Multi R-million upgrade for Ermelo Airport
"Only the northernmost reservoir would be demolished and rebuilt elsewhere."
The Airports Control Company of South Africa (ACCSA) has announced plans for the upgrading of the Ermelo airport, situated to the north of the town.
The cost of approximately R275m is to be borne by the already beleaguered taxpayers.
This was announced in an exclusive interview with the Highvelder this week.
A spokesman for ACCSA, Mr Sizwe Mothepe said the need for an airport halfway between the OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng and Mbombela had been identified because of the increasing number of international tourists visiting the Kruger National Park.
“The new airport will even be able to accommodate planes such as the Boeing 737-100’s which currently visit the Kruger, especially in case of in-flight emergencies or when conditions at the Kruger are misty, as they often are,” said Mr Mothepe.
The existing terminal building will be considerably expanded and the runway which currently measures 1.3km will be increased to 2.5km, making this the second longest runway in Mpumalanga after the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport near Mbombela (Nelspruit) and will comfortably be able to accommodate the 737’s take-off distance of 1,676km.
When asked if the close proximity of the town’s water reservoirs would interfere with the expansion plans Mr Mothepe said only the northernmost reservoir would be demolished and rebuilt elsewhere as most of the development would be concentrated to the north of the existing terminal building.
A public consultation meeting with interested and affected parties has been scheduled for June.
The date, time and venue will be announced shortly.
(If this story has you “flying off the handle”, relax and look carefully at the date. Need we say more?)
