Eskom holds public meeting to discuss project

The meeting was chaired by Dirk Prinsloo of Envirolution Consulting at Ebenezer Christian Church Fellowship.

Residents did not turn up for the meeting as expected. Aside from the Eskom team represented at the meeting, less than five residents were in attendance. Present at the meeting were Kristen Kallesen from Greater Kyalami Conservancy, Ward 112 councillor Candice James and Andrew Dicks from the Sun Valley Residents’ Association.

James was concerned that Barbeque Downs had not been given enough notice for the meeting. While Dicks asked if the project was in any way linked to the Blue Hills line that Eskom was ordered to take down, which the Eskom team denied.

Residents were assured that visual, social and ecological studies were done on the impact the project may have on the environment, especially as parts of the area where the project will be is a conservancy and has many wetlands.

The project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of Eskom’s network as well as to improve the electricity supply in Johannesburg North. Prinsloo said the project was registered with the National Department of Environmental Affairs.

The draft states that “… The existing transmission power lines in the Kyalami Midrand area are becoming heavily loaded and predicted to reach their full capacity. The transmission power lines and substation currently cannot supply the increased demand in the Johanneburg North Area”.

The report also stated that “… Three proposed 400kV transmission power lines are to be constructed between existing Lulamisa and proposed Kyalami substations, a distance of approximately 13km.”

The public has until 8 August to review and comment on the draft basic assessment report, which is available at Halfway House Public Library in the Momentum Business Park and the Rivonia Library.

Comments can be submitted to the public participation office at Envirolution Consulting.

Details: 0861 444 499 or dirk@envirolution.co.za