Noticeboard

Soweto to Gautrain bus route through Parktown

Zoo Tower development

NEW BUS ROUTE THROUGH PARKTOWN

The City Council has decided to create a new bus route from Soweto to the Gautrain which goes through Parktown to the Rosebank station (not the Park Station in town).  The route enters Parktown on Empire Road, turns left into Victoria then right into Oxford Road.  The Association supports the City’s pubic transport initiative. We are working with the City Council’s engineering consultants (Gibbs) to ensure the impact to properties, residents and visitors is minimized.

The implications for Parktown are:

• Road widening at Empire between Jan Smuts Ave and Victoria Road, which means the removal of the Plane trees to allow for the road widening. Plane trees are an important source of pollution absorption (far greater than any indigenous tree or many other exotic trees) and contribute to noise abatement.  This is significant as the road widening is happening in the direct vicinity of FIVE SCHOOLS.  Learners are at risk.  See the WHO report below.
• Safety for pedestrians
• An increase buses through Parktown will create an increase in pollution and noise along the new bus route.

The Council does not want to do a full Environmental Impact Assessment report on the road widening to which the Parktown Association objects.  We believe it is vital to the health of the learners in the area of Empire Road and residents along the route that the increased traffic impact is fully assessed in terms of air quality, noise abatement and traffic safety.

To find out more, or to give us your comments call the Association on 482-3349 or email parktown@intekom.co.za.

Did you know?

A 2005 World Health Organisation report states: “The effects of transport-related air pollution of health include an increase mortality risk, due particularly to cardiopulmonary causes, and an elevated risk of respiratory morbidity.  Further, elevated incidence of non-allergic respiratory symptoms and disease due to traffic, accompanied by extended non-allergic inflammation in the respiratory tract, has been reported.  Exposure can exacerbate allergic reactions in asthmatics….

Evidence implicates air pollution in adverse outcomes of pregnancy, such as premature birth and low birth weight…..

The risks are not equally distributed in the pollution.  Children and elderly people and people with pre-existing chronic diseases show increased susceptibility to the adverse affects of air pollutants.”

To read the full report, click here.

THE ZOO TOWER    

The Zoo is planning a major refurbishment, including the erection of a tall viewing tower (approx 45m – similar to a 15 storey building).  Along with the tower they will upgrade the entrance in Forest Town with additional parking, restaurants and retail shops and upgrade many of the enclosures creating themed areas in the zoo. The Jan Smuts entrance will be for staff only.

An initial assessment of the proposed development has been done and of note to the Parktown residents’ is the visibility of the tower for residents on The Valley Road, Rockridge Road and Federation Road area who are lucky enough to have views to the north. The assessment report highlighted the visual impact will be “significant”.  The
Association will be requesting that lighting and advertising on the top of the tower does not create further intrusion to our residents.

Any residents who would like to see the proposal and report or have any comments please contact the Association on 482-3349 or email parktown@intekom.co.za.