The fourth and intended final round of public consultation regarding the proposed expansion of the Cape Winelands Airport is being held from last Wednesday up to and including 13 May.
This process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act is being held for an extended period of 45 days to accommodate all interested and affected parties and to allow additional time to consider and comment on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, according to the Environmental Consultants..
The proposed Cape Winelands Airport development has been subjected to a scoping and environmental impact assessment (EIA) process that entailed various public and authority participation processes to date.
Three separate rounds of public consultation have already taken place since November 2023, which included a public meeting and a public open day.
Another public open day will be presented on Tuesday 15 April at Goedgeleven Venue on the Klipheuwel Road outside Durbanville. The purpose of the open day is to give the public, organisations or interest groups the opportunity to meet and speak to the technical team and applicant directly. This is an ideal opportunity to clarify aspects that relate to the EIA, according to the consultants.
The expected impacts, and proposed mitigation measures and issues and concerns raised to date can be discussed and clarified in person. The open day will start at 13:00 until 20:00 and will allow a wide audience to attend.
Cape Winelands Airport, formerly known as Fisantekraal Airfield, was acquired in November 2020 by the applicant, who since established Cape Winelands Airport.
The site is located approximately 10.5km northeast of Durbanville and 25km northeast of Cape Town International Airport. The current airport site is 155ha in size. The proposed project entails the expansion of the existing Cape Winelands Airport in a phased development approach, which will include the realignment of a primary runway with a length of 3.5km, according to an executive summary on the PHS Consulting website.
“Landside and airside infrastructure will also be phased based on market demand. Landside infrastructure will include, but not be limited to, passenger and cargo terminals, hotel, aircraft hangers and services, airport facilities, a bulk fuel storage facility, internal and external road infrastructure, potable water and sewage treatment infrastructure, a petrol filling station, a biodigester, solar PV, and stormwater management infrastructure.
Cross runway excluded
“Airside infrastructure will include, but not be limited to, runways, taxiways, taxilanes, aircraft parking aprons and service roads, as well as approach lights and navigational aids needed for safe operations in all weather conditions. The runway solution also includes drainage, pavement structures, paint markings and earthworks along with considerations for aircraft tracking, jetblast impact mitigation and hydroseeding requirements.”
According to the consultants, based on further studies the cross runway 14-3 was excluded from the preferred alternative.
The process further resulted in the exclusion of chicken manure to the biodigester; the removal of wind energy; the inclusion of both sewer to onsite treatment and Fisantekraal WWTW; an additional borehole was drilled and assessed; the extension of the fuel line into the General Aviation area as proposed. This resulted in the New Preferred Alternative 4 which was assessed in the amended draft EIAR.
Application
The application and associated documents remained on the PHS Consulting website since the initiation date which resulted in the continued registration of public interest.
All reports, including a WULA and MMP, are available at www.phsconsulting.co.za under the Public Participation link. A hard copy of the documents is also available at the Fisantekraal Public Library for review during office hours.
• The public can provide comment to PHS Consulting via e-mail to amanda@phsconsulting.co.za or on WhatsApp on 072 630 8716 or call for assistance on 028 3121734 for more information on the EIA and open day.
