Ward 37 oppose residential development
Ward 37 dish out against the Erf 279 Alberante development proposal at a committee meeting.
ALBERTON – The controversial land swop deal, that has been opposed by residents since it was first proposed in December 2013, and the second proposal for the development of Erf297 Alberante was examined for most of the meeting.
Erf 279 Alberante was earmarked for community facility development. This means childcare facilities, places of education or instruction, public worship, social halls, libraries, sports grounds or sports clubs were
permitted to be developed on the land. Residents welcomed talks of a new school being built as local schools are reportedly inundated with enrollments.
Despite the residents’ concerns land in Diepsloot and Alberante were exchanged between the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and a developer who proposed that the land be rezoned for residential development.
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Residents opposed this exchange as residential development would contribute to traffic congestion and put more strain on the plumbing infrastructure of the area.
The first application was withdrawn in 2014 but a new subdivision and zoning application was submitted to council earlier this year.
The second modified proposal was brought before the ward committee who voiced strong opinions against the resubmission. The original plan was modified and now proposes that only a portion of the land be used and indicates that fewer units would be built.
The concerns raised against the second proposal include that the same information gathered in the first proposal was used in the second application and residents argued that new impact studies should be done.
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The validity of the data collected in the first traffic impact study was questioned because it was conducted during school holidays. Residents also raised the issue of water pressure and the influence that additional residences would have on the area’s plumbing system.
The committee categorically stated that they would be opposed to any form of residential development taking place on the property.
