Construction and Refurbishment of the Alexandra Depot
Project Details:
Client: Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA)
Discipline: Health, Safety and Environmental
Category: Transportation
Location: Alexandra, Gauteng
Key project Details: Construction of the Alexandra Depot as critical focused infrastructure for the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Reya Vaya Project as part of the Greater Gauteng Transportation Master Plan that aims to unlock economic activities and development nodes by enhancing transportation options, efficiency and connectivity.
January 2017 - July 2022
Thero Services was tasked by the JDA to act as the Environmental Control Officer for the Rea Vaya BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) Greater Gauteng Main Depot construction and refurbishment project. The facility houses 270 buses across Layover, Joint Operations Centre, Main Depot, and Administration Building sections. Integral to the Greater Gauteng Transportation Master Plan, this initiative aims to enhance economic activities and development nodes by bolstering transportation options, efficiency, and connectivity. The project's scope encompassed the installation of vital services such as water, electricity, and sewage, along with mechanical workshops, maintenance areas, and related infrastructure.
The project was successfully completed within the scope of work, achieving exceptional environmental performance. A detailed project-specific Health, Safety, and Environmental (EMPr) specification was meticulously implemented, delineating client requirements and outlining the roles and responsibilities of both clients and contractors. Compliance monitoring of contractors was conducted across various scientific studies, including Environmental Management Plan, Wetland Delineation Assessment, Vegetation Assessment, Stormwater Management Assessment, and Land Use Management, as mandated by Environmental Authorization Conditions. Additionally, a thorough legal review and approval process was undertaken for the Contractor’s Environmental Management File, ensuring alignment with Basic Assessment reports and supporting documents. Continuous environmental compliance monitoring was upheld through construction site assessments and audits, while comprehensive environmental reporting and advisory services were provided to the City of Johannesburg (COJ) and other pertinent stakeholders.
The City of Joburg allocated 31% of the construction budget towards supporting Small, Medium-sized, and Microenterprises (SMMES) while prioritizing job creation and skills development through the utilization of local labour and skills in Phases 2A, 2B, and 2C of their transportation system project. This initiative aligns with their goal of establishing an efficient, safe, affordable, accessible, and reliable transport network. Additionally, the depot incorporates environmentally friendly features, reflecting the city's commitment to the Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) 2040 objectives of fostering a resilient, liveable, and sustainable urban environment supported by smart infrastructure conducive to a low-carbon economy. Despite encountering delays and challenges attributed to Employee Unrest, proactive measures were taken to address employee complaints, document them in environmental files, and report them to relevant stakeholders, by Environmental Authorization protocols due to their perceived high risk.
