Bonaero’s future is safe

By Anna

ALTHOUGH the Airports Company (Acsa) master plan map, showing new runways sucking up Bonaero Park, reappeared in Ekurhuleni Metro documents, this plan will not be used by Acsa.

Both Acsa and the metro gave the assurance that this plan would not be implemented.

The plan surfaced in documents when the metro approved a planning and land use guide for the new aerotropolis in August. Because this 2008 document was the only master plan Acsa had, it was included in the metro’s documents.

Some years ago these maps caused an uproar in Bonaero Park as it showed a huge part of the suburb engulfed by new runways as Acsa envisioned its expansions of the airport during the next 50 years.

Tebogo Mekgoe, ACSA’s general manager, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to keep the community up to date when they planned any developments that might impact on their properties.

Mekgoe said he communicated with the community since June last year and would continue to do so. The current standing is that no airport expansions will take place outside the airport’s current fences.

“Given the current economic and traffic outlook, Acsa does not envisage any major developments outside OR Tambo’s boundary for the next 10 to 15 years.”

“The map is not an implementation plan but rather a long term vision of the airport. The document is not set in stone and is revised every five to 10 years or when exceptional circumstances warrant it.”

Mekgoe assured Acsa would continue its relationship with the communities of Bonaero Park and surrounding areas by keeping them up to date with what was happening. Also, if people’s properties would ever be in danger of expropriation, Acsa would timeously communicate this to the affected parties.

The process of airport expansion usually takes between four and five years to complete. That’s why Mekgoe could assure residents that they would get at least four years notice of any expansions outside Acsa’s fence.

Acsa is currently in a tender process to acquire a contractor to update and refine the master plan during the next 24 to 36 months.

Many factors have changed since the previous plan was drafted. Because expansions at an airport are directly linked to the South African and global economies, nothing could be predicted at this stage.

Global markets have changed, as well as the technology of aircraft and passenger and freight demands. There are also new laws like environmental studies which changed the scope of expansions to an airport.

Sam Modiba, Ekurhuleni Metro’s spokesman, said land use rights could not be taken away form property owners, as land ownership in South Africa was protected by the Constitution.

Changing ownership is regarded as a private matter between a willing buyer and a willing seller.

There are also legislative requirements that must be met prior to any changes on land use.

He stressed that changing land use rights could only be initiated by the property owner. The metro, as a municipality, was only a regulator of the use of land.

Constitutionally the metro is only responsible for land use planning. The responsibility for airport planning rests with the Minister of Transport.