Development of the Phil Erasmus Park started on May 5 and was recently concluded.
The residents of Airfield protested against the development of the park, many due to the way in which it was handled.
The residents first learned of the development via an advertisement in the park, in February, stating that a complex would be built.
While the law requires a public participation process, none of the residents spoken to by the City Times had been informed of the proposed development during the objection period, which allegedly expired in 2004.
In response to an earlier enquiry, EMM sent a document showing two advertisements in The Star newspaper in June 2004.
After the City Times published the evidence, which stated an objection period of 28 days was given, several residents raised new questions:
- Shouldn’t the development have been advertised in two daily newspapers and one provincial gazette?
- Doesn’t the law require all the residents to be notified by post in cases such as this?
- The advertisements said the property would be rezoned to Residential Two, but doesn’t this allow for only one dwelling per erf?
“The flats have been finished and we’ve had no reply regarding our petition, which was handed in months ago,” said Andrew Radloff, an Airfield resident.
“Once they start using water and electricity, what’s going to happen to our supply? In winter our power will probably trip quite a bit, because of demand.
“Hopefully, we can shake the tree, to find out what happened here, but we can’t change it anymore.”
Clr Benno Robinson (Ward 22), deputy whip for media in Benoni and Boksburg, said he didn’t know what happened to the petition of the residents.
Another resident, Rosemary Boulter, said the complex was a daily eyesore.
“It makes me so angry every time I look at it,” she added.
Mike Ward hopes the remaining area of the park will be given the attention it deserves.
“The roads here are in a bad condition and I don’t think they’ll be fixed soon,” he said.
“To sit and dwell on it is not going to help; we have to embrace it now and make the best of it.”
Grant Pooley said his feelings regarding the park were unchanged, that it should never have started, but, he added, it’s done and can’t be changed now.
