Chapter 11 - Sedibeng District Municipality

providing for general aviation freight and passenger charter facilities as w ell as private
operations.
(b)
Access to Airports/Airfields
Access to the tw o Sedibeng airports and any future airports by all modes of transport
needs to be considered. The transport modes to be considered are private and public
transport using the road system, as w ell as rail.
Road System: Access to all the airfields w ill remain by road using either private or
public transport (bus/taxi), including freight. Provision of direct road access to the
freeway system should only be considered if the airports become commercially
active, and should form part of the future airports strategy.
Rail System - AerovaalAirport: A Prasa/Metrorail main line betw een Vereeninging
and Johannesburg is situated approximately 4,5 km w est of the airfield, w ith the
nearest station at Kookrus (approximately 4,0 km) in Meyerton South. Local lines
connected to this main line serves the Meydustria industrial area, the closest of w hich
terminates approximately 2,0 km from the airfield. Connection betw een the airfield
and the main Vereeniging/Johannesburg line may be possible, but w ill require further
study.
Rail System - Heidelberg Airport: A Prasa/Metrorail main line betw een Heidelberg
and Johannesburg is situated approximately 1,8 km north- w est of the airfield, w ith
the nearest station of Heidelberg (approximately 1,3 km) directly linked to the airfield
over the N3 freew ay. No other local lines exist in the area. Connection betw een the
airfield and this line may be possible, but w ill require further study.
(c)
Environmental Issues
The main environmental issue affecting airports is noise pollution. This may prohibit
further development and associated air traffic increase, which could lead to closure or
relocation. Secondary factors are storm w ater and ground w ater pollution by fuel
spillage and biodiversity loss due to expansion. Establishment of new airfields
requires exhaustive environmental study and consultation w ith interested and affected
parties. Should there be sympathy for developing a strategy of consolidation, it could
be a long process, w hich w ill be closely linked to environmental impact.
10.4 Outputs
SDM w ill support and cooperate w ith future studies to investigate the commercial
and/or private development of the AerovaalAirport located in Heidelberg and other
local airports, including new airports.These studies w ill ideally be undertaken in
conjunction w ith the EMM’s proposed study to establish industry preparedness for the
consolidation of existing general aviation facilities in the province and to find suitable
sites for general aviation airfields in Gauteng.
SDM w ill ensure adequate road access to exiting airports/airfields.
SDM w ill investigate opportunities to enter into a public-private-partnership for the
development and operation of airfields in Sedibeng.
SDM DITP, 2008 to 2013 154 31 Aug 2010