Public to participate in development meeting

A public participation meeting regarding the Linksfield Mixed Used Development will take place on December 2 at Jeppe Quondam.

Bokamoso released the Draft Environmental Report in October and originally scheduled the public meeting to take place on November 19 in Glen Marais.

The date and venue of the meeting was changed following public outcry.

On December 2, two separate sessions will be held.

The first session is scheduled for 2.30pm to 5pm, while the second session scheduled for 6.30pm to 9pm.

The information at the second meeting will be a repetition of the information shared at the first meeting.

Residents who are available for the early afternoon session are encouraged to attend to avoid over-crowing at the second session.

Jeppe Quondam is situated at 79 Boeing Road East, Bedfordview.

Background

The tender for the development of the land, which includes the Sizwe Tropical Disease Hospital, was gazetted on December 9, 2011, with a compulsory briefing on December 13, 2011.

All tenders had to be submitted by January 6, 2012.

Since it was made public, residents have raised numerous concerns regarding the development, including the fate of what is believed to be thousands of graves.

Those buried on the property died from illnesses which included smallpox, bubonic plague and syphilis.

Of particular concern to residents is that spores from these diseases may have survived in the graves.

The Rietfontein Hospital was built in 1896 and consists of buildings, some of which are over 100 years old.

These buildings fall under the protection of the National Heritage Act.

According to the Draft Environmental Impact Report, Sizwe Hospital as it was renamed, will be demolished and sections thereof relocated to another hospital.

According to a presentation given by Mr John Busser, the director of Urban Dynamics appointed for the project, Sizwe Hospital would be used as a university.

During his presentation he also said Sizwe Hospital has acquired a stigma as a hospital treating multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and HIV/Aids and approximately five years ago the Gauteng Health Department made a decision to close the Sizwe facility as well as others like it.

Mr Busser said this process was part of a larger national initiative to replace such facilities with modern TB wards at provincial hospitals.

It is believed that some 8 000 residential units as well as light industry and schooling facilities will be part of the development.

Another area of concern for resident is the damage the development will cause to ecological systems on the property.

Bankenveld grassland, also known as Egoli grasslands, is a biome which has become threatened. The type found on the Sizwe grounds is classed as rocky Highveld grassland. Of the original 24 000 square kilometres of this type of grassland, only 1.38 percent has been conserved.

The Sizwe Bankenveld is estimated to have 500 species of plants, and about 30 species of grasses. The grasses are vitally important in collecting and holding water.

Water is released slowly and reduces the risk of floods lower down along the Jukskei River.

Residents have also raised concerns that in order for this development to be implemented, Johannesburg City Power would need to supply a large amount of electricity to the area.

As it stands, residents believe that neither City Power nor Eskom have the spare capacity for a supply of the magnitude needed for the area.

The impact that increased traffic would have on the area has also concerned residents.

The Linksfield development, as well as the Zendai development, would see and additional 40 000 households moving into the area.

Residents in the area will need to travel along the same roads as the future residents of the proposed Linksfield and Zendai developments.