Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning of the Western Cape initiated a project to develop Provincial Guidelines on 4x4 routes 

The Western Cape Government’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Development planning is taking the lead in developing a set of guidelines that we as trail owners and operators can use to guide us in our quest to develop, operate, manage and maintain our trails in an acceptable and sustainable manner.This is good news indeed!The purpose of these guidelines would be to achieve the following objectives:

1. To guide the planning, design and construction of 4x4 routes (construction phase) in such a way that it gives effect to Section 2(4)(a) of NEMA.
2. To guide the management, use and maintenance of 4x4 routes (operational phase) in such a way that it gives effect to Section 2(4)(a) of NEMA.
3. To ensure consistency in the evaluation of applications for 4x4 routes and to verify whether it fulfils the triple bottom line of sustainability i.e. it must be socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT 

The proposed guidelines should be a clear, to the point, user-friendly reference document.  There should be a strong focus on environmental and development implications, while retaining a balanced, realistic viewpoint.

The guidelines must provide landowners with clear guidance as to where 4x4 routes would be appropriate, a description of Best Practice and minimum requirements with regard to the construction, upgrade and/or establishment of 4x4 routes and Best Practice and minimum requirements with regard to ongoing management and maintenance during the operational phase.  The guidelines must provide EIA practitioners with criteria for assessing proposed and existing 4x4 routes and associated structures in terms of Best Practice and must provide the relevant authorities with criteria against which proposed 4x4 routes can be measured. The guidelines must also provide guidance to the 4x4 enthusiast that may wish to utilise 4x4 routes that are established in the Western Cape. In order to meet the above, the individual(s) or firm selected for the project team will have to undertake the following: 

1. Review current literature on the assessment and establishment of proposed 4x4 routes and the management of 4x4 routes;
2. Consult with relevant role-players including amongst others the Cederberg Initiative who has commissioned a pilot 4x4-strategy for the Greater Cederberg and the National Off-road Workshop (NOW) Initiative;
3. Develop guidelines for the use of land-owners, current and prospective trail owners, trail operators, 4x4 enthusiasts/ trail users, EIA practitioners, reviewers of EIA applications and decision-makers on best practice and minimum guidelines for the establishment of 4x4 routes, and best practice and minimum guidelines for the ongoing management, maintenance and use of the 4x4 routes;
4. Provide guidelines to consultants undertaking EIAs for proposed 4x4 routes;
5. Provide review criteria for the review of EIAs for proposed 4x4 routes by the Department and decision-makers.
6. To make use of case studies and examples
7. The compilation of the guidelines must be based on literature; appropriate examples (where applicable) and best practice review, consultation with other specialists, and it must consider the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and the proposed NEMA Regulations.