A week into 2020 and Ward 18 councillor Heather Hart already has her eyes set on the year ahead.
At the end of last year, Hart met with the NEWS to discuss her highs and lows of the year and some of her hopes for 2020.
On the top of Hart’s list is seeing the completion of the second phase of the Horwood’s Farm upgrades.
Upgrades to the park, worth R10-million, started late last year and are set to be completed before the end of this year.
Several improvements, including a market area, a new skate park and multipurpose sports courts are set to be constructed by the the project’s completion.
Because of the construction work in the park, access is limited to ensure the safety of community members.
Next for Hart is to push for the improvements to the Hurlyvale and Buurendaal stormwater infrastructure.
Hart believes the addition of three attenuation dams and the improvement of two existing dams will reduce flooding in the Edenvale area.
The dams should slow down the water flowing into Edenvale from the other side of the R24.
Hart explained that, once started, the project would take six to 12 months to complete.
Another upgrade to Edenvale which Hart would like to see start in 2020 is the rehabilitation and upgrades of the Illiondale wetland.
Staying in Illiondale, Hart said although the Illiondale Outfall Sewer project was completed last year, sewerage blockages in the Illiondale, Sebenza and Isandovale areas continue.
Hart said, like other general municipal issues, she will assist the community where possible and try to get them resolved as soon as possible.
She explained that service delivery and deterioration of municipal infrastructure remain an issue in Edenvale.
Focusing on properties in Illiondale and the Avenues, Hart hopes to put more effort into tackling illegal land use and overcrowding with the assistance of EMPD.
Hart said she hopes to see a clampdown on residents who ignore the City’s by-laws. Some examples she gave included noise violations and the incorrect disposal of waste water.
Hart urged community members who witness by-law infringements to report it to 011 9992093/4.
She also encouraged community members to report municipal issues to the City of Ekurhuleni.
Community members can report service delivery issues to the call centre on 0860 543 000 or call.centre@ekurhuleni.gov.za or use the municipality’s app.
