SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGNS FOR GAUTRAIN

The bar for environmental standards continues to be raised both globally and nationally. Sustainable environmental design for Gautrain is committed to the triple bottom line that includes a responsibility towards environmental, social and economic concerns.

Civil designers adhere to the highest quality environmental targets when designing the Gautrain system. Each design is reviewed against obligatory requirements and in line with the fundamental ethos of sustainability.

Environmental sustainability for Gautrain system design include the following targets:

• Water- pollution control measures applicable to the potential pollutions risk as a result of releases, hazardous substances and silt separation must be included;
• Noise – listed mitigation measures for each section of the Gautrain as prescribed by the South African National Standards;
• Ecology – Gautrain stations and the depot must include resource conservation technologies such as minimal water use and energy saving technologies.

Design criteria and requirements are stipulated in Gautrain’s Draft Final Environmental Management Plan (DFEMP). This plan guides and directs the environmental management of the Gautrain Project. Other areas covered in the DFEMP include management and mitigation plans which focus on the construction period as well as monitoring requirements.

All the measures contained in the DFEMP were developed in consultation with the public. A rigorous public participation process was followed before these measures were approved by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture Conservation and Environment.

Several designs also involve public participation with Interested and Affected Parties during the various stages of design. This would normally involve the presence of and information dissemination from civil engineers, environmental practitioners, communications specialists and respective authorities.

Community Liaison Forums are held in affected communities on a regular basis. This forum gives the public the opportunity to give input on the actions of the Gautrain Project. To enquire about the dates of these meetings, call Gautrain’s toll-free call centre: 0800-GAUTRAIN (0800-42887246). The call centre is operational weekdays between 7am and 7pm with an answering system after-hours.