Concerns rise as conditions at Amcor Dam deteriorate

The future of the polluted Amcor Dam remains in ‘murky waters’ due to the apparent lack of action being taken to clean up the dam.

The environment around the dam has degraded alarmingly in recent months with sludge clogging up the area. These conditions could have detrimental health effects on residents residing near the dam.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, asked how the municipality intends to ensure the Ncandu River, which is linked to the Amcor Dam, is not further polluted by chemicals, algae, and decaying overgrowth.

He complained that the condition of the dam and the surrounding area have declined markedly over the decade with no improvements done.

“It seems as though the Ncandu River and the Amcor Dam are merely wasting away, and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. Has the municipality just taken a blanket approach of no comment or commitment regarding the dam’s degradation?” he said.

“The municipality should be taking swift action to ensure that a short-term plan is in place to address these conditions, especially when they have contributed to the dam’s pollution by dumping night soil (sewage waste) into the Ncandu River,” he concluded.

Newcastle Residents Forum responds:

Newcastle Residents Forum founder, Matthew Shunmugam, emphasised that the Amcor Dam was once the main tourist attraction of the town, with a rowing club, a prime fishing spot, a caravan park, and a family picnic spot.

“It was the ideal recreational area without travelling to the Chelmsford Dam. Unfortunately, with the invasion of the reeds, pollution, etc., there are no more fishing spots left,” he said.

The cabbage plant, according to Shunmugam, is a major source of hindrance. The reeds have reduced the holding capacity of the dam, aggravated by the silting of the river. This has considerably reduced the water capacity of the dam.

“Due to the failure to maintain the Ncandu River and the Amcor Dam, the incidence of flooding has increased over the past few years. Previously, periodic dredging of the river banks was done but that has since ceased. As a result, the flow of flood waters is badly constrained, and flooding inevitable.”

He further claimed that the flood lines are out of date, from being a one-in-20-year flood zone to annual flooding.

Last year, the taxi rank and lower CBD were flooded over three times in a quick succession in one month.

“Anglers who want to fish for pleasure or catch fish for sustenance are reluctant to fish at the dam due to the high level of pollution.

However, the dam is noted for producing some sizeable and prized fish, but unfortunately, anglers have to fish out of town to catch the ‘specimen’ fish of their choice, yet it was once on their doorstep,” Shunmugam said.

According to him, the venue is supposed to generate substantial revenue for the council through the use of its facilities, but with the deteriorating conditions, patronage will surely decrease.

“Income revenue streams, which once helped to swell the coffers of the municipality, seem to be lost,” he concluded

Angus Burns, senior WWF-SA manager weighs in:

The section of the Ncandu River that runs through town and into the Amcor Dam has been a problematic stretch of river for many years (over a decade in fact).

It needs sustained and integrated management and rehabilitation, given how it has been allowed to degrade over many years.

The levels of pollution entering the river (mainly sewerage) act as a type of fertiliser in the system (it is rich in nitrates and phosphates, besides being a human and livestock health hazard due to E. coli pollution).

The nutrients from this sewerage cause the vegetation in the river to respond as any plant would, i.e., to grow vigorously and overwhelm the river channel.

At the same time, the same vegetation is necessary to stabilise the river banks and prevent them from collapsing.

Unless the inflow of sewerage (and accompanying nutrients) is addressed, the problem of the overgrowth of reeds will persist and the problem of the river channel being choked with reed overgrowth will continue to occur.

The need to manage upstream ecological infrastructure such as riparian vegetation and wetlands is critically important to reduce instances of extreme flash flooding (these natural flood-attenuating features slow water down and reduce flash flooding).

Water quality tests done in the past have revealed extremely high levels of E. coli pollution, rendering the water unfit for human and animal consumption and even recreational use (such as canoeing, swimming, and fishing).

This situation persists resulting in the stench those who pass the dam experience.

It is important to manage the dam not only for immediate residents but for downstream users too, because the potential negative health impacts extend beyond just the immediate dam environment.

Finally, unless the sewerage inflow is addressed and halted (i.e., infrastructure is repaired to prevent the inflow of sewerage), the problem will persist. It is also important for businesses and households to cease disposing of polluting substances directly into the river channel.

Examples of substances that contribute to the problem include old engine oil, old cooking oil, and cleaning chemicals used in high volumes that kill the remaining life in the river and cause the decay of organic matter.

Municipality’s Acting Director: Communications and Customer Relations Officer, Mthandeni Myende, responds:

NA: What is the plan of action for the Amcor Dam facility?
MM: The tourism unit is currently working on how the resort can be rehabilitated. (planning stage)
NA: How often are workers dispatched to this site?
MM: Every week for the maintenance of the resort.
NA: How frequently is refuse removal conducted at the Amcor Dam facility?
MM: The maintenance team is on-site every week for litter picking and gardening.
NA: Are there any plans to improve the overall appearance of this facility? The polluted state of the Amcor Dam is concerning.
MM: Funds were identified internally for the replacement of the damaged fence.
NA: A local conservationist believes there is a way to restore the dam and the Ncandu River system to a healthy condition.
From the municipality’s side, is there an action plan for the river and dam? If so, what is the plan and what are the time frames for it?
MM: The municipality is still developing a rehabilitation plan to source funding. There is no current time frame since the plan is still in the development stage.

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