Wetlands in the firing line
GLENFERNESS - Since 1972 wetlands in Craigavon and Glenferness have been under constant threat from rapid urban development.
Again the wetlands could be doomed if a proposed road alignment project sees the light of day.
The wetlands are home to giant African bullfrogs, the largest frog species in the world, which are considered endangered.
According to Paul Fairall, affectionately known as ‘the bullfrog man’ a public meeting on 7 March could work to help save the species and its habitat from the road alignment.
“Various proposed roads in the Kyalami and Glenferness areas were mooted as far back as 1972.” he said.
According to Fairall no servitudes were proclaimed and no expropriations ever took place.
A scoping report on the proposed road was again done in 1999.
However, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not permitted, until specialist reports were submitted.
Fairall was part of this report where two principal restrictive environmental issues were the lack of wetlands and the threat to the giant African bullfrog.
This helped halt the proposed road. The first section of the proposed alignment is firing up again, and again the wetlands and the giant African bullfrogs are in the firing line.
Resident participation, and more reports were the only way to help save the wetlands, Fairall said.
Fairall explained that the proposed alignment would also seriously impact well-known North Rand Animal Clinic and Equine Hospital.
The public participation meeting will be held at the Methodist Church, 125 Duncan Road, on Wednesday.
Fairall expects more than 500 irate residents from Glenferness alone.
