Restoration of river banks discussed
2010-04-29
A PUBLIC meeting to discuss the deteriorating condition of the river banks in Wellington will be held on 4 May in the hall of the DRC Mother Church in Church Street from 16:30 to 18:30, followed by an open house until 19:30. This follows an investigation into the collapsing erosion protection and river banks along the Spruit, Krom, Leeu and Hugo’s/Palmiet Rivers in Wellington due to previous flooding and activities occurring within the rivers. This has caused damage to both properties and the functioning of the river systems. In October, the Drakenstein Municipality commissioned well- known engineering firm Aurecon to undertake a river investigation along portions of the rivers flowing through Wellington. Findings from this investigation clearly showed that both flood and erosion protection was required for all of the four affected rivers. Protection structures such as an attenuation dam, gabions, weirs, and widening of culverts have been suggested. Once the topographical survey has been undertaken for each of the four rivers, the engineers, in conjunction with river ecologists, will determine what is required for each of the rivers, and the associated costs required to build such structures. It is clear however that millions of rands will be required to rehabilitate each of the four rivers. The Drakenstein Municipality does not have the funds for such work and has thus embarked on a public engagement process to discuss how this issue should be dealt with. The report and the River Environmental Management Plan is available at municipal offices and libraries in Wellington and Paarl and is also available for download from the Aurecon website (www.aurecongroup.com) – follow the “South Africa” and then the “Public Participation” link. At the public meeting, there will be a report on the findings, plans for the future and who will be responsible for improvements. Consent forms will be handed out to all attendees for completion.
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