ANNEXURE V
HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN
ARRIVAL TRAFFIC CIRCLE AT CORNER NIND/BEIT STREETS AND
CONSTRUCTION OF A SKY BRIDGE ACROSS BEIT STREET, DOORNFONTEIN
CAMPUS
BASIC VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
1. VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PARAMETERS
Visual exposure (VE) has been assessed using a ranking system as follows:
Short range view refers to views from 50m distance or less from the site of the proposed
development. Long range view refers to views from more than 50m distance. Several
arbitrary positions were chosen during a 360º walking survey. It will be noticed that more
viewpoints were selected for the sky bridge than the arrival square because of its
vertical scale, at 6.2m height above the ground. The varying degrees of visual exposure
are measured on a negative scale of
High – high impact,
Medium - medium impact,
Low – low impact, and
0 – no impact, i.e. alterations and introduced structures are not visible from a given
position.
VE means Visual Exposure.
1
2.1.
SHORT RANGE VIEWS IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED POSITION OF
THE PEDESTRIAN SKY BRIDGE
Fig. 2. Corner Beit/Height facing John
Orr, VE= High.
Fig. 1. 4th floor, John Orr, VE = High.
Fig. 3. Corner Beit/Nind Sts facing Beit, VE=
Medium.
2.2.
Fig. 4. Corner Beit/Height facing Beit,
VE = High.
LONG RANGE VIEWS IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED POSITION OF THE
PEDESTRIAN SKY BRIDGE
Fig.6. Corner Beit/Buxton, the sky bridge will
resonate with the arch supporting the roof of
Ellis Park Stadium .
Fig.5. Corner Beit/Buxton, VE=Medium.
2
Fig.8. Corner Height/Currey, VE=Low (due to
plantings)
Fig. 7. 2nd Floor, Railway Station, corner
Buxton/Currey, VE=0
Fig.9. Top of building at Corner
Height/Currey, VE=Low (due to plantings).
Fig.9. Corner Siemert/Pearse, VE=0.
Fig.11. Corner Beit/Siemert, VE=Low.
Fig. 12. Joe Slovo St, north side of John Orr,
VE=0.
3
Fig. 13. Saratoga Av, north side of John Orr,
VE=0.
4
3.1. SHORT RANGE VIEWS IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE
ARRIVAL CENTRE
Fig.15. 4th Floor John Orr, VE=High.
Fig. 14. Corner Beit/Nind, VE=High.
3.2. LONG RANGE VIEWS IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED LOCATION OF THE
ARRIVAL CENTRE
Fig.16. Corner Beit/Buxton, VE=0.
Fig.17. Corner Nind/Currey, VE= Low.
Fig. 18. Corner Beit/Siemert, VE=Low.
Fig. 19. Joe Slovo St, north side of John Orr,
VE=0.
5
4. SCORES
PROPOSED
STRUCTURE
No of view
points
VISUAL EXPOSURE
Sky Bridge, Short Range
Sky Bridge, Long Range
Arrival Square, Short
Range
Arrival Square, Long
Range
4
8
2
High
3
2
Medium
1
1
-
Low
3
-
Zero
4
-
4
-
-
2
2
5. FINDINGS
The sky bridge will be highly visible at short distance of less than 50 m. At longer
distances it will have a visibility magnitude ranging from medium (1 score), through
low (3 scores) to zero (4 scores). The arrival square will also be highly visible at
short range views of less than 50 m. At longer distances low visibility magnitude
ranging from medium (1 score), through low (2 scores) to zero (2 scores) have been
recorded.
6. PROPOSAL FOR MITIGATION
This study shows that in both cases long-distance exposure is relatively minimal.
Potential adverse impacts are therefore limited to short ranges views for which
mitigation measures become necessary. Further tree planting in the affected area
will minimize exposure of the sky bridge. The application of sympathetic paints will
also help to minimize visual impacts.
6