Proposed pebble bed modular reactor
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- Scope Of Work
- Approach And Methodology
- Locality And Study Area
- Description Of The Existing Landscape Character
Visual Impact AssessmentPurposeThe purpose of this visual impact assessment is to:
Scope Of WorkILA (Pty) Ltd was appointed as a sub-consultant of the EIA Consortium to conduct a visual impact assessment for the proposed establishment of a 110 MWe Class Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) demonstration module at Koeberg. The scope of work entailed the necessary investigations and site visits to conduct a visual impact assessment as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. For the purposes of this visual impact assessment two alternative positions for the erection of one Modular Reactor were investigated, namely:
The study area was defined as all the surrounding areas from which the proposed Modular Reactor can be observed. A comprehensive description of the visual quality of the landscape, development proposal, anticipated viewing points and a significance assessment for these viewing points is included in the report. Mitigatory measures are included in order to ensure the minimum visual impact on the surrounding landscape. Approach And MethodologyThe approach to the visual impact assessment was one of on-site and area investigation, to obtain an overview of the visual aspects related to the development site and the surrounding area. On site assessment of the environmental characteristics was supported by literature studies. Visual impact assessments by nature are subjective and quantification is difficult, due to the fact that it is based on the judgment of the observer. For the purpose of this study it was attempted to follow an approach in which cultural- and physiological parameters were also taken into account, in order to obtain an objective, systemised result with established criteria for scenic value. According to Oberholzer (1992), these criteria should conform to the following:
The following steps should furthermore, be taken as part of the visual impact assessment process (Oberholzer (1992)),:
These sensory, psychological and sequential experiences provide a feel and image of an area. This is defined as the “genius loci” or sense of place.
Locality And Study AreaThe proposed Pebble Bed Modular Reactor demonstration unit will be located within the parameters of the existing Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, which is situated on the farm Duynefontyn no 34, Malmesbury. The study area falls within the magisterial district of Malmesbury. Description Of The Existing Landscape CharacterElements such as the topography, landform, land use, man-made environment, vegetation and natural – or cultural features determine the landscape character. This section describes the landscape character.
The northern and southern sections of the Koeberg site is generally flat with a modest fall towards the coast, with a series of primary, secondary and tertiary coastal dunes varying in height up to 10 metres and shifting sand to the north and south of the property. The natural components, seen from a visual perspective, include the following:
Duynefontyn (Cape farm no. 34) belongs to Eskom, and measures some 1,257 ha in extent, stretching 4,4km along the coast and 3,5km inland. To the north the farm, Kleine Springfontyn no. 33, which also belongs to Eskom, borders the proposed site. This property measures 1,590 ha, stretching 3,6km along the coast and 3,75km inland. Access to the site is provided from the West Coast Road (Provincial Trunk Road no. 77), which transects the property. The Koeberg NPS itself consists of a main turbine building which is very large in scale and rectangular in form. Two circular silos pressure vessels which house the reactor units form part of this unit. The rectangular building is flat roofed and it’s exterior is white, whereas the silos are constructed of unpainted concrete. Numerous other flat-roofed buildings and warehouse-type structures make up the remainder of the complex. Most of the exteriors of these structures are either white or a shade of grey. There exists a strong overall horizontal design, which echoes the very flat, horizontal character of the surrounding landscape. The colours of the buildings and structures tend to blend in with the surroundings, particularly on an overcast day. To the south of the Koeberg site, is the residential area, known as Duynefontyn. The Melkbosstrand urban strip, including Van Riebeeckstrand further to the south along the coast, dominates the land use within a 5km radius. The area to the east of the Koeberg site is largely uncultivated due to the presence of sandy soils with a low agricultural potential. Agricultural land use occurs further within the north-eastern to the east-south-eastern sectors. The farms Duynefontyn and Kleine Springfontein were proclaimed as the Koeberg Private Nature Reserve in 1991. This reserve is open to the public. The Atlantis industrial and residential areas are located approximately 12km to the northeast of the Koeberg site. The growth of the industrial area is relatively stagnant. The area between Atlantis and the coastline has been identified for possible inclusion in the proposed West Coast Biosphere Reserve. The Koeberg Nature Reserve forms part of the West Coast Biosphere Reserve. There are no major fishing activities within a 15 nautical mile (27km) radius from the proposed Pebble Bed site. The closest commercial activity in the Atlantic Ocean is found at Robbeneiland, approximately 15km south-southwest of the Koeberg site.
According to Motloch (1991: p. 54), landscapes can functionally be seen as a set of interrelating ecological and human systems, which are powered by human physical needs and technological growth. Infrastructure supports a desired lifestyle and addresses the integration of ecological- and human needs. The “genius loci” (sense of place) is dependent upon the degree to which infrastructure systems integrate with other human and natural systems. The major roads, from which the proposed Pebble Bed site is visible, include the following: NORTH SOUTH TRAFFIC MOVEMENT:
EAST WEST TRAFFIC MOVEMENT:
According to the Koeberg Site Safety Report, the West Coast Road (Trunk road no. 77) and the National Road N7 serve primarily as north-south and regional distributors, with the additional function of local rural access. The West Coast Road is a dual carriageway and links the Cape Metropolitan Area with the northern West Coast areas, traversing the farm Duynefontyn at approximately 2.3km from the existing reactor buildings. Access to the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is provided from this road. The average annual daily traffic volumes taken by the Provincial Roads Administration in 1993 and 1994 on the West Coast Road in both directions varied from approximately 8,100 vehicles at the Melkbosstrand Road intersection to approximately 6,700 vehicles at the Dassenberg road intersection. The volume of vehicles at the access point to Koeberg was approximately 7,000 vehicles per day. During the above survey, approximately 10,100 vehicles were counted at the Mamre-Darling road intersection. Shipping lanes are indicated in the KSSR. The shipping lanes are used for fishing purposes and not for tourists.
The landscape character of the area directly adjacent to the proposed Pebble Bed Modular Reactor site is primarily natural, with suburban sections to the south and north, and an agricultural character to the east. The vegetative cover of the Koeberg Nature Reserve consists of large tracts of Strandveld and Dune Veld. The vegetation primarily consists of indigenous pioneer plants covering the coastal dunes, reaching a maximum height of 1,500 to 2,000 metres, resulting in uninterrupted views with no screening capacity for the scale of the proposed structure. Eskom has established Fynbos vegetation on the shifting sand dunes north of the existing structures, which has changed the original visual character of the landscape.
Unique cultural features present in the regional area include Robbeneiland and Table Mountain. The Koeberg Private Nature Reserve is a unique natural feature, which conserves a number of unique coastal landforms, wetlands and vegetation communities. Two hiking trails have been developed in the Reserve, which are open to the public. Robbeneiland, which has been declared as a World Heritage Site, is located approximately 15km south south west from the proposed site, in the Atlantic Ocean.
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