Phase three of Boksburg Lake development project complete

The entire project started with the renovation of the boathouse that was revamped at a cost of about R4-m, a couple of years ago.

Thieves have already removed the manhole cover from the south bank. Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos said he would see to it that the metro appoints a security firm to safeguard the facility.

Phase Three of the Boksburg Lake construction project has been completed.

The phase forms part of the multi-million rand development project aimed at giving the lake and its surroundings a facelift.

An official handover and launch of the project’s third phase completion were, according to Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos, apparently set to take place end of last month, but didn’t happen.

De Vos told the Advertiser the project was completed last month.

“Although the project was completed a few months after the projected completion date, it was delivered within budget,” said de Vos.

The newly-constructed children’s play area at the lake.

The R13-million project, carried out by Leafy Space and its subcontractors, included the installation of outdoor fitness equipment, a children’s play park, new pathways and lawns, as well as fully fencing the south bank.

The councillor, however, voiced concern over the safety of the newly installed fitness equipment and children’s equipment, saying the costly municipal assets have been left vulnerable to thieves and vandals.

Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos expresses his shocked when he discovered thieves have stolen the water tap from the park.

“Should the metro fail to appoint adequate security to safeguard the property, the new equipment will find its way to scrapyards – and this will then amount to fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” said de Vos.

The Advertiser noticed thieves have already started to steal from the property, as several water taps and manhole covers have gone missing.

Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos at one of the entrances to the lake.

It’s unclear if the property is ready for people to use, but this publication noticed members of the public are already using the fitness equipment and access to the property is not controlled.

The metro has not yet responded to our questions on the security issue and the official opening of the facility.

De Vos said the metro will still appoint a contractor to build more toilet facilities.

The metro had set aside millions of rands for the refurbishment of Boksburg Lake’s public facilities.

About R6-m was spent on Phase Two, which saw contractors erecting wire fencing, paving the road, landscaping, construction of an entrance wall, irrigation, planting, installation of park furniture and litter bins.

R2.1-m was spent on Phase One, which saw the main contractors, Aveng-Grinaker and Earthforce, constructing an amphitheatre and braai facilities, installing park furniture and carrying out landscaping.

The body of water

The metro had appointed SRK Consulting to assess the state of Boksburg Lake and to find the best option to improve the current state of the lake water.

According to metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe, consultants SRK had already completed the scientific studies and has recently drawn up the rehabilitation plan to be implemented to improve the condition of the lake.

Gadebe said SRK was after a public tender process awarded the project, adding that the full awarded tender amount is R2 231 275.

The deposit of rubbish around the edge of the lake.

“The cost included a sub-bottom survey, specialist modelling from siltation, silt and water sampling and a range of other specialist studies, engineering studies for alternatives and environmental authorisations,” said Gadebe.