Heritage Cases

The Waterberg complex is regarded as a strategic growth node for various activities within the Mining and Industrial sectors. Adequate rail infrastructure capacity is deemed critical to unlock the potential of this economic hub which necessitates a review of the required capacity to support the forecast growth of various commodities, of which coal potentially is dominant. The Works at Lephalale yard forms part of the endeavour to increase capacity. The scope of the project includes the expansion of a railway yard south west of Lephalale along the existing single track Lephalale-Thabazimbi railway line. The expansion of the railway yard would allow more trains to enter and exit Lephalale. The expansion of the Lephalale Railway Yard goes beyond Transnet servitude therefore requires approximately 22 hectares of land to be acquired. The main function of the yard would be to switch crew, service and maintain diesel locomotives. The facilities to be developed would mainly comprise three buildings namely an office building, administration building and maintenance & repair building and 4 service tracks. The tracks would be developed as follows: Southern section (Phase 1) of the track development would include:  Bypass line  Decanting arrival/departure line  Departure line Northern section (Phase 2) of the track development would include:  An arrival line  Run around line  Spare lines The more detailed types of facilities and infrastructure to be developed as part of the yard would include: • The construction of new railway lines of 4.8km (Phase 1= 4.8km and Phase 2 = 3.7km) • Construction and extension of culverts • Infra Crew Building • Guard Houses • Staff amenities • Provisional facilities • Fire suppression systems which require a foam storage tank, water storage tank and foam pipelines; • Roads and carports • Sanding Facilities (for sandbox container on locomotives-traction improvement); • Effluent management (water/oil separator) • (X2) 300 000 litres diesel tanks and decanting slabs – There shall be four (4) rail decanting points and one road decanting point provided all at one location. The fuel storage volume is 600 000 litres. The pump rooms for decanting and refuelling shall be ventilated and contain fire protection as per the SANS requirements; o 12 x 12 500 litre conservancy tanks will be used at various facilities o 1 x 500 litre diesel tanker in the fire pump room, and • 6720 litres of oil storage (32 drums of oil) • Water Reservoir The expansion of the Lephalale yard will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 would require Transnet to build a bypass line towards the south of the existing railway line. This would enable an alternative route for trains whilst Transnet is building the new tracks. Phase 2 would include building the additional railway tracks, the bulk earthworks and building the facilities. The expansion of the railway yard will also include construction of a 7 metre wide tarred access road to the facilities which would end at the furthest facility on the west, the locomotive service area. Lights would also be fitted along the site. A service road will also be required north of the existing railway line, it is however not clear if it would be located within the existing rail servitude or if it would require further private land. The railway expansion will also require two borrow pit areas in proximity to the new yard. The relevant applications and subject reporting would be submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources. Project Location The proposed Lephalale Railway Yard Expansion would be developed on Portions 1 (remaining extent) of the farm Geelhoutkloof 359LQ, farm Geelhoutkloof 717LQ, farm Enkeldraai 718LQ, Buffelsjagt 744LQ. The study area is situated approximately 30km west of Lephalale Town (Ellisras) on the single railway line between Thabazimbi to Lephalale, in the rural area of Steenbokpan. It falls within the jurisdiction of Lephalale Local Municipality in the Waterberg District of Limpopo Province.