Residents concerned by dumping site proposal

The GCN received a call from a very concerned resident, Jackie Mc Donald, alerting us to plans to reopen the existing Cell One, of the Simmer and Jack landfill site, located on Portion 2 of the Farm Elandsfontein 90IR.

Mc Donald later wrote to the GCN, stating the reasons for her concern:

“I have been a resident of Simmerfield for 40 years and have witnessed the initiation of the existing waste site,” she wrote.

“Promises were made and never honoured; examples of these are miniature golf courses, off-road cycle tracks, the construction of a blockade to ensure that the dumping site cannot be seen from the road, to name a few.”

Mc Donald went on to name and describe a few of her main concerns. She focused on:

•  health risks;

•  environmental damage caused by the dumping site in the past and what damage will be caused in the future if the dumping site is reopened;

•  the noise factor, caused by the machines needed to run the dumping site;

• the crime factor associated with the dumping site.

The company in charge of the Amendment of the Waste Licence for the Existing Simmer and Jack Landfill Site is Nemai Consulting, who focus on environmental and social consultation.

The GCN was able to contact the company, to bring the concerns of local residents to their attention.

A spokesperson for Nemai, Ciaran Chidley, responded to our queries with the following statement:

“The current landfill space at the Simmer and Jack Landfill is running out of space and additional space needs to be found at the site by 2016.

“The metro propose to extend the height of Cell One as the first measure to contribute to available airspace.

“Cell One was landfilled to a height of approximately 10m above ground and rehabilitated and closed in around 1993.

“The permit for the landfill allows the metro to landfill up to a height of 40m above ground.

“Cell One is located in the north of the existing landfill.

“Current landfilling is being conducted on Cell Five, which is just to the south of Cell One.

“The waste that is currently being disposed of at the landfill will be diverted to Cell One.

“Therefore the operating conditions and trucks access will remain the same as they are now, and have been for many years.

“In order to satisfy the waste authority’s requirements for the extension of height of Cell One, the metro is required to conduct a public participation campaign to gauge public reaction to the proposal.

“We, Nemai Consulting, have been appointed to carry out this public participation.

“This campaign is underway and the public are invited to comment.

“Residents are encouraged to send their complaints to the company by no later the March 25.

Comments should be emailed to ManogrieC@nemai.co.za.”

At the time of going to press, the metro had not responded to our requests for comment.