On Saturday, 17 August, Deon Cloete the managing director of the Winelands Airport addressed the Durbanville Heritage Society.
After an introduction informing attendees about his extensive experience in the aviation industry, Mr Cloete gave a brief history of the Fisantekraal Airport, which is the site at which the planned Winelands Airport will be situated. It was interesting to learn that the current airfield is 80 years old and was built by the Allied Forces for military purposes to protect the South African coastline during World War II. For this reason, the airstrip is quite wide, because it enabled planes to take off in formation.
The airfield is currently used for private and chartered flights. Mr Cloete informed attendees about the privately owned company and the board directors responsible for the development. Furthermore, he showed slides with aerial photographs and architectural drawings of the envisaged airport and explained the different stages that it would be developed. It is important that there is a railway connection from Cape Town to Saldanha Bay close to the airstrip. It was interesting to learn that part of the planning also included a Living Aircraft Museum. For more information on the planned airport, go to https://capewinelands.aero/new-airport/.
Mr Cloete clearly emphasised the numerous economic prospects of the envisaged airport, which is in the planning stages prior to final approval. He informed attendees about the positive outcomes that this development could provide for the community, but made it clear that he could not answer all the questions on impact and environment at this stage and therefore, encouraged attendees to register on the site of PHS consulting soon as comments and concerns from residents are awaited.
Questions and concerns raised at the meeting were about noise levels caused by planes taking off and landing. Durbanville houses orchestral and music activities (Heydeburgh Symphony as well as that of the Durbanville High School, which is one of the largest school orchestras in the Western Cape), Primary and High Schools, Stadio University, places of worship, the hospital, retirement villages and old age homes, tax-paying residents preferring a rural lifestyle which is presently the reason for locating in Durbanville.
The impact of noise and air pollution on the farming in the region: poultry, dairy, wheat, also venues and vineyards which are popular tourist and entertainment sites? How will constant landing and taking off of planes affect these valuable assets in Durbanville?
Concerns about increased traffic in an already overloaded village were partly addressed by Mr Cloete, but residents are certainly not at ease because there is limited access to the planned airfield through the village.
The estimated influx of 1 million people into an already vastly expanding town is a concern. Where will they live? This posed a threat of historical farms being built up to provide residential space for the increasing demand. Valuable agricultural land and historical farms might disappear. Nowhere in the world are airfields erected in beautiful places, why now in Durbanville, which is recognised as a beautiful place?
The fear of squatter camps that often surround an airfield due to hopeful people flocking to the area in search of job-opportunities and that it could lead to an increase in crime, was mentioned as a concern. Will the undertaking of artisan training and a technical school for Fisantekraal be fulfilled?
There was concern about the industrial (aviation) character gradually overtaking the reasonably quiet, peaceful, rural and relatively safe character of the region, which is what attracts residents to the area and members asked how will this affect the value of properties in the Durbanville region?
Concerned Durbanville residents are reminded to register on the site of PHS consulting https://phsconsulting.co.za/proposed-expansion-of-cape-winelands-airport/ soon as comments and concerns are awaited. Closing date for comments is 26 August 2024.
Mr Deon Cloete, managing director of the Cape Winelands Airport thanked by Duminy Marais of the Durbanville Heritage Society.
