Tweedracht residents are trying
to stop the building of a fuel
depot in their agricultural area.
The depot will contain eight 10 m x
40 m tanks, which is approximately
499 000 ℓ of fuel.
This diesel, paraffin and petroleum
depot is planned on portion 10, a
portion of portion one, of the farm
Tweedracht 516-JR. The property is
situated approximately 500 m south
of the intersection of the Boschkop
Road and the Donkerhoek Road,
R964.
Neighbouring resident Wian Potgieter says that a fuel depot should be
placed in an area earmarked for
commercial-industrial use, such as
those in Waltloo, Bapsfontein,
Benoni, and Springs where the necessary
infrastructure such as roads,
piped water, electricity, security and
fire brigades are provided.
Leaks
Residents say that even when taking
the greatest care, leaks and spillages
will occur on such a site. The smallest
leak of hydrocarbons from storage
tanks or transport trucks and
spillage during loading and off-loading
operations can contaminate the
soil and thereby the groundwater,
making it unusable for human consumption.
“I and with me the whole community
depend on groundwater to satisfy
all our water needs,” Wian said.
Contaminated groundwater may
make the area uninhabitable.
Depending on the quantity of the
spillage, such contamination can be
semi-permanent. It will also affect
the value of property.
Fire
Residents fear that hydrocarbons
will place a greater explosion and
fire risks on the neighbouring
area. A fuel depot fire could lead to
run-away veld fires. Also, regular
veld fires in winter may endanger
the fuel depot. The local fire
brigade is probably not geared to
fight large-scale petrol and diesel
fires.
Residents also object to the air and
noise pollution surrounding such a
depot. They say that hydrocarbon
fumes emitted from the storage
facilities will adversely affect the air
quality. Noise generated by the
tanker transport and by the on- and
off loading procedures will negatively
impact on the tranquillity of the
rural surroundings.
History
In 2009 plans for a Bashewa fuel
depot, consisting of 12 above
ground level and 10 underground
fuel tanks, were cancelled after a
public outcry. In a letter dated
17 September, Mills and Otten
Environmental Consultants told all
interested and affected parties that
the plans for the fuel depot were
cancelled due to serious environmental
limitations.
According to Johan Fouche, MBT
Petroleum’s chief executive officer,
the project wasn’t cancelled due to
the results of the impact study, but
in an accommodating spirit to the
rural community. He wanted to
make it clear that MBT cares for the
community.
Objections
Objections to the proposed Tweedracht fuel depot had to be submitted
by 25 April. Carlien Potgieter of
Teropo Town Planners is the registered
agent of the owner of portion
10, Gertruida Woutrina Le Roux.
The property is currently vacant and
its zoning is “undetermined’’
although the surrounding properties are all agricultural or rural residential.
A consent use application has
been handed in. In terms of the Peri
Urban Town Planning Scheme, the
local municipality can approve any
other non-agricultural use as long as
the owner applies for either a consent
use, if less than 10% of the
property size is used, or rezoning, if
more than 10% of the property size
will be used.
The property is 9.5052 ha big and
the proposed development will be
less than a hectare in extent.
According to the development’s
motivating memorandum, the proposed
development will make provision
for eight 400 m² tanks, which
is approximately 499 000 ℓ diesel/
petroleum and paraffin SABS standard
storage tanks.
Each tank will be
placed on a foundation or slab to
protect the direct environment.
There will also be an office of
300 m², a residential house with
outbuildings, if required for the site
manager, and parking spaces for six
to ten trucks.
The motivating memorandum states
that less than 1 500 ℓ water per day
will be used for the proposed consent
use. A Lilliput system or similar
closed-borne sewerage plant will be
installed for the residential house
and office for sewer purposes.
Transport
No sale of products will take place
on site. Six to eight petroleum
tankers will transport the fuel from
the site to clients in the commercial,
industrial, mining, farming and retail
industry.
According to the motivating memorandum
there is a need for fuel
storage facilities at that easily accessible
location, situated very close to
the R25, between Pretoria and
Bronkhorstspruit.
There is no other such facilities in
the area; the closest being in
Silverton.
However, according to residents,
the main reason for placing such a
depot in a rural environment may
be the lower property prices and
the greater distance to controlling
authorities. |