Ward 18 Clr Alderman Heather Hart highlights plans
“Instead of leasing the park to third parties, community-oriented projects like the newly leased skatepark, a proposed pump track and Edenvale Lions Basketball Academy’s indoor court should be given priority,”
With the start of the new year, Ward 18 Clr Alderman Heather Hart is prepared as can be for 2022.
ALSO READ: Edenvale squatters a concern for Hart
Last year Hart told the NEWS that 2021 went past in the blink of an eye.
She described the year as being on a rollercoaster ride while running on a treadmill.
Although the year was a rollercoaster ride for all it ended on a high note for Hart when the City of Ekurhuleni’s mayor Alderman Tania Campbell announced the mayoral committee. Hart was announced as the MMC of City Planning.
Hart said several large matters need her attention.
First on her list is the preservation and rehabilitation of the Illiondale wetland.
“The project is important not only for the environment but for the city as the wetland is one of the few semi-functional wetlands in the Ekurhuleni region,” said Hart.
Hart described it as a beautiful area that needs to be preserved.
She will also renew and continue her efforts to restore and preserve Horwood’s Farm’s Homestead.
Over 100 years old, the building is a heritage site with a deep connection to the town’s history. Over the years, the building, however, has fallen victim to vandalism and has deteriorated.
In 2017 the municipality erected a fence around the homestead to prevent and deter further vandalism.
Besides focussing on rehabilitation projects, Hart will continue fighting the Founder’s Hill development behind Illiondale.
ALSO READ: Hart ready to live up to community’s expectations
“I will continue to oppose the project due to the decision to bring an estimated 1 000 cars onto Cecil Awret Road,” said Hart.
Described by Hart as a mini-gated community, the development could see over 900 residential stands built between the P91, Sebenza and Illiondale.
Hart said this year she will continue fighting for a budget to be allocated to the stormwater attenuation project in Hurlyvale Park.
Previously Hart informed the NEWS that once completed the project will see four attenuation dams created; however, only two will be located in the park.
The remaining two dams will be constructed in Highway Gardens, one near the corner of Cunningham Road and Beverley Avenue and the other in Tarka Park.
Hart said the construction of the dams should reduce flooding along the Eastleigh Spruit by slowing the water down.
By June last year preparation work for the project had started with soil samples being taken at the site. Once the project is completed the park should look similar to Oriel Park in Bedfordview.
The last large project on Hart’s list for 2022 is to remove Edenvale Sports Grounds from the strategic land parcel list.
By doing this Hart believes it will remove all threats of the grounds being leased to a third party.
“Community-oriented projects like the newly leased skatepark, a proposed pump track and Edenvale Lions Basketball Academy’s indoor court should be given priority,” said Hart.
She said the city’s real estate department is saying no to some of the proposed community projects because the sports grounds are still on the SLP list.
Hart will continue focussing on ongoing issues and service delivery matters in the town.
She said these include the remediation and rehabilitation of the St Andrews Road Bridge and channel on the Eastleigh Spruit.
Other matters Hart will focus her attention on include the: condition of Edenvale’s roads, parks, trees, weeds in the roads and the general state of the town’s pavements
Continuing with service delivery related matters, Hart said illegal electrical connections, unrehabilitated water leaks and the lack of maintenance of Edenvale’s water and sanitation system will not escape her attention.
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