Progress with planning the aerotropolis
The much-anticipated Ekurhuleni Aerotropolis is going ahead and Ekurhuleni business people met on October 17, to share progress reports and opportunities.
Pieter Swanepoel, from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s spatial planning, shared the flagship project progress with delegates at the breakfast meeting, organised by the Ekurhuleni Captains of the Industry Forum (COI), at Emperors Palace.
Swanepoel unpacked the aerotropolis concept and informed delegates that the metro is finalising the master plan for the project.
He advised businesses to start locating to areas around the airport, in order to take full business advantage, as “we are the gateway to Africa”.
South Africa is quite good logistically, but we can still improve,” he added.
“Companies are using South Africa to get into the rest of Africa.”
Swanepoel added that one of the things needed to make the aerotropolis a success is the availability of land around the airport, and there is plenty of space, some of it belonging to the Airports Company South Africa, and some to private owners.
He showed people land on the map that will possibly accommodate the aero commercial and residential-related developments around the airport.
Some of the land is in Bonaero Park, Isando, Jet Park and Impala Park.
Swanepoel said beautifying the airport infrastructure on the outside is also on the cards.
“Additional runways at the O R Tambo Airport will also be constructed when enough people start flying into the airport,” he said.
The metro is also at an advanced stage of planning an effective public transport system, which will allow goods and people to move around the airport at the fastest possible speed.
Swanepoel said that, as a manufacturing hub, Ekurhuleni businesses should start exporting, adding that “presently, we import more than we export”.
He said the aerotropolis is not a project, but a process which is part of the city’s long term strategy, in line with the Growth and Development Strategy 2055.
Swanepoel further shared critical success factors and action plans for the aerotropolis and added that the Integrated Marketing and Communication Plan document, to promote the scheme is in the final stages, but has not been made public yet.
Ekurhuleni Captains of the Industry Forum CEO Chris van Biljon said he was disappointed to learn that some businesses, even those in logistics, had no clue about the aerotropolis when he visited them.
He encouraged businesses to not know only their businesses, but also what is happening around them.
Van Biljon said the planning of the aerotropolis is amazing and that it’s not a white elephant,as some thought.
