Environmental Assessment
Volume C-3.8
Slurry Pipeline
Visual Aesthetics
Ambatovy Project
70
January 2006
Table 3.8-1 Key Viewpoints: Slurry Pipeline Route
Viewpoint
Number
Viewpoint
Name
GPS Location
(UTM Zone 39S)
Possible
Viewers
Baseline View
Characteristics
SP1
Torotorofotsy
Wetlands
E 222731
N 7910838
local residents
ecotourists
relatively natural and undisturbed; heavy
vegetation cover
SP2
village of
Sahavolo
E 274500
N 7930600
local residents
at village of Sahavolo along pipeline,
characterized by agricultural land use areas
SP3
Vohitra River
crossing
E 337367
N 7955595
local residents
relatively natural with heavy vegetation cover;
small town adjacent
SP4
Ivondro River
crossing
E 0316115
N 7980851
local residents
wide, scenic river with moderate bank vegetation
cover, prominent signs of human use including
nearby road corridor/bridge
Note: GPS = global positioning system; UTM = universal transverse mercator.
3.8.4
Issue Scoping
In public consultations, the main question regarding aesthetics has been: how will
changes in visual aesthetics affect tourism? This question has been raised both
by local residents and by the National Association for the Management of
Protected Areas (ANGAP). Potential changes that will be seen by local
residents, as well as tourists and other visitors include:
•
removal of vegetation for the RoW and maintenance road: this will
extend from construction through operations, except for some sections
in the Torotorofotsy Ramsar site and Mantadia-Zahamena Conservation
Area, which will be re-forested immediately following construction;
•
the presence of temporary camp facilities during construction;
•
generation of visible clouds of dust in dry periods, as well as some
locally visible fossil fuel emissions during construction; and
•
night time lighting during construction.
The key question for visual aesthetics is:
Key Question VA-1
What Effect Will the Slurry Pipeline Have On
Visual Aesthetics?
Visual effects will occur during the construction, operation and closure phases of
the project, as shown in the linkage diagram for visual aesthetics (Volume H,
Appendix 9).
