The Johannesburg City Parks has begun a project in Vorna Valley to ensure the safety of properties which were built next to a 100-year flood line during rainy seasons.
On 24 June, the contractors who were appointed by City Parks, were on-site at Le Roux Avenue and Berger Road working on the first phase of the project. The first phase will take approximately six months to complete.
Senior foreman, Bennet Mashishi said they were in the process of shaping the river pool and opening up streams from the drainage systems.
“After that, we will put rocks on top of the river poolsides to support the soil from eroding, which is referred to as a ‘riprap’. What we are busy with will make sure the water is directed straight along the river line to protect the houses from being flooded, come rainy seasons,” Mashishi said.
Ward 132 Councillor Annette Deppe said the project was important as September is the start of the rainy season and house floods need to be prevented.
“It is a provisionally six-month project and R6 million has been set aside for the first phase. The whole project will take up to three years, as two more phases and budgets are required. All upcoming developments now have to include and make provision for water attenuation dams on the development site to protect houses from floods in the future.
Deppe concluded, “The City, for over 25 years, did not make provision in building applications for attenuation dams in the developments. They wanted maximum capacity and because that was not controlled over time, the watercourse has moved and now there are houses on the 100-year flood line.”
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