The Strategic Environmental Assessment covered an area of approximately 628,200 hectares of land in the Karoo, which was divided into two sub-areas: The “SEA Core Study Area” (outlined in red on the map below), which consists of 38 land parcels, and covers an area of approximately 131 200 hectares; and the “SEA Spiral Arm Study Area” (outlined in blue on the map), which includes 131 land parcels, and covers an area of approximately 497,000 hectares.

The overall study area falls within four local municipalities; the Kareeberg Local Municipality, the Hantam Local Municipality, the Siyatemba Local Municipality and the Karoo-Hoogland Local Municipality. The largest towns surrounding the study area are Carnarvon, Williston, Van Wyksvlei and Brandvlei.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment process, which took three years to complete, was guided by a Special Advisory Committee, which included key government departments and state agencies. In addition, provincial and local government consultations were undertaken to further inform local and provincial authorities. Consultations with other key stakeholders from conservation agencies and representatives from other key sectors (e.g. Civil Aviation, Defence, Heritage Resources) also took place, to share information and obtain inputs and expert advice on specific issues/technical aspects of the Strategic Environmental Assessment.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment assessed the potential impacts that the proposed activities for the construction and operation of the SKA Phase 1 Mid-Frequency Array may have on local agriculture, heritage (including archaeology, palaeontology, cultural heritage and visual/landscape aspects), terrestrial ecology and biodiversity, including; avifauna, aquatic ecosystems, as well as socio-economic aspects.