Residents called to comment on Lutz power station
ALSEF AH – New sub-station may only be built in the 2018/2019 financial year
Residents are encouraged to comment on the application for the amendment of the Roodepoort Town Planning Scheme to establish the Lutz power station.
Electrical capacity will be created via this sub-station that will benefit the Alsef, Ruimsig and Honeydew areas, which regularly suffer from power outages. According to ward 97 councillor, Leah Knott, work towards the Lutz power station was meant to begin in January and the Mayor allocated R21 million towards the project in the adjustment budget in February. However, to date, no work has been done.
After following up with City Power it became apparent that the R21 million had not been paid over to City Power and therefore, Knott wrote to the Mayor’s office for clarity on the matter. The response explained that during the 2016/17 mid-term budget review City Power was asked to reduce its three-year allocation for capital budget by 57 per cent. In response to the reduced capital budget, all projects that had not yet commenced with physical construction were then halted.
The project was frozen with a view to be re-visited through the adjustment budget for the 2018/19 financial year.
Knott wrote back with a series of questions relating to the R21 million and the decision taken to push the project into another financial year even though it would alleviate the pressure on existing electricity networks.
The City recently allocated Holding 11 Alsef AH to City Power for the purpose of building the sub-station. Knott said residents have 60 calendar days from the date of the application (15 June) to comment.
Comments can be sent to ObjectionsPlanning@joburg.org.za
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