The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) has awarded a contract to two contractors to rid Homestead Dam of the pesky plants.
READ: Hyacinth will soon be removed
Jacoma Enterprises and Thanozi General Trading have won the tender and are due to start work at the dam on Tuesday.
Jacoma Enterprises owner Corrie Vermeulen said 20 locals have to be employed as part of the contract.
Workers will remove the plants from the water by hand, with the help of a boat and floating rake.
According to Clr Malanie Haggard (Ward 28), the unwanted vegetation will be dumped on the banks of the dam.
READ: Are our dams and lakes in danger?
Haggard said she has been informed that the scope of work does not include the removal of the plants once they have been pulled from the water.
“As much as I am excited, I’m half excited because next week I will have unhappy residents,” said Haggard, referring to the fact that the plants won’t immediately be removed from the land.
She said a permit is required to transport the water plants, as there is a risk that seeds may be spread through the transportation process.
Haggard said an EMM official told her that the tender for the removal still needs to be awarded.
The project is expected to last no longer than two months.
Farrarmere horticulturalist Stephen Rehbock has welcomed the news that the plants will be removed from the dam, but stressed the importance of keeping their growth in check after this has been done.
“Once you let it get out of control the cost rises,” Rehbock said.
He said maintenance would involve regularly removing the plants from the water, or spraying weed killer.
Rehbock is concerned that the plants won’t immediately be removed from the park, saying the organic matter could be used.
“It is valuable organic material to plough into the Bunny Park,” he said.
There is no word on when Benoni’s other dams will be rid of their water lilies and hyacinth.
The municipality had not replied to questions at the time of going to print.
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