Fairland residents are angry that Pikitup did not consult them when plans were approved to expand dump
Plans to expand the garden refuse site into a multipurpose dump will negatively affect residents, especially because no environmental impact evaluation was conducted.
More than 187 residents have, at the time of going to print, signed a petition, calling for the removal of the proposed new dump.
They are flabbergasted that a plan was approved to upgrade the small Smit Street municipal garden refuse dump without proper consultation, or an environmental impact assessment.
Dewald Fourie who lives nearby said, “I cannot understand how the site was granted planning permission earlier this year for upgrades to receive different kinds of waste like recycling rubbish when stakeholder engagement has been largely ineffective or at times non-existent.
“The houses directly opposite the dump can’t open their windows from the stench already, and it’s still supposed to only be garden refuse, this is on top of the industrial noise pollution.”
Pikitup spokesperson Anthony Selepe confirmed that building had begun to ‘expand the site into a multifunctional centre that could also receive items for recycling and general waste’.
When asked why plans were approved without an environmental impact assessment being carried out, he responded, “There was an assumption that the assessment was done. Now that we know it did not take place all building has stopped, an assessor has been appointed and we hope preliminary results from that will be available next week.”
He said a public meeting would be called in July to give feedback to the community on the report that they have commissioned. Until that happens, all building has stopped, and contractors have been removed.
Ward 98 councillor Beverley Weweje said, “I have done my best to keep the community aware of developments on the site and will host another public meeting as soon as the EIA report is made available. It was through my engagement with the community that I became aware of their unhappiness about this development.”
She was at pains to point out that Pikitup, believed that ‘because it is an existing refuse site, historically they do not have EIA’s done, as seems to be the case here’.
Fourie and others worry that the expanded profile of the dump will increase already worrying trends with vagrants and others using the area for nefarious means as they scramble to collect items they can use or sell.
He concluded, “We have noticed over the past few years that people have started using the park next door in a negative way, doing drugs and other illegal activities which we fear will only increase if the current plans for expansion move forward.”
Related articles:
