Gautrain route extension will have an environmental impact as well
The Gautrain Management Agency will have to consider the recommendations by an environmental screening report.
A full environmental impact assessment still needs to be conducted before the proposed Gautrain route extension can become a reality.
This, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act EIA Regulations (2014).
So said the Gautrain Management Agency’s executive manager of safety, health, environment and quality, Mokgadi Manamela during a recent Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport portfolio committee meeting with the agency and stakeholders.
This assessment will need to be conducted by suitably trained, qualified and registered specialists, and will include safety reports, and noise and vibration reports.
All of this will require public participation and there will be public meetings and opportunities for affected and interested parties to write in.
When the environmental screening report is completed, its recommendations will have to be considered by the agency, Manamela said.
The proposed route extension will join the existing Sandton station (which may be upgraded) with new stations in Randburg CBD, Northgate and Little Falls in Roodepoort.
The proposed route especially goes through Ward 101 (Sharonlea, North Riding and Olivedale) but also through Bryanston, Ferndale, Randburg CBD and Bordeaux, among other Randburg suburbs.
This route extension will be above ground, mostly (apart from the underground area of network at Randburg CBD and route under Hurlingham) and should the proposal become reality, residential homes, schools, shopping centres, churches and roads will be affected.
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