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From one pool to another Greg Stokell, principal of Edgemead Primary, (left) and Neal de Wit from Ipic Property Management watch as water sourced from another pool is pumped into the school’s swimming pool last week. Story on page 2. PHOTO: CARINA ROUX
CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL: NEW RUNWAY WILL LEAD TO ONLY A ‘SLIGHT’ INCREASE IN NOISE
New runway takes off NIELEN DE KLERK @nielendk
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new, realigned runway at Cape Town International Airport has been given the final go-ahead. As many celebrate the R3.8 billion investment into the City’s economy, there are sure to be remaining concerns regarding noise implications for the northern suburbs. The airport announced last week that the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has granted final approval for the runway after an appeals process was con-
cluded. The project will see the primary runway being realigned and extended to 3500m and rapid exit taxiways constructed. “The new runway and associated infrastructure will facilitate greater air access into Cape Town and the Western Cape and will enable growth of passenger and cargo traffic that is essential for tourism and economic activity,” says Deidre Davids, senior manager of corporate affairs at the airport. The project is expected to start in 2019 and will mean improved access for larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380.
The project has received some backlash, especially from residents of Edgemead, who will be directly affected by an increase in noise, along with residents of other areas such as Monte Vista, Bellville, Parow and Bothasig. This increase will be “slight”, Davids says, and the full impact will only be heard once the airport is operating at maximum capacity. “Given that we are realigning the runway by 11.5 degrees in an anticlockwise direction, the noise cone north of the airport will shift towards the west,” she says. “Similarly in the south [in areas such as
Mitchell’s Plain and Philippi East], the noise cone will shift towards the east. “As a result, there will be those suburbs that experience a slight increase in noise, and those that experience a slight decrease in noise.” She says in suburbs such as Monte Vista and Edgemead the noise level contribution during maximum capacity is expected to increase between 1dBA and 3dBA. “Please note maximum capacity is years from now and based on a host of variables,” she adds. V To page 2.