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Gautrain to put strain on infrastructure

Don Robertson

Don Robertson

Many property owners and developers believe there will be insufficient service provisions in Rosebank and Sandton to provide for the expected growth in these areas when the Gautrain and rapid bus stations are completed.

More than 25 new buildings, hotels, refurbishments and residential projects are either under construction or are planned in the two nodes over the next few years to cater for the expected increase in facilities provided by the new train and bus services.

It is estimated that during peak periods about 12000 commuters will use the Sandton Gautrain station.

But there are concerns that service facilities such as electricity, water, sewage and traffic control are already insufficient to meet growing demands.

John Spiropoulos, planner at Kagiso Urban Management, said there "might" be insufficient service infrastructure in these nodes but "we really don't know".

The City of Johannesburg has set new "envelops" for growth in these areas in terms of its Urban Development Plan, which are based on the expected effect of the Gautrain and the Bus Rapid Transport system.

The plan will also require more detailed planning relating to service infrastructure, transport and the development of open spaces.

Property owners and developers have approached Kagiso Urban Management to find alternate ways to finance any additional service infrastructure.

Kagiso is in discussions with the Johannesburg City Council in the hope of forming a mutually beneficial partnership between the municipalities and the private sector for this reason.

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