Clr Hart’s plans for 2017

With the start of the new year, Councillor Heather Hart of Ward 18 has already made a list of the all the issues which she aims to address in the year of 2017.

Clr Hart said now that the new year has started and she’s had her break, she’s ready to start work again.

To start off her year, Clr Hart said she will be putting more attention on the use of fireworks in the Edenvale Area.

She said the law enforcement regarding fireworks is inadequate.

“The community was in an uproar, about the use of fireworks during the festive break,” said Clr Hart.

She said she aims to hold public meetings and start a petition to get community support.

One of the challenges which Clr Hart raised in connection to fireworks was the import and sale of fireworks.

She said the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality can’t implement new legislation with regards to the sale and import of fireworks.

Clr Hart added that requires the authority of the national government.

Following the fireworks, Clr Hart said her second most immediate plan of action will be ensuring that the flood damage caused by the rain downpour of November 9, is seen to and repaired.

Some of the places which Clr Hart highlighted as needing help, are: Main Road, Fountain Road, Fountain Roads, Station Road as well as a few houses, which were caught in the flooding.

“What Edenvale experienced that night was an extreme flash flood. No urban storm water system could ever have coped with it,” explained Clr Hart.

She said roads need to be re-tarred, storm water drains need to be repaired and pavements need to be rebuilt.

Clr Hart said she will try her best to ensure that the repairs are attended to.

Some major but less immediate issues which Clr Hart will continue to focus on, alongside her two immediate issues include:

•  The restoration of the Horwood’s Farm Homestead, which is currently surrounded by barbed wire to prevent further vandalism.
•  Driving objections to the leasing of Edenvale Sports Grounds to a third party.
•  Ensuring that the Illiondale outfall sewer, is seen to and upgraded.
•  Continue the rehabilitation of the Illiondale wetlands, which have suffered from the effects caused by sewerage.

Clr Hart elaborated besides the already mentioned issues, she’ll continue to deal with others.

She said she hopes to create a steering committee to help in the fight against drugs, which will focus on drug dealers specifically.

“The steering committee will act as a vehicle and drive the fight against drug dealers,” Clr Hart added.

She said by changing the environment of Edenvale and improving the town, the number of drug dealers will lessen.

Clr Hart explained the number of vagrants and homeless people in Edenvale has led to urban decay.

By establish a steering committee to deal with the vagrants and homeless in Edenvale, Clr Hart hopes an intervention can occur.

As her main focus with this issue, Clr Hart will be looking at the rights of the vagrants compared to the right of Edenvale residents and businesses.

By ensuring that items which are broken or damaged are repaired, Clr Hart hopes to improve the standard of infrastructure maintenance in Edenvale.

Due to lack of accommodation in local Edenvale schools, Clr Hart said she will establish a steering committee.

She elaborated it would be the role of the steering committee, to emphasis the importance of a new school to the education department.

Clr hope that by doing this, a new primary and high School will be built in Edenvale.

Lastly, Clr Hart hopes that community members will follow the bylaws which help govern EMM in 2017; and obey the laws of the municipality.

“Most of the bylaws are available on the EMM website,” said Clr Hart.

Clr Hart explained in ward 18, most of the residents are already aware of the bylaws.

She will continue to liaise with community members, Clr Hart added – and work together in 2017.

“I will be working towards a better Edenvale. I am up to the challenge,” Clr Hart concluded.