with the urban and regional town planner [Interview] (3
September 2015).
Ntuli, P. T., 2015. Interview with environmental scientist [Interview] (1 Septemper 2015).
Supermarket-Owner, A., 2015. Interview with a busniess owner [Interview] (2015
September 4 2015).

Note: The Harvard Referencing style was used.

8. Appendices
8.1 Map of the area

Figure 8.1: Map of the area

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8.2 Summary of interview with Prof Thabo Ntuli

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8.3 Summary of interview with Duncan Greenspan