Several local residents initially expressed annoyance about plans to develop the park between Moodie Street and Hull Road, after a notice stated it would be closed for development.
“The land in question belongs to the municipality,” said Themba Gadebe, the municipal spokesperson.
“At a meeting held on June 25, last year, under items A-CORP (23-2015 and 24-2015), the council resolved to lease remaining portions of Erf 1930 Rynfield Township, Benoni to Netcare Linmed Hospital for parking purposes (1,7 hectares) and Laerskool Rynfield for sports ground purposes (2,05 hectares).
“The leases were advertised in terms of section 79 (18) of the Local Government Ordinance, 1939, in the newspapers.”
Gadebe said no objections to the proposed lease agreements were received after the advertisements were published in The Star and Beeld newspapers in September, last year.
Gadebe added that the property is currently zoned as “Public Open Space” and thus it must be permanently closed “in terms of section 68 of the Local Government Ordinance, 1939” and a separate objection period had to be allowed for the rezoning.
“The permanent closure notices were forwarded to two newspapers, The Star and Beeld, for advertisements, and were also published in the Provincial Gazette on April 6, for possible objections and claims,” he said.
“In terms of section 68 of the said ordinance, a 30-day period must be allowed for possible objections and or claims for compensation.”
According to the notice placed in the field, any written objections to the closure of the park had to be submitted by April 8.
The metro was asked for clarity on the deadline for objections, but no response had been received by the time of going to print.
Gert van der Merwe, chairman of Laerskool Rynfield’s governing body, confirmed the planned sports grounds will be for the school’s benefit.
“The deal now is: we will rent the land for 10 years, building sport fields – no buildings – for now,” van der Merwe said.
“We did a very thorough environmental study and there are no bullfrogs in the area we want to use, they are only in the centre of the park.”
He went on to say: “I’m a little concerned about the fact that residents of Benoni are not happy with the proposed park closure – I assume it is because they are afraid we will damage the existing conservation area.”
“The part allocated to us, however, is outside the conservation area and we will go out of our way to avoid any potential damage.”
Anne Mearns, a representative of the Gauteng Conservancy and Stewardship Association (GCSA) and a well-known conservationist, was more open towards the development after additional information surrounding it had been revealed.
“I’m going to discuss the school’s plans with the principal and make sure the development is done properly,” she said.
Mearns fully agrees with plans to build extra parking space for the hospital, as there is always a shortage of space, according to her.
“Regarding the road: as long as it does not interfere with the migration route of the frogs in the area,” Mearns added.
A resident in the area said she submitted an eight-page objection letter, as well as several other residents’ objection letters, on Friday (April 8), the last day of objections to the development, according to the notice put up in the field.
“The portion for planned parking is massive; I’m concerned about oil leaks and water drainage,” said the resident, who wished to remain anonymous.
Stephen Rehbock, chairman of the Benoni Horticultural Society, doubts the developments will have a negative effect on the area.
“With land of such poor quality, it would actually be a plus if there were sports grounds,” Rehbock said.
“If they irrigate the grass, it would be more positive and greener than now; perhaps they’ll plant trees as well.
“I doubt it (development) will affect the bull frogs too much.”
Additionally, Rehbock said, a new road through the land would help towards reducing traffic in the area.
Gadebe went on to say: “The copy of the notice [placed in the park] must also be served on the owners or reputed owners, lessees or reputed lessees and the occupiers of the properties abutting upon the park to be closed”.
“Should any lodged objections or claims for compensation within the prescribed period, the matter will be forwarded to the council’s Development Tribunal for adjudication and the person(s) concerned will be given the opportunity to make representations of their objections.
A follow-up enquiry, asking whether any objections to the development had been received by April 8, was sent to the municipality, but no response had been forthcoming at the time of going to press.
Netcare Linmed Hospital was approached for comment, but none had been received at the time of publication.
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