Landowners, town planners, developers and representatives of the Greater Kyalami Conservancy and residents’associations gathered on 25 March to discuss the Greater Kyalami Integrated plan which is being drafted for input to the Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF) for the City of Joburg.
Stakeholders of this draft plan are aiming to have the plan ready by June with all comments and concerns of residents noted.
It is expected that the RSDF will focus on the City’s Corridors of Freedom project which aims to improve both public and non-motorised forms of commuting by 2040. Also discussed were the proposed provincial roads, one being the PWV 5 which will run east to west, and the PWV 9 which will run north to south. Both roads would run straight through the conservancy and wetlands if built.
It was stated that these projects are still 10 to 20 years from commencement, but Gauteng Transport has now approached the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to compile a traffic module report which will allow further discussions on alternative routes in future.
All stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on the proposed K56 road, which will link William Nicol Drive to Main Road, cutting through Kyalami. Although results were expected by the end of 2014, they are only now being finalised. Once made available, all interested and affected parties, plus all stakeholders, will be notified.
Another topic was the proposed sewer line which will run from Crowthorne, past the Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary to Glenferness, which has now been given the go-ahead after its EIA was approved. Construction on the project is set to begin in April, but all opposed parties are still able to appeal before the middle of the month.
It was noted that the original line would only be 160mm in diameter, but this has now increased to 500mm after increased development further upstream was taken into account, as well as the pressures of current developments. Crowthorne residents will be allowed to link to the line if they follow the appropriate procedures.
City council also made it clear that it wants to develop Greater Kyalami into a high-density area through granting dual ownership of bigger properties via sectional titles, while residents believe that certain low-density areas should remain as they are.
This is why Rosemary Sandison, one of the planners who implemented policies to avert the subdivision pressures in Bishop’s Court, Cape Town in the ’70s, is overseeing the draft plans currently being put together by town planner Guy Balderson, who volunteered his services for the project independently. According to Sandison, this may be the last opportunity to preserve a unique, environmentally rich area which would enhance the city for all Joburg residents.
The purpose of the meeting was to create a neutral platform for sharing ideas on development and to collect input for incorporation into the draft plan by Sandison and Balderson.
In recent years, Kyalami has become a target for development and prized for its economic potential. This is, however, in stark contrast to the suburb’s heritage of equestrian prestige and vehement conservation of the wetlands in an area which is the habitat for a number of endangered species. This is of grave concern for longstanding residents who want to preserve their countryside way of life.
If there are residents who would still like to give their input, comments or request more information on the draft plan, they are encouraged to do so, as all feedback from the community is vital to ensure that future development in Kyalami caters to everyone in the suburb.
Please send your e-mails to kyalamiplan@gmail.com, for attention Rosemary Sandison.
How do you feel about the current and future development of the greater Kyalami area? Share your thoughts with us by e-mailing us at fourwaysr@caxton.co.za
