Was reading this articles from
http://www.eiatoolkit.ewt.org.za are we really Golf Obnoxious ???? I felt bad i am playing 100 games a year average......
EXAMPLES OF DEVELOPMENTS AND POSSIBLE IMPACTS
This section is intended to provide general guidance on the types of impacts that may be associated with particular types of developments or developments in particular areas. These examples below are representative only, designed to give interested and affected parties assistance in understanding what impacts to look for in particular types of projects. However, these are examples only and a proposed development may have some or all of the impacts described below. Further, this is not an exhaustive list of environmental and social impacts. The impacts of a development will depend upon the size and type of a proposed development and the environment in which it is to be built.
Example 1: A Housing And
Golf EstateProject Description
A development converting agricultural land into a golf estate is proposed. The proposed development will consist of approximately 400 residential units, an18-hole golf course, a driving range, clubhouse, fishing facilities, two new dams, a 20 room lodge and 100 person conference centre, and staff accommodation, maintenance workshop, sewage treatment works, an irrigation reservoir, clean water reservoir, and water purification works. The entire complex will be surrounded by an electric fence. The proposed project will be located in an area that is currently grasslands and agricultural. Several streams run across the property, one of which will be dammed and trout will be introduced into the stream. <
Environmental And Social Impacts
1. Biodiversity
The development is proposed in an area of grasslands and wetlands. The construction of a golf course, homes, (which includes water, electricity and sewage pipes) and roads, will result in a reduction of the local biodiversity (plants and animals) and ecosystem functioning and services (the ability of environment to clean water etc). In addition, gardens that will be planted in the development may contain alien and invasive species that will displace indigenous species. The development could impact on local species by destroying their habitat. Grass- and wetlands are two important habitats for many endangered species. South Africa has had substantial losses of grasslands and wetlands and subsequently for example crane numbers have declined throughout their grassland range. This development will directly take habitat from the cranes as well as many endangered plant and mammal species such as oribi, and will indirectly render a large portion of land unsuitable for these species due to the increase in traffic, activity, noise and general disturbance from people.
The electric fence around the development likely will electrocute species that venture too near to it. Further, the electrical perimeter fence will restrict movement and migration of many mammal, bird and reptile species. Normal fences do not generally limit movements of small mammals and reptiles, thus ensuring a more continuous habitat for them on farmlands. The electric perimeter fence will for all practical purposes isolate the small mammal and reptile populations on the property from surrounding populations. Small, isolated populations have a much higher chance of extinction.
The introduction of a large number of trout into the local streams could potentially destroy the native fish population through replacement, disease and removal of essential prey species on which the indigenous fish feed. This could also result in changes within the ecosystem that could affect other plant and animal species. Trout move with ease up and down rivers, unless there are waterfalls preventing them from doing so. The proposed dam will not prevent trout from moving further downstream. Mitigation measures that will keep trout out of parts of the river will also prevent indigenous fish from migrating up and down the river.
2. Cumulative Impacts
In this particular example, several other developments are planned in the area. Both from an animal and plant habitat and general environmental impact point of view, these developments should not be seen in isolation, but their impact rather considered cumulatively (as required by NEMA). The main impact that all these developments will have on species is a direct loss of habitat. Indirectly developments will result in habitat fragmentation (leaving pieces of natural land too small for species to survive on). This will negatively impact on, especially threatened species, or sensitive species that require large tracts of intact habitat to survive.
3. Impacts On Water
In this example, there are three impacts on the water resources of the area. Firstly, the development poses a threat to the already strained local water supply. Golf courses require a tremendous amount of water and the water demands of the golf course, 400 new homes, and a hotel means that there may not be enough water left for other downstream households and agricultural users in the area.
Secondly, golf courses consume large amounts of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. These substances inevitably leach into the surrounding environment, and can especially impact on water bodies by reducing water quality to a point where the fauna and flora die and it is no longer suitable for consumption. Sewage from the houses also may impact the water quality. While some sewage might be recycled as fertilizer, not all of the sewage from a development this size could be recycled. Coupled with increased storm water run-off from houses, potential leaching of fertilizers, treated sewage and pesticides from the golf course and extraction of large volumes of water, the impacts potentially can be very high and long in duration. The potential of large amounts of sediment finding its way into the watercourses during the construction phase can also not be ruled out.
Thirdly, one must look at water requirements for maintaining ecosystem functioning and how the need for water for the development was calculated. For example, if one assumes that the homes would only be used on the weekend, the estimation would be that much less water will be needed than will actually be used. Constructing a further eight weirs and a large storage dam to support the need for the development will have severe impacts that will be difficult to mitigate. Downstream water users may experience a decrease in water quality and quantity because of this development.
4. Theoretical Benefits
The developer attempts to balance some of the environmental harm caused by the development by stating that the project will have environmental benefits. For example, the developer claims that the turf grass on golf courses produces oxygen, perhaps implying that this housing development will help slow global warming. However, the same can be said for natural grassland on the property, which does so without the need of irrigation, fertilizer or pesticides. The developer also states that the turf grass filters out rainfall contaminants, yet so does natural grasslands. Considering the amounts of contaminants that the turf grass will require to grow, this will far outweigh its filtration role.
5. Other Issues
NEMA states that an environmental assessment practitioner must not have a “financial or other interest in the undertaking of the proposed activity”. In this example, the environmental assessment practitioner was not independent as it also has an agreement to perform the landscaping for the development once it is approved. As a consequence, the environmental reports cannot be used and the developer must hire a new environmental assessment practitioner.
In most projects the developer will state that the development will create a great number of jobs for the local community. However, the reality of these new jobs is often unclear. Make sure that the report explains the existing socio-economics of the area, including employment statistics, skills levels, demographics etc. and clearly states what and how many jobs will be created, the sustainability of the jobs and shows that the local population has the skills to fill the jobs.
The developer also should explain the impacts on existing social services (including medical facilities, schools etc.) as a result of both the influx of workers to the area and the new residents, the potential social effects of migrant labour including: conflict with local residents, sexually transmitted diseases, alcoholism, etc. and the potential increase in HIV/AIDS incidence as a result of migrant labour.
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Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:29 am
But than again...his brain too screw up to be hypnosis 
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