The Department of Environmental Affairs has notified Cape Town International Airport that it has authorised the proposed runway realignment and associated infrastructure planned for the airport.
The department’s notification was communicated to the airport following a detailed examination of an independent EIA including submissions from other interested and affected parties.
The authorisation granted by the Department of Environmental Affairs includes extensions to and realignment of the runway as well as associated infrastructure such as aircraft parking stands and taxiways. The EIA took nearly four years of planning and assessment and included extensive public consultation.
Independent environmental consultants, SRK Consulting, are now required to inform all interested and affected parties within 12 days of the department’s decision and will also broadly advertise the Environmental Authorisation. The regulatory process provides an opportunity for appeals so that anyone who wishes to challenge the record of decision can do so. The regulations applying to the authorisation require parties to notify the department of their intentions within 20 days of the date of the environmental authorisation.
Deon Cloete, General Manager of Cape Town International Airport says the environmental authorisation is just one step in the process and that the EIA process is not yet fully concluded. “If all approvals are received at best construction is estimated to begin mid-2018.”
More information from Deirdre Davids, Tel: 021 937 1200
deirdre.davids@airports.co.za / mediadesk@airports.co.za
