Marloth’s dump-site issue unresolved

MARLOTH PARK – Two opposing views are faced concerning the possible relocation of the rubbish dump.

After inspecting the site it was clear to Corridor Gazette that the burning of garbage was not being managed properly and remained a huge problem. The constant foul smell and smoke polluted the whole central area of the town.

The Marloth Park Property Owners Association (MPPOA) questioned the feasibility of the Nkomazi Local Municipality’s proposal to move the current dump site to a yet unidentified piece of so-called parkland elsewhere.

Ms Pat Wilmans of the MPPOA said following a meeting of the HODs and the municipal manager, Mr Dan Ngwenya, with the association committee, a matter had been brought to their attention that a proposal was submitted to use a piece of parkland in Marloth Park for the purpose of creating a new transit dump site in town, and removing it from the existing one. The result would be that another area of parkland would be destroyed and flora and fauna reduced.

More specifically there will be less parkland for animal grazing and an open dump site will remain in Marloth Park.

She said the reason behind this proposed move was to enable the developers of the “old-age home” to continue with their project. The committee was against any change in land use that will further reduce Marloth Park’s status as a nature conservancy or destroy valuable natural bush. A permit for the existing dump site to be changed into a transit one is already in place and cannot be transferred to the proposed parkland area. The municipal manager indicated that it would be possible to have the transit site moved entirely outside of town if suitable ground was acquired.

In the meanwhile a local lawyer,

Mr Jan Engelbrecht of Esselens Engelbrechts Incorporated said the existing location of the refuse site in Marloth Park has been a concern to residents.

It is situated just off the main street, in the immediate proximity of residential houses and businesses, and by no means acceptable. Various institutions and residents have petitioned to the local government to reconsider the location, yet have never succeeded.

The development of a retirement village in Marloth Park, on erf 3 881, a plot zoned specially and hence appropriately for this purpose, and immediately adjacent to the refuse site, had caused this matter to be seriously considered by the authorities.

Engelbrecht, the attorney acting on behalf of the development team and the owners of erf 3881, petitioned to NLM to favourably consider the relocation of the site to a more appropriate locality, and the simultaneous rehabilitation of the existing one. The municipality has already developed a central refuse station for the whole of Nkomazi, in Steenbok, and the consequence was that relocation of the existing site would be to a much smaller transit site.

At a transit site refuse will merely be bundled and removed from Marloth Park to the Steenbok site. The municipality has favourably considered the proposals of the development team. Several options were considered before finally resolving.

Since August, after meetings between Engelbrecht and the management team of NLM, resolutions had been prepared and higher government bodies had been involved, and concurred. The relocation is a reality. The municipality will, however, want to be sure that the community accepts the relocation, the reduction to a transit site, and the rehabilitation of the existing one.

The development team has proposed that the service contributions payable by the developer can be utilised by the relevant authorities to mitigate the costs of the rehabilitation of the existing site.

Engelbrecht has passed all information of the relocation through to Williams.

On Monday October 26 at 10:00 a public meeting has been called by municipality inviting all residents of Marloth Park to consider the proposed alternative site. Also to render input or indicate acceptance, which by the majority of residents and owners will offer NLM the thumbs up to proceed with the relocation. The meeting will be held at Henk van Rooyen Park. Non-attendance will be regarded as an acceptance of the proposal. Those unable to attend should provide a proxy to MPPOA to attend on their behalf.

Engelbrecht is relieved that progress has been made. From the day they proposed to develop, and requested the section 82 certificate from the municipality, this matter had been high on the agenda. That was two years ago.

While the other matters have enjoyed speedy acceptance, this matter has remained unattended to. It demanded the team and Engelbrecht to approach the mayor. Legal resort became an option. However, at long last, relocation was now a fact, merely to be confirmed by the town.