After several complaints about sewage issues in his and neighbouring properties went unacknowledged, one resident, Mr Howard, eventually turned to his last resort for help – social media and the local newspaper.
“These two sewage-leaking manholes on the corner of Hillside and Fountain Avenue have been reported many times to the municipality. We just get ignored. I wonder how municipal officials will react if, after six weeks, they have to live like this on their own properties. Surely they would have sorted it out?” Howard asked.
Following various media inquiries to the municipality, a formal response was finally given to Advertiser journalists regarding how the sewage issues in Hutten Heights would be dealt with.
Mthandeni Myende, the Municipality’s acting director of Communications and Customer Relations, said the sewage issue ‘is primarily due to ageing infrastructure, which leads to pipes collapsing. These problems are exacerbated by the disposal of foreign objects and excessive fats into the sewer network.’
“The solution to this lies in the replacement and upgrade of the ageing infrastructure, pending funding applications currently under review,” he explained.
For now, no timeline can be provided as these interventions depend on budget availability. However, the municipality is actively addressing sewer leaks in both Newcastle West and East to mitigate any potential risks to human safety and the environment.
“In cases where we are awaiting materials to replace damaged pipes, we deploy temporary measures such as a honey sucker or high-pressure machines to clear the sewer lines,” Myende concluded.
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