IMPACT OF GAUTRAIN'S CONSTRUCTION ON TREES OF JHB

Posted on Sep 13, 2006 in Media Releases

The approach followed in planning for the removal of trees along the route of the Gautrain Rapid Rail link project is coloboration between the Gauteng Provincial Government and the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). Collaboration was facilitated by a meeting between the senior representatives of both the Johannesburg City Parks and the Gautrain Project Team.

They looked at all possibilities in dealing with the matter without it having e severe negative impact on the environment.

From inception the City committed to ensuring that fewer trees are removed and as many tree as possible are planted in the process. This approach would therefore ensure that the environment is not lesser off, post the construction of the Gautrain. This is important in keeping with the City’s priority of creating a “Safe, Clean and Green City.”

Johannesburg City Parks conducted an intensive analysis and evaluation of the trees to be affected by the construction of the Gautrain. It was accordingly established that a total of 300 trees would have to make way for the construction of Gautrain.

Amongst these, 95 trees will be replanted at Emmarentia, Soweto and along the Golden highway. They are Washingtonias, White stinkwoods, Pinoaks, Jelly Palms, Leopard trees, Tabebuias and Strelitzias. Relocation can take place as these species have a high survival rate.

Gautrain representatives committed to replacing every one of the trees removed with three, 100 litre, indigenous trees of between 3.5 – 4.5 metres high.

Two hundred and three trees have been identified for felling. Trees to be felled are mostly exotics, including the Canary Island Palms, Jacarandas, London Planes, Chinese Maples, Elms, Pines and Mulberry trees. The following factors were taken into consideration, prior to felling:

• That the root ball system of the affected tree runs adjacent to private property and might compromise the stability of garden walls
• That the relocation process could damage existing bulk infrastructure on the path of the affected tree
• That the lifespan of the affected trees are between 20-40 years and face a growing public threat due to decay, disease, inclement weather, etc
• That the process allows the CoJ to renew the tree portfolio along the route by three-fold. Thereby increasing the lifespan from 20-40 years to between 90-100 years per tree
• That the replanting project will prove cost-effective, taking into consideration the cost implications to relocate the trees, versus the costs to purchase and replant three trees for every one tree removed.
• The phased-in tree relocation process will commence immediately.

Requests from private entities to replant the affected trees will be looked at only if the entity concerned is in a position to cover the whole cost and be in a position to execute the function within the stipulated timeframes.

With thanks to the City of Johannesburg