start
6 February 2006
Workshops and public meetings will be held over the next two weeks to
discuss how environmental impacts will be managed and controlled in areas along
the Gautrain route.
The EMP serves to translate the recommendations relating to the management
and mitigation of impacts contained in the minor amendment report, comparative
assessment reports on the variant alignments and the original Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA), into clearly defined actions that must take place
during the implementation of the project. Whereas the comparative assessments
focused exclusively on the areas affected by the proposed variants, the EMP
includes the entire rail system.
The workshops and public meetings will form an important part of the
compilation of the EMP for the rapid rail system and are being held to ensure
that interested and affected parties have the opportunity to provide input into
the formulation of the EMP.
Workshops will take the form of an open house from 14h00 â 18h00. During
this time, members of the public can view information about the alignment in
that particular area and related construction activities. Technical team
members will be on hand for informal discussions and there will be visual
information available, such as detailed maps, a model of the train, and
artist's impressions of elements of the rail system.
From 18h30 â 20h30, there will be formal presentations related to the EMP
and specific to the area in which the meeting is being held, followed by a
question and answer session. All issues and concerns raised during the meeting
will be addressed and considered in the draft final EMP that will be submitted
to Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment (GDACE) for
approval. The draft final EMP, once completed, will be available for public
comment for a period of 30 days. Issues raised will be addressed before being
submitted to the authorities for approval.
Details of the meetings are as follows:
* Monday, 6 February 2006: Parkmore Scout Hall cnr Marie and Holt Streets
Parkmore
* Tuesday, 7 February 2006: Kingsmead College Tottenham Ave (Off Baker Street,
Melrose
* Wednesday, 8 February 2006: Kempton Park Laerskool Kitty Hawk Street
Rhodesfield
* Thursday, 9 February 2006: Development Bank of SA Main Auditorium 1258 Lever
Road, Midrand
* Monday, 13 February 2006: Voortrekker Hall, 264 Glover Ave, Lyttelton
* Tuesday, 14 February 2006: Tshwane City Hall Pretorius Hall (Second Floor)
Cnr Visagie and Paul Kruger Streets Tshwane
Details of the workshops and public meetings to be held on the EMP process
are available on http://www.gautrain-env.co.za as well as
the minor amendment report and draft assessment reports on the route
variants.
Enquiries:
Dr Barbara Jensen
Cell: 083 600 4862
E-mail: barbara@gautrain.co.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
6 February 2006
