A vast dumping ground in Ward 86 is still soiling the good name of environmentally friendly projects. Touted as ‘an extensive eco-lifestyle estate’, the private property bordering Albertsville, Newlands and historic Sophiatown is better likened to an extensive landfill equipped with sewage pool and squatters.
NMT previously reported on the development, called the Central Park Lifestyle Estate (see Waterval garden refuse site deteriorates, Week ending 27 July 2012 and Dodgy development raises concerns, week ending 12 May 2012) and though Councillor Steve Kotze has been constantly trying to escalate the issue, no viable solution has been put in place by the developers.
When NMT visited the ground there were mounds of rubble, garden and home waste, a sewage pond with ducks swimming in it and at least 10 different squatter shelters scattered in between the filth.
Just a few feet away from this health and safety hazard stands Laerskool Esperanza on Stonewall Road.
“There is absolutely no control on this land,” said angry Newlands resident Dawid van der Merwe. “This is supposed to be a residential and commercial development but it looks like a dumping ground to me. I constantly see trucks and bakkies leave loads of garbage here.”
“A sewer servitude runs through the property but the proper departments cannot access it because it is always covered with hills of refuse.”
Kotze confirmed that inaccessibility to the sewage system has caused problems in the past.
“This sewer has had numerous blockages in recent times when access to manholes was needed. Nearby residents had more than 200,000 litres of sewage flow through their properties due to complications emanating from the sewer servitude on this site.”
Site Foreman, Martin Bredankamp from Diesel Power explained that the entrance was being closed off.
“I will have security here 24 hours a day. A bulldozer will be parked across the new entrance every night to ensure that vehicles are not able to get in.”
Van der Merwe and other residents will have to wait and see.
