HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Development proposals are likely to change the environment within which it will be situated, be it natural or man-made, as well as heritage resources (This means any place or object of cultural significance) which are unique and non-renewable. The cultural visual, scenic and archeological components of the environment are extremely valuable and proposals have the potential to cause significant impacts.

In order to ensure that decisions regarding development projects do not disregard Cultural, Archeological or National Heritage considerations, Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA), may be required for the undertaking of identified activities by way of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998; National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) Act 25 of 1999; Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Act 28 of 2002 and the Development Facilitation Act (DFA) Act 67 of 1995.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF A HIA (HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT)

• Determine an appropriate category and level of expected impact;
• Determine and illustrate the cultural and historical significance associated with the area of proposed development; and,
• Formulate and implement measures or interventions that would mitigate any detrimental impacts to the extent that the development will be acceptable.

DOES YOUR ENVISAGED DEVELOPMENT TRIGGER A HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT?

Development

This means any physical intervention, excavation, or action, other than those caused by natural forces, which may in the opinion of the heritage authority in any way result in the change to the nature, appearance or physical nature of a place or influence its stability and future well-being, including:

• Construction, alteration, demolition, removal or change in use of a place or a structure at a place;
• Carrying out any works on or over or under a place;
• Subdivision or consolidation of land comprising a place, including the structures or airspace of a place;
• Constructing or putting up for display signs or boards;
• Any change to the natural or existing condition or topography of land
• Any removal or destruction of trees, or removal of vegetation or topsoil

METHODOLOGY

A HIA is undertaken in accordance with distinct steps, each of which informs the subsequent step(s). The study process involves literature review, physical survey, collating data and report compilation.