Lesego Maja
lesegomaja@caxton.co.za
THE first of 25 Celtis Africana trees was planted on Fourth Avenue in Melville on 6 September as part of Arbour week celebrations.
The Melville Residents Association (MRA), in collaboration with the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA,) has embarked on an urban renewal initiative that will see 25 trees planted on Fourth Avenue. The planting of the first tree launched this initiative, with the help of tree sponsorship by Sappi and Johann van Niekerk Attorneys.
Ward 87 Councillor, Amanda Forsythe and her ward committee liaised with City Parks and the JRA in ensuring the correct permission was given for the planting of the trees.
Forsythe said the tree planting project formed part of a bigger initiative. “This tree-planting effort also falls into my plans of promoting not only the planting of trees during Arbour month, but particularly indigenous trees and educating the public on the importance of replacing alien invaders
with indigenous flora,” said Forsythe.
MRA chairperson, Nicky Rofail, hopes that more trees will be planted throughout Fourth Avenue. “We are still calling on businesses and interested community members to donate more trees so that the planting continues all the way up the street, forming part of the urban renewal.
Caroline Lewin, Sappi communications practitioner, said she sees the initiative as a link between the green areas of the suburbs, and that is how Sappi came on board. “To me, it links that whole wonderful green space of Emmarentia Dam and Melville Koppies,” she said.
The urban renewal initiative, with services rendered by an urban designer, will also include the improvement of the overall security on Fourth Avenue, which is a Western Melville gateway.
Rofail extended her gratitude to all parties that contributed to the planting of trees. “I want to thank Sappi and Johann van Niekerk for their sponsorship and Jeremy Rose for suggesting that we contact Sappi,” Rofail said .
Details: MRAAnythingMelville@Melville.org.za
