Residents of Primrose East, Marlands and Woodmere are tired of battling every time it rains.
The stormwater drainage system in the area is well below par and many residents suffer flooding and damage to their properties on a regular basis.
The GCN recently visited a number of sites in the areas with Ward 92 councillor Clr Tiziana Plaskitt, Mike Waters, MP, deputy chief whip in parliament, constituency head: Lethabong, and some of the ward committee members.
One of the extremely dangerous areas is situated on Oak Avenue, near Peach Avenue, where there is a huge sinkhole which takes up most of the pavement
“There is also a huge undercut in the sinkhole which means that more of the road is going to collapse,” said Plaskitt.
The sinkhole is not marked or cordoned off which poses a safety risk.
If you walk up Peach Avenue the pavement is also full of sinkholes and the stormwater drains are not adequate, with one new drain and an old blocked drain to catch all the water which flows down the street.
Another problem area, also with sinkholes, is situated on the corner of Elm Road and Beech Avenue.
“The local school has had to construct a wall to prevent its palisade fence from being damaged and debris being washed into the school grounds when it rains.
“The premises has been flooded up to a metre high on a number of occasions,” Plaskitt said.
The third site, on the corner of Oak Avenue and Acacia Road, is also proving to be a huge problem for residents.
“The stormwater pipe ends at the corner and has been bricked up, so the water that does make it into the few stormwater drains just spews out again and the whole of Acacia Road gets flooded,” Plaskitt said.
She told the GCN that, so far, she has had six site visits with officials from roads and stormwater, as well as one with disaster management and Rand Water at various sites in the three suburbs.
“I am currently awaiting feedback and will ensure I have continuous meetings with them to make sure something is done,” Plaskitt said.
“I need definite time frames from them as to when measures will be implemented to fix the problems.”
Plaskitt added that she has brought the matter to the attention of senior management, as well as the city manager.
The GCN requested comment from the metro on the matter but at the time of going to press no comment had been received.
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