THE Western Aqueduct project and GO!Durban are reported to have exceeded their deadlines and budgets and are allegedly placing unnecessary demands on the city’s coffers.
The DA whip for economic development, Marlaine Nair, and the DA member of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure committee, Riona Gokool, conducted site visits to the two Pinetown projects.
“Failure to complete these projects timeously has not only left the Pinetown and New Germany area in ruins, but also placed unnecessary demands on the city coffers, indirectly costing the ratepayer,” said Nair.
Western Aqueduct Project
The Western Aqueduct was implemented to boost the water infrastructure in the west and ensure and efficient water supply to homes and businesses.
Nair said the project has stalled for approximately six years.
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“It has gone over its budget significantly as a result of interference from business forums,” said Nair.
“There are many areas in the west that are constantly experiencing the inconvenience of water outages due to ageing water infrastructure. Added to that, the city loses billions of Rand through water loss from burst pipes and leaks each year,” she said.
Nair noted that Nagina, Mariannridge and Luganda were without water for days and residents battled to have tankers deployed to the areas as they were in use in the northern parts of the city.
GO!Durban
GO!Durban’s Phase 1, which includes routes from Pinetown to Bridge City, from Bridge City to the CBD and uMhlanga, and a rail from Bridge City to Umlazi, were, according to the project’s website, planned to be in operation by the end of 2018.
“This C3 corridor pilot project was meant to be a transport infrastructure incorporating the IRPTN (integrated rapid public transport system) making a basket of services easily accessible to users with as little travel as possible,” said Nair.
DA PR councillor for Pinetown and Wyebank, Riona Gokool, said, “Sadly, due to several work stoppages resulting from interference by taxi associations and business forums, there have been major delays. Flooding and damages caused by heavy rains on unfinished work has led to parts of the corridor needing to be redone far too many times.”
“It is imperative that both projects are completed. I have seen firsthand how these incomplete projects have inconvenienced residents and cost the ratepayer. I will continue to drive this issue within the Human Settlement and Infrastructure committee until the projects are completed.”
Ward 18 councillor, Melanie Brauteseth, has engaged with the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) to find solutions and recently conducted a meeting with all stakeholders where she urged them to agree to bring the project to completion.
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