The Makhado Municipal Council approved the development of an inter-modal transport facility for Louis Trichardt in principle.

This decision was taken during a Council meeting on Thursday, October 30. It was resolved that the municipality, in principle, approve making land available for the development of an inter-modal transport facility which will integrate the transport nodes of bus, taxi and railway line. The project will be funded by the Department of Transport, with an estimated contract value of R41 million.

According to information, the project will be implemented in phases. The first phase, which is to be implemented during the 2008/9 financial year, will see the upgrading of the Eltivillas and Shoprite taxi ranks. The rest of the project is to be completed in 2010/11.

However, it is not yet known at this stage exactly where this facility will be located. One of the key factors of the project is that it should be in close proximity to the town’s existing railway lines and station, but as the municipality does not own land in the vicinity of the station, they are looking at available land in close proximity to the station. It should be mentioned that a consortium of professionals already showed an interest in the town’s Indigenous Tree Park. Many readers will remember that previous attempts by the municipality to develop the Tree Park were met with great resistance from residents who would like to see this part of the town’s Green Belt preserved at all cost. It is, however, doubtful that the Tree Park will be the location of the facility. According to a report by the municipality’s acting director of corporate services, the Tree Park is “not favourable in terms of close proximity to existing railway lines or train station”. The Bird Park (opposite Makhado Crossing) has also been identified in the report as a possible location. The municipality is also the owner of land in Louis Trichardt Extension 12 township, which is closest to an existing railway siding and to the existing train station. It is, however, not clear at this stage how much land the consortium requires for the project.

But what about the existing train station in Kruger Street, many readers might ask? As mentioned, the municipality does not own land near the station, although they seem keen to go into partnership with the Department of Transport. The report does mention, however, that the consortium “may consider and investigate further to use Transnet-owned property in the proximity of the train station – according to data on the municipal database, Transnet holds a considerable number of properties in the proximity of the train station which are not developed / developed optimally.”