THE eThekwini Municipality has appointed, Geoff Nichols, an environmental specialist and horticulturalist to help rehabilitate the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve and a section of Hawaan Forest which were damaged last year due to the collapse of the M4 Ruth First Highway.
The highway has been out of commission for more than two months since the partial collapse caused the closure of the route between uMhlanga and Sibaya.
In December last year, a portion of the M4 roadway that was washed away led to a mudslide which affected the 26 hectare Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve which is a sanctuary not only for small wildlife but also for a number of wetland and coastal forest species.
The landslide and subsequent repair work to lay a new stormwater pipe also affected a section of the Hawaan Forest.
Read also: Plan to address damage to Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve
Nichols, who has more than 30 years experience in the horticultural world, said there were four sections in total that needed rehabilitation.
“I’ve been on site and seen the damage to the green areas on either side of the M4 highway which has sustained serious damage.
“At this point in time, construction and repair work to reopen the highway is the priority and myself and a contractor, once appointed, will help rehabilitate the green zones. We’ve identified four sections that need rehabilitation due to the wedge like erosion which caused the road collapse,” Nichols explained.
He added that specific plants and trees were needed to bind the soil, as well as stop any flow of stormwater runoff
“We’d be looking at planting various forest pioneers on the western bank of the M4 to help bind the soil and prevent erosion.
“Of course before any of this is done we will be preparing the soil, which takes longer than the actual planting process. We also have to use plants that will prevent water from moving down the slope faster than a metre a second which could cause further erosion.
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“The lower half of the bank which is the road servitude will need a completely different approach as we can’t plant trees that could affect the tarmac or grow over onto the shoulder of the M4 highway. I’ve also been in contact with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife regarding the rehabilitation of the uMhlanga lagoon reserve which is a completely different kettle of fish to the other three areas in need of rehab,” he said.
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