SOS campaign

Jens Horber of Emmarentia writes:

I am resident of Tana Road, Emmarentia and I completely disagree with the Emmarentia Resident’s Association’s (ERA) Save Our Suburbs campaign which is opposing a proposed development on the corner of Gleneagles, Linden Road and Barry Hertzog Avenue in Emmarentia.

I have no link to the developers.

As part of the City of Joburg’s Corridors of Freedom plan there is a move to densify housing along main routes.

This is to allow more effective numbers of buses and other public transport users and people of all income levels to live closer to where they work.

It is an attempt to remedy the effects that Apartheid town planning had on Joburg.

According to the developer’s motivating memorandum, 67 per cent of the development will be dedicated to residential use (flats).

We should take into account that Joburg is moving towards higher public transport use to get more cars off the clogged roads.

So the opposition that the ERA puts forward regarding increased traffic volumes and changing the character of the area is a bit of a “not in my back yard” argument, and not looking at the bigger picture of making Joburg a better city through densification along major routes like Barry Hertzog.

Greenside and Emmarentia will still retain their predominantly leafy character as this kind of development has only been allowed by the City along major routes

There is a strain on municipal infrastructure across the whole of Joburg.

So the ERA opposing the development on these grounds is like saying that we should not allow any more building of any sort anywhere in Joburg.

We should not just automatically oppose developments because they might change the area slightly.

Often change is for the good when managed properly, which is what the City of Joburg intends to do.

I agree with the ERA’s view that residents should always have a say in developments in Joburg.

Let us all keep in mind the bigger picture.