WATCH: Council aims to remove 90% of hyacinth during winter

The CoE’s Environmental Resource and Waste Management Department is confident that it will eradicate 90% of the hyacinth and other invasive water plants within the city’s water bodies by the end of winter

In a statement released by MMC André du Plessis, eradication activities that have thus far been implemented include the physical removal and safe disposal of water lilies at the Homestead Dam as well as mechanical clearing and herbicide spraying have both been implemented at Middle and Civic lakes.

“The project is a response to the mayoral lekgotla resolution, which called for the department to come up with a sustainable management plan for the CoE’s water bodies,” said du Plessis.

“The department has initiated the water hyacinth management program at the four Benoni lakes, while work continues at the Civic Lake with the aim of clearing at least 90% by the end of July.

“This is complemented by herbicide spraying to manage emerging invasive plants. Meanwhile, mechanical removals are underway at both the Kleinfontein and the Brakpan dams.”

With regards to the multi-million rand equipment, du Plessis said that the excavator is working at Civic Lake however the Watermaster needs to be removed at Middle Lake.

“Previous attempts to pull it out with a truck were unsuccessful and divers were engaged to do a detailed assessment on the position and feasibility of the move,” said du Plessis.

“It was found that the stabilisers are stuck in the mud, therefore, a plan has been devised to place custom-made hydraulic bags at the bottom of the machine. It will then be inflated in order to enable it to float.”

Once the bags have been completed, two boats will be used to pull them to shore so that mechanics can conduct a thorough assessment of the machine.

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