If Umgeni Water has any intention of building a desalination plant in La Mercy, it will first have to get past dozens of determined residents.
Residents, albeit a small group, came out guns blazing at a public meeting at the Tongaat Town Hall on Thursday.
This was the first public meeting of those required for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), following Umgeni Water’s announcement of intention to build the plant near the King Shaka Estate along the M4.
At the outset La Mercy Residents Action Group (LAMRAG) advisor Betty Rawheath asked Ismail Banoo from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to skip the planned presentations, citing that it was “more of the same”.
Most people who attended agreed that the meeting’s timing was unfair. Residents felt that 5pm was too early, as most would only be leaving their jobs around that time. They were also upset that Ethekwini municipality had not sent a representative to
the meeting, which meant many of their questions on water loss and infrastructure could not be answered.
Umgeni Water planning services manager Kevin Meier’s presentation was interrupted several times by frustrated residents demanding answers. Meier maintained that the desalination plant is but one option to meet the demand for potable water.
“The ideal solution would be to build the Smithfield Dam in Umkomaas, which would cost R17bn but could only be implemented in 2023. Consumers would end up paying that amount off (through tariff increases).”
He added Umgeni Water needs to find a solution as soon as possible, considering the region is in the initial stages of a drought. There are also 110 developments planned for the region in the next few years, which he said would increase the demand for water.
The issue of race came up when Neal Naidoo demanded to know why the plant could not be built in Ballito for the residents’ “golf courses”.
“Are you scared of the white people?” he asked Meier.
Meier responded that Ballito was ruled out as the La Mercy proposed location for the plant is the only flat piece of land close enough to the sea, out of 17 initially identified.
“We have already met with the small growers who own land on the site. The farmers are willing to sell the land to us, even though it has been in their families for generations.”
This announcement was met with disdain, with resident Neal Naidoo incredulous that Umgeni would “take” the land away.
La Mercy resident and environmental attorney Tasha Gayapersad suggested Umgeni Water rather spend the money allocated for the plant, on upgrading the existing infrastructure.
She also questioned CSIR’s objectivity.
“Government pays you. We would like three independent consultants of our choice to redo the study and until then, this desalination plant is not going ahead. This meeting is a half-baked attempt at moving forward.”
During his presentation Aurecon’s Mike Shand introduced the possibility of burying the plant underground and building a playground on top of it, which residents applauded. CSIR promised to schedule a follow-up meeting at a later time and
venue that suits residents better.
QUESTION: Is the desalination plant necessary? Would you mind if it was in your back yard?
