UMHLANGA ward councillor Nicole Bollman said the tourism industry needs the sewage crisis plaguing its beaches solved as soon as possible.
With just nine days to go until December 1, uMhlanga’s beaches remain closed and are almost deserted as residents and holidaymakers avoid the popular destination due to water quality concerns.
This is in part due to substantial damage to the sewerage infrastructure network, with the Ohlanga Sewerage Pump Station (Blackburn) in particular affecting uMhlanga.
High E. coli levels have seen the popular beach destination closed for more than 200 days this year.
Last week, Bollman conducted a site inspection at the pump station situated near the Blackburn Village Informal Settlement to oversee the work being carried out.
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While a new transformer has been installed, Bollman believes the race to get the pump station up and running again is on the precipice.
“We are literally on the line; it could go either way. I’ve been down here a few times since the start of the repair work, and the signs are promising. This is the biggest pump station in the northern region, so it’s vital that it is sorted. I will remind residents that this is just one battle in a raging war on sewage leaks. The contractors have been working hard, but we can ill afford to take any energy away from this project,” she said.
Bollman said the City had not revealed how much the project to repair the pump station would cost.
“I do know the repair work is comprehensive and will include the upgrade of security at the site as well as the infrastructure within it. Beaches are a major tourist attraction in uMhlanga, especially over the festive season. The timeline we are working with is to have the station up and running by the end of November. Like most residents and business owners, I’m hopeful the beaches in uMhlanga will be re-opened by the start of the festive season,” she said.
