More questions raised over Tambo Springs development

Controversy is once again
raging over the Tambo
Springs development related
to Transnet’s claim that it has
all the necessary approvals for
the re-alignment of the PWV
13/15 road – a vital access to
the planned intermodal rail
terminal near Johannesburg.
When FTW originally
wrote about this proposed
development some weeks
ago, Transnet spokesman
Molatwane Likhethe said
all the necessary legal and
administrative processes and
development approvals were
in place.
“These include the
implementation of necessary
formal processes required
for the realignment of the
planned routing for the
potential future PWV 13
road alignment to allow the
development to occur as
planned.”
He also said the
realignment of the PWV13
road had been addressed.
But none of this appears
to be in place, according to
Francois Nortje of Francois
Nortje Properties.
In the original story Nortje
pointed out that, because this
new alignment went deep
into a serious flood line, the
applicant would have to have
the detailed design of the road
before the environmental
impact assessment (EIA)
could be done. “The detail in
the design will determine the
extent of the flooding it will
cause to the
houses on the
other side of
the river,” he
added.
But,
according
to Transnet,
this EIA had
already been
done and
approved.
FTW was told
it had achieved
“completion
of the EIA
processes leading to the
formal issuing of a positive
Record of Decision required
for the rezoning which allows
the development to proceed
from an
environmental
perspective.”
However,
Nortje
assured us
that, despite a
senior member
of his team
having worked
through all
the provincial
gazettes from
2012 to date:
“Nobody has
applied for, or
given notice of, any intention
to re-align the PWV13/15.”
This of course means that
the EIA process has not even
officially started.
“Previously,” said Nortje,
“I have said to you it will take
them five years and cost them
R50 million, and they will
have a 20% chance of success.
My professionals now think 10
years, R100 million and 10%
chance of success.”
And, he added, “we have
received no reply to our
legal letter asking province
where in the process they
are with the application
for the re-alignment of the
PWV13/15”.
So let’s watch what happens
in this space with interest.
INSERT
The detail in the
design will determine
the extent of the
flooding it will cause
to the houses on the
other side of the river.
– Francois Nortje