The metro and Muneluvha (Pty) Ltd plan to build housing on the remainder of the farm Benoni 77-IR.
“The petition is drawn up; we’re just waiting for a meeting with the ward councillor,” said Esop.
“If we don’t get a meeting or the discussions fail, we will go ahead with the petition forms.
“I’ve spoken to the community leaders in the three suburbs, and they all agreed to support the petition.”
Status quo of the project
Clr Sinethemba Matiwane (Ward 73), within whose ward the area falls, said the metro is performing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and soil testing on the land.
These studies will determine whether or not high-rise buildings can be constructed on the land.
According to the metro, the plan is to cater for a fully integrated development which will include fully subsidised housing.
“The plan is to also provide rental accommodation and all supporting land uses like schools, shopping facilities, parks etc,” said Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson.
Matiwane further said: “There is a large backlog for housing in Ekurhuleni and this will help relieve that pressure.”
He expects the EIA and soil tests to be finalised by June, after which town planning will take about six months.
“After this, the project will be put up for tender, and, if everything goes smoothly, the first houses will be built in 2019,” Matiwane added.
Public participation
“The Environmental Scoping (Public Participation Process) is an opportunity [where] interested and affected parties should raise their issues and we [will] see best on how to address them,” said Gadebe.
“The advert indicated that the registration as an interested and/or affected party would elapse on April 20 and then the public would again be afforded an opportunity to review the draft scoping report and make comments before we submit the final scoping.
“The town planning process will also allow the public to object to, comment on or support the development.”
According to the advertisement, if you want to register as an “interested and/or affected party and to obtain additional information regarding the proposed project,” you should “please contact Muneluvha (Pty) Ltd on or before Thursday, April 20 2017 by submitting your name, contact details and the interest which you have in the application.”
Enquiries must be directed, in writing, to the consultants below:
• Shonisani Selahle on 079 614 8298
• Email: PPP@scprojects.co.za
• Postal: P O Box 1059, Halfway House, 1685
Also read:
Large scale housing planned for area between New Modder and Mackenzie Park
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