Positive progress at Atlasville Spruit

Ward 23 councillor, Andre du Plessis, recently held a meeting with various council officials from the departments involved in the ongoing clean-up project during the week of February 10.

He reported that while it was unacceptable that the project had not yet been handed over from the Roads and Stormwater Department, which was responsible for the contractual work, to the Parks Department, which would conduct the maintenance, the meeting had resolved the issue and the grass has now been cut.

The parameters of the original contract stipulate that both departments will work together with the Roads and Stormwater Department, responsible for bringing in additional Top Soil, removing rocks and stones in certain areas, in order to allow the Parks Department to carry out proper maintenance, without damaging their equipment.

Du Plessis reported that a landscape architect had specified which types of grass to use to avoid soil erosion, and the sub-contractor responsible for removing weeds, which had sprung up, are being taken to task by the metro for not fulfilling its part of the contract.

A lawn type of grass had been seeded in the area, and would eventually take the place of the veld grass currently growing.

The eventual vista will be the shorter, lawn type grass running from the roads edge, to within approximately five to 10 meters from the water’s edge, and there will be longer veld grass around the periphery of the stream, with sedges and water plants on the embankments and in the water.

The department had undertaken to spray the reeds at regular intervals, maintain the playground equipment and plant more trees.

After a lengthy tender process, a sub-contractor has been appointed to install lighting at the spruit.

The installation of mast style lighting is set to begin soon.

The placement of the lights will be 15m from the water’s edge, and follow the lines of the stream along its eastern embankment.

Du Plessis said that he was still investigating the reason for the department’s failure to spend the annual R200 000 allowance given to each ward, which would have paid for the long-awaited fencing in of the Bird Sanctuary on Venus and Goud streets.

He was hopeful that the metro’s budget review process, which allowed funds to be shuffled for specific projects, would see more money being diverted to this project.

“The planning is also on track for the second phase to commence in May this year, but will not be as extensive as the first phase,” says du Plessis.

Du Plessis adds that he would keep residents informed about the date of a second public meeting in order to gather input and comments from affected residents.

He urged the community to attend the public meeting and take an active part in the process.