Tempers flare over development

Tempers flared at the Edenvale Council Chambers on Wednesday night when residents gathered for a presentation regarding the development of Rietfontein Farm and the Sizwe Hospital property.

Approximately 500 residents attended the public meeting to express their displeasure of the development.

From the onset, the ward 19 councillor, Clr Bill Rundle, informed those attending that the meeting was not the right forum to voice their concerns and that is was an information evening on the development.

He also highlighted that the area in question falls under the jurisdiction of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).

“In 2011, we as councillors were made aware of a tender which had been passed, between Provincial Government and the developer for some 8 000 residential units. The property had been sold for around R80-million,” said Clr Rundle.

“In the last four years, we have not had more than 60 people at any budget, planning or community police forum meeting. So you will understand our venue choice,” he told those packed into the tiny venue.

He added that one of his main concerns about the development was the increase in traffic to the area.

“Edenvale already looks like a parking lot in the mornings,” said Clr Rundle.

He again told residents that the meeting was purely for information on the development and not a means to protest it.

“We will schedule a meeting in a few weeks where residents can voice their concerns regarding the development. We will ensure that we have a bigger venue to accommodate everyone,” Clr Rundle said.

He then handed the floor to town planner, Mr Jon Busser, who explained that the land would be developed by Equicent, a consortium of developers.

“Approximately five years ago, the department of health resolved to close Sizwe Hospital, as well as others like it, due to the stigma that surrounds such hospitals. This process is part of a larger national initiative to replace such facilities with modern TB wards at provincial hospitals. A new ward would be built at the Edenvale Hospital to accommodate the patients,” Mr Busser said.

“Based on this decision, the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements initiated a process whereby the Rietfontein Farm was released on public tender,” he added.

The project was awarded to development consortium, Equicent Infrastructure Development (Pty) Ltd.

The consortium invited the top urban design and architectural consultants in South Africa to participate in the design of the development.

“The town planning application and parallel Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a step in the process of realising this development,” Mr Busser said.

He added that from the start, the department and its appointed turn-key developers realised that such a large, vacant land holding, so visible and accessible, would attract public interest.

“It was also know from the beginning that the application process would receive many objections and petitions relating to a variety of environmental and infrastructural issues,” Mr Busser said.

He added that revised EIA’s are currently underway.

According to Mr Busser, the area is well located and if developed properly, it can enhance the area.

He said the proposed land use will include residential apartments, office and business parks, convenience retail, show rooms, four schools and a private university.

“There will also be upgrades to the current satellite police station as well as the development of a new fire station,” Mr Busser said.

With regards to the roads servicing the area, Mr Busser said the developers were working closely with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and Gautrans.

“The roads around the Linksfield interchange will be upgraded similar to the roads in Pretoria,” he said.

The upgrade will increase the capacity of the roads and allow for better traffic flow.

“The current Sizwe Hospital will be incorporated into a university campus,” Mr Busser said.

He also told residents that four graveyards had been located on the property.

“While there are certain records available, no one knows exactly where all the graves are situated. These sites will be integrated into the development. The graves will not be disturbed during the development,” he said.

Touching on other concerns raised by residents, Mr Busser said the residential apartments planned would accommodate a range of income levels.

“There will be everything from bonded units for first time home owners and students all the way through to penthouses,” he said.

He also assured residents that there would not be a road which directly connects neighbouring Marais Steyn Park to the development.

“We have conducted a special investigation into the fauna and flora of the area and the findings will be released in a few weeks,” Mr Busser said.